tnr 5.5.10

THE INdependent student newspaper at the university of cincinnati

Vol. CXXX Issue 75

wednesday , may 5, 2010 rebekah zoz Miss America pageant contestant helps the homeless. page 3

the fashion dungjen TNR’s fashionista laments about her choices of clothing in high school. page 4

feel the burn Meet Jimmy Jacquot, starting catcher for the UC baseball team. page 6

Shooting call was hoax taylor dungjen the news record

A phone call to Cincinnati Police claiming there had been a shooting on the University of Cincinnati’s Main Campus was a hoax, according to Cincinnati police.

The call came at approximately 12:10 p.m. from the East Concourse of Shoemaker Center, Cincinnati police said. The call went to Cincinnati police. Cincinnati then relayed the call to the UC Police Division. justin tepe | the news record

scene of confusion Dyer Hall was swarmed with UCPD and Cincinnati police after a false shooting call.

The address of the shooting registered through Cincinnati Bell as coming from Dyer Hall which caused confusion, said Jeff Corcoran, UCPD assistant chief of police. Police targeted one classroom and did a spot search of several other buildings, according to Cincinnati police.

Police do not have a suspect. No one was hurt in the incident; buildings were not evacuated, according to Cincinnati police.

Although Cincinnati police and UCPD arrived on campus within approximately seven minutes of the call, students and at least one professor were scared and upset.

“They didn’t even tell the teachers what was going on,” said Julia Montier-Ball, who teaches career development on the fourth floor of Dyer Hall. “I didn’t even know about it until I came outside and saw all of these people.”

CAN pays homage to Kent

are you my mother?

briefs wine tasting when:

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 6

where:

Mick and Mack’s Cafe

Come out to Mick and Mack’s to take part in MainStreet’s monthly wine tasting. May’s “French Hexagon” event will feature five varieties of wine and bottles will be available to purchase. Tickets are $10 for the tasting and hors d’ouevres.

Contact Brenda Boland at brenda-boland@aramark.com for more information or to make reservations. free

Ariel Cheung the news record

The Campus Antiwar Network commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Kent State shootings with an anti-war protest Tuesday, May 4.

The protest took place on the corner of Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive. The members of CAN held signs protesting the war and asking people to “Remember Kent State.”

“It’s part of our history right here in Ohio,” said CAN member Kyle Galindez, a third-year sociology student. “And most people don’t realize that after the shootings, students responded nationwide with the largest student strike in our country’s history.”

“avatar” showing

when:

4 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, May 5

where:

Room 500, Swift Hall

University of Cincinnati suicide awareness group Hope for Life will be hosting a free showing of James Cameron’s blockbuster “Avatar.” The showing is part of a week-long series hosted by Hope for Life and aims to raise funds for the group to purchase and disperse mental health materials to students. For more information, contact Kelly Lebuhn at lebuhnke@mail.uc.edu.

outta’ my way A duckling waddles and weaves through campus traffic down the sidewalk in front of McMicken Commons, Tuesday, May 4.

Restoration slow but steady

index

1 News 3 Spotlight 4 Opinion 5 Classifieds 6 Sports

Old St. George Church hotel still in works despite real estate climate

weather forecast

gin a. ando the news record

wednesday

81° 51°

thur

fri

sat

sun

anna bentley | the news record

76° 53°

78° 48°

see homage | page 2

justin tepe | the news record

60° 37°

63° 40°

This old house St. George Church on Calhoun Street in Clifton Heights is slated to become a boutique motel.

Following years of abandonment, Old St. George Church renovations are going as planned, and construction of a boutique hotel might begin as early as mid-2011.

The church, which was partly destroyed by a three-alarm fire in February 2008, was set to receive a “face lift” to its singed and destroyed steeples Friday, April 24.

Although the restoration process is more complicated than simply rebuilding, as far as preliminary outlines go, the efforts are going smoothly and on schedule, said Matt Bourgeois, director of the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC), the current owner of the property.

The company is presently searching out potential investors for the project.

“It’s a pretty long process,” Bourgeois said. “But I think our expectations were realistic going in.”

Despite the chilling effects of the economy, the CHCURC is moving forward with the aid of Douglas Hine and his company HineSite Strategic Services, a real estate finance consulting firm based out of Cincinnati and Las Vegas.

anna bentley | the news record

Down with war Greg Zoller, a second-year international affairs student makes a war protest sign.

GO ONLINE for more protest coverage www.newsrecord.org

Ohioians breathing easier

see facelift | page 2

Perzigian delivers final speech to UC gin a. ando the news record

ONL I NE www.newsrecord.org

The University of Cincinnati recognized 12 distinguished faculty members Tuesday, May 4, and also gave departing UC Provost Anthony Perzigian a venue for his final address.

After a brief speech by UC President Greg Williams, Perzigian delivered his last keynote.

Perzigian, who announced his retirement in mid-January, recounted his more than three-decade long career in the speech, but summed up his job in two sentences.

“Try to do the right thing,” Perzigian said. “Try not to screw up.”

Although he announced his retirement earlier in the year, Perzigian still performs provost duties and is

currently heading committees regarding the merger between the colleges of Engineering and Applied Science. He is also continuing to watch over the Center for Access and Transition dissolution.

His personal duties — strengthening relationships with General Electric’s aviation department and pushing for more science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) strength in the university’s curriculum — might not be completely finished by his departure, he said.

“But, alas, what can you do?” he said.

Perzigian’s replacement is to be selected by July 1.

UC Faculty Senate Chair Marla Hall opened the event at Tangeman University Center’s Great Hall with an update of the senate’s activities in the past year. see perzigian | page 2

big league chew Check out an exclusive slideshow of UC’s baseball team’s Tuesday night game against Wright State.

german lopez the news record

eamon queeney | the news record

keeping him regular UC Faculty Senate Chair Marla Hall hands Provost Anthony Perzigian oatmeal as a farewell gift to help keep the departing, former-professor “regular” in his retirement.

TNR ALL THE TIME Now flip through the full issue online.

Subscribe to The News Record Web site and RSS. If that’s not enough, follow us on Twitter @NewsRecord_UC.

New Iced Coffee & Mocha Iced Coffee newsrecordnews@gmail.com | 513.556.5908

% %

Ohio’s air quality now meets 1997 federal ozone standards, according to a new report from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

With the accomplishment, Ohio has moved toward ensuring its residents are breathing cleaner air, which is good news for those with respiratory problems, said the report.

The news came after air quality data from 2007 to 2009 showed that the Cincinnati-Hamilton area — which includes Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties — has cleaner air and will be able to sustain it. With the current air pollutant controls, Cincinnati will be able to keep its air quality at the 1997 federal standard for at least 10 years, according to the report. see breathing | page 2

TNR POLL Do you feel the UCPD response to the call of a shooting was appropriate?

FREE

Mocha Iced Coffee with the purchase of any sandwich at regular price!

(Excludes Value Menu Sandwiches)

LIMIT 1 with coupon Not valid with any other discount or offer. Participating locations only EXPIRES 5/31/10

139

2

We d n e s d a y May 5, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

FROM society | page 4

(dare I say it?) catch your breath. We lose money in lost productivity from these breaks, in lost hours of work due to sick time, in extra expenses our insurance companies pay out for smoking-related care, in lost capacity in hospitals patching up the problems of smokers who will continue to need care as long as the habit prevails.

We all lose the pristine (or at least clean) gutters, shoulders and public spaces to sloppy smokers who flick their butts out the window, stub them out, throw them in the grass, whatever.

Perhaps we don’t even notice anymore, but the shear quantity of accumulated smoking litter along the highways is disgusting and toxic.

The final cost to society is not worth it.

The time farming, lost inputs, lost labor capacity, lost student spending, lost healthcare; it is remarkable to me that universities have to regulate smoking, because all of these ramifications are rather obvious. It’s almost like there is a desire to make a statement that “it doesn’t really matter what I do,” or that “I am FROM fashion | page 4

time, wear a big bow in my hair. Mostly because I still think they’re adorable. Sue me.

When it came time for senior superlatives, my class ended up voting me as “most unique.”

I guess my oddities paid off. If I recall correctly, I’m pretty sure I had a few votes for best dressed.

Now that I’m approaching the end of my college career, and after reliving my high school wardrobe malfunctions, I’m realizing just how much I’ve changed my outlook on fashion.

My clothes are less out there and actually match most of the time. I actually don’t even know where my Converse are. (I should look FROM rebekah | page 3

water without thinking twice, desperate for more.

“Even though she’s never going to remember who I am, and even though I’ll never know what she did with that dollar, she was obviously thirsty,” Zoz said. “I was able to give that to her.”

Although community service is rewarding for Zoz, it has also revealed the ugly truth most don’t realize: we are much better off than many people around us. We have cars and the ability to go to college as well as many other luxuries most can only dream of.

But she insists this truth makes her life seem just as precious.

FROM facelift | page 1

“The financing climate for any real estate isn’t looking good,” Hine said.

The CHCURC is looking to not only erect a boutique hotel adjacent to the church, but also repair the structure to the point that it can become a historical landmark.

In order to obtain the designation of landmark, intensive cosmetic work must be done to restore the structure in a way that resembles its older aesthetic. Architects, engineers and historical restoration experts must be brought in to assure the accuracy of the work, Hine said.

“We’re not going to do this unless we get museum-quality restoration,” Hine said. “It’s very, very complicated.”

Completing the entire project is not as simple as restoring the facades of the building, either.

There are three steps to the enterprise — which makes the project even more difficult, Hine said.

FROM HEALTH | page 4

special enough to do this, I don’t care, I will be fine — I’m a daredevil.”

If there is one thing global warming, the war in Iraq and the impending oil shortage ought to have taught our generation is that it does matter what we do. Not just on a national level, but at a personal level. What we do today affects what we have to work with tomorrow. Smoking yourself into an early grave limits the good you are capable of doing. Spending money on drugs limits the funds one can contribute to society, the vacations one can go on, the jobs one can afford to take and the age at which one can manage to retire comfortably.

The cost to the earth degrades a class of people, an area of ground and wastes resources desperately needed for food both in our country and elsewhere.

Speak with your dollar and boycott tobacco.

Vote for your neighbor’s well-being and support the tobacco ban. Even better, save your money, health and life for something better: your future and ours.

for those.) I’ve stopped making my eyelids look like Skittles and I haven’t worn my hair like Mickey Mouse since I cut it all off freshman year.

(Unless you count this Halloween when I dressed as myself as a freshman.)

Sometimes I think I miss just how much fun I had with my quirky outfits. Maybe one day, before I graduate, I’ll pay homage to my ghost of fashion past. Maybe ... But probably not.

Just for fun, we’ve added a slideshow of my favorite pictures of my scenester self from high school to newsrecord.org. E-mail thefashiondungjen@gmail.com.

“In the long run, I’ve realized you can’t beat yourself up about it. You are blessed for what you have,” Zoz said. “You have to be thankful for it and not take it for granted.”

Zoz selflessly dedicates her time to the homeless while promoting Faces without Places through her platform in the Miss America pageant, which she hopes to expand one day.

“I can’t help where I was born. I can’t help that I’m suburban or middle class. This is where God put me,” Zoz said. “But at the same time, I have to make a choice to turn that into a huge positive and say, ‘I was given a lot, so I’m going to give back a lot.’ ” The area must be pre-developed (which Hine said is the step the proposal is in) and investors and stakeholders found, the church must then be restored, and only after that can construction on the hotel begin.

Although Bourgeois said he makes sure to keep the process’ obscure time line in mind; the potential effect the church and hotel could have after completion keeps his outlook positive.

“We were being very cautious,” Bourgeois said. “It’s not like it was ‘Six months down the road and it’s done.’ ” Hine shares the opinion — the overhaul is expected to not only create a landmark, but also allow St. George to become self-sufficient.

“People all the time say ‘We should restore this, we should restore that,’ ” Hine said. “We’re putting it to use to generate funds for its upkeep for future generations.”

like to avoid secondhand smoke. However, it would deter students from enrolling if they are already smokers or want to be smokers once they can live away from their parents.

For now, a smoking ban resolution has been tabled by Student Government and it will go on the special ballot. That means 5 percent of the student population at UC must sign the petition and then win the special election vote that includes 10 percent of the student population by a two-thirds majority.

So, the question is: How important is it to you to not have smoke blown in your face as you are walking to class?

NOMINATE THE student YOU THINK

IS THE MOST PROUDLY CINCINNATI Visit TNR’s Facebook page to nominate

FROM RESPONSE | page 4

would have made the situation more dangerous if there was a shooter, said Jeff Corcoran, UCPD assistant chief of police. Letting everyone outside, to convene in a common area, would have put students, faculty and staff in sight of a shooter.

The response to the alleged shooting on our campus was fantastic. Students should feel good knowing there were officers from the city and the university on scene within minutes and students were quick to use technology to alert others and disseminate information.

Because we have been fortunate enough not to experience a shooter in the middle of our crowded, bustling campus, the idea of FROM breathing | page 1

“Our work is not done,” said Chris Korleski, director for the Ohio EPA. “We all need to continue our efforts to meet the newer, more stringent ozone standard now in place.”

More stringent regulations are coming from the U.S. EPA, which is planning to enforce stricter standards starting in 2011. The new standards will be tighter on ozone and carbon.

More regulations could be coming from Congress. The House of Representatives passed a climate change bill last year, and the Senate is currently working to get its own version passed. If passed, the Senate reform bill would create a cap-and-trade system in which carbon emissions would be capped at stricter levels, and

something happening here was unnerving.

Students who thought our university is untouchable: you might rethink that. It’s not bad to be more aware. It shouldn’t mean constant paranoia; it should just mean the university community should make sure they’re aware of their surroundings.

Students should notice when someone or something looks out of place. If something doesn’t feel right, let someone know. Call UCPD — that’s what they’re there for.

I think the university should give itself a pat on the back to the immediate response and attention it gave to the false report. A job well done. companies and states would be given economic incentives to keep emissions even lower.

The news also comes at a time when environmental regulation is prevalent in national headlines after the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill started after an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sunk the rig and has led some critics to claim that not enough regulations and checks were in place to prevent or lessen the impact of an oil spill.

President Barack Obama has said his administration will do its best to mitigate the disaster and create regulations to avoid future problems.

FROM homage | page 1

Five students showed up to the protest and made signs with sayings like, “Drop tuition not bombs” and “Honk for peace.” The students held the signs on the corner for approximately one hour.

The low turnout does not necessarily mean a lack of interest, said first-year international relations student Abdul Mouneimne.

“Not as many students get out there and are active,” Mouneimne said. “Through fields such as Twitter and Facebook, they make statements that they are against the war.”

But it is important that students get involved and know what is going on with the wars, Galindez said.

“As Americans, we’re somewhat responsible for what the government is doing FROM perzigian | page 1

“We’ve had a very active, productive time in Faculty Senate,” Hall said. “Maybe we’ve been too active.”

Hall’s introduction addressed several things the senate worked on, including a hard-lined approach toward keeping the university’s athletic department and academics separate, and a restructuring of student-athletes’ scholarships.

and where our taxes go,” Galindez said. “I think we as students have this position now where we are able to express our opinions and I think we need to do that.”

After the protest, CAN also hosted a documentary in Room 527 Old Chemistry. The documentary, “Kent State: The Day the War Came Home” was part of the CAN Movie Nights and was free for students and the community.

“We’re in a different day and age,” Mouneimne said. “War is a really barbaric way to solve a conflict. In the modern world, we should really put our differences aside and focus on the similarities we do have, and there’s a more productive way to do that than kill each other.”

“UC should not pile the athletic deficit on academics,” she said. “We’ve taken a very active role on valuable portions of the budget.”

To ease the debt, the senate proposed possibly using the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium for games expected to draw large crowds instead of increasing the size of Nippert Stadium.

WWW.newsrecord.org The best decision you will make all day

T N R E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I T O R

SEAN PETERS SAYS:

“Add The News Record on Facebook.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a n d w e ’ l l s to p r u nnin g thi s p hoto

From Jaquot | page 6

runs with 10. Two of the home runs came Saturday, May 1, in the third game of the series against the Mountaineers.

Jacquot hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. When the score was tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jacquot gave the Bearcats a 5-4 lead with a go-ahead home run to left field.

“I think clearly [Jacquot’s] been our most valuable position player because of the defense he’s given us behind the plate,” said Cincinnati head coach Brian Cleary. “Scoring runs has been a challenge for us. I think it’s fair to say that he’s been the most threatening guy in our lineup.”

Jacquot and his effective play at his position are key to the team’s defensive success, Cleary said.

“We’ve had a pretty good tradition of catchers here,” Cleary said. “We’ve sent a lot of the guys off into pro baseball. Jimmy, really, in my opinion, is much more confident than he was a year ago. He handles the pitches really well; he catches, blocks and throws

really well. He can control the other team’s run game.

He does so many things. That position is so central to your defense, and if you don’t have a good player back there it can make so many things problematic.

He really solves the problem of that position because he does so many things well.”

There are currently 73 collegiate catchers on the Johnny Bench Award watch list. The list will be narrowed down to semifinalists May 19, and then to finalists June 2. The winning catcher will be announced July 1.

Jacquot said he doesn’t think about the award very much. Instead, he is focusing on getting wins and helping the pitchers.

“I think it’s a great testament to how well he’s played, “Cleary said of Jacquot being placed on the list. “I think it’s an honor that’s well deserved. You know, when you look around, I don’t think there are a lot of above-average college catchers in baseball and certainly I think he’s one of them.”

Order Your Football Student Season Tickets Today!

Student Season Tickets $50 Student Guest Season Tickets $175 **Limit 2 per student**

Buy online at or call 1-877-CATS-TIX **Handling fees do apply**

3

We d n e s d a y May 5, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

spotlight highlighting the best of uc

photos provided by rebekah zoz

faces without places

A Miss America pageant contestant dedicates her time to helping homeless children JAYNA BARKER the news record

helping the homeless Rebekah Zoz participated in a mission trip in Africa where she worked with orphans and homeless children.

Young girls opened shoeboxes filled with socks, deodorant, earrings, lip gloss and eye shadow.

Most were smiling. Some were screaming. Some were jumping up and down. But, amid the laughter and chaos, one child was crying. It was mindblowing to see children grateful for something as small as a shoebox.

They were just regular shoeboxes put together as Christmas presents by local church organizations and businesses in Cincinnati, — nothing special. The items in the boxes probably didn’t cost more than $25.

The children made cards for their families during the Christmas party later that day. One child was making a card for her brother who has been in jail since she was born.

“It was heartbreaking to hear that. It’s just normal life for them,” said Rebekah Zoz, a fourth-year communications student at the zoz University of Cincinnati. “Their parents are on drugs, or they don’t know their mom, or they don’t know who their dad is, or they’ve never seen their brother because he’s in jail.”

The Christmas party was hosted by Project Connect, a local organization hosted through Cincinnati Public Schools and the only program in Greater Cincinnati exclusively working with children experiencing homelessness.

When the work became too much for Project Connect to do solely by itself, Faces without Places was born. While Project Connect is more hands-on, Faces without Places raises funds for the children. Faces without Places provides funding for the children for enrichment, summer programs, transportation, uniforms, supplies, enrollment assistance and field trips, Zoz said.

Zoz has been an active volunteer since she was just 10 years old. Her family has been involved with the organization since the beginning; her aunt founded Faces without Places in 1998.

Faces without Places is also Zoz’s platform for the Miss America Scholarship Program, in which she is competing to win the title of Miss Ohio.

The pageant allows her to combine the two loves in her life: singing and community service.

Her passion for giving back to the community led her to Africa, where she participated in a mission trip working with orphans and homeless children, allowing her to see both sides of the coin.

“Their needs are the exact same even though they’re a world away,” Zoz said. “Kids still have

“You are blessed for what you have.

You have to be thankful for it and not take it for granted.”

—rebekah

spotlight.newsrecord@gmail.com | 513.556.5913

the same basic needs. They need school supplies, they need uniforms and they need food.”

Although the children in Africa have the same needs as children in Cincinnati, it is on a much grander scale. And despite the small difference she made in Africa, what Zoz brought home with her was she had the opportunity that caused the mindset to change children’s lives, she said.

The powerful experience of being in a different hemisphere and seeing the same heartbreaking issues changed the way Zoz lives her life and carries her purpose.

“You just become so much more aware of how blessed and fortunate you are to have the opportunities you have,” Zoz said.

Upon returning home, she devoted her time to community service, working to organize benefits and fundraisers with Faces without Places as well as Project Connect when time allowed.

Each year before school returns to session, Faces without Places raises funds to keep children connected to their education by providing transportation to school, uniforms, book bags, school supplies, free lunch, tutoring, enrichment and an eight-week summer program.

During the summer program they buy each child a swimsuit and celebrate each child’s birthday with one big party, so each child is able to celebrate their birthday, even if it’s six months away, Zoz said.

Although Zoz primarily works with children, being involved with the homeless children in Cincinnati and Africa has changed her outlook on the population of the older homeless people in Cincinnati she sees every day on her way to and from school.

“Instead of just being in my own little world — driving from West Chester to Cincinnati to park, go to class, leave class, get in my car and go back home — I’m very much aware of the people in my surroundings,” Zoz said.

She used to just look past the man standing on the corner asking for money, but then realized it was not her right to judge what they’re going to do with the money; she couldn’t stand there and judge them, she said.

“I have the means — the capability — and I’m going to give what I have to make a difference regardless of what they’re going to do,” Zoz said.

So instead of giving out money every day, she packs an extra clementine and an extra bottle of water to give to anyone she passes by.

Zoz recalls an incident recently in which immediately after giving a woman a bottle of water and one dollar, she guzzled down the see rebekah | page 2

4

opinion

We d n e s d a y May 5, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

Response impressive amid chaos

discussion board for all walks of life

THE

FASHION

DUNGJEN taylor dungjen

Taylor Dungjen

Blast from fashion past haunts TFD Going back to high school is a weird experience.

A world of lockers, dress codes, having to raise your hand to use the restroom. All of these things that were once so common now seem silly and a little bit odd.

Last Friday, I had a flashback of what it was like, and what I was like, as a high school student.

Jayna Barker, Sam Greene and I drove an hour (and then some because we got lost) to Clermont Northeastern High School to talk to Becky Rowe’s journalism class — her class also happens to be the group of students that puts together their monthly newspaper, The Jyst — about journalism at the collegiate level.

We got a forewarning, or rather a heads up, from Mrs. Rowe, who is a University of Cincinnati alumna, that Clermont Northeastern has casual Friday, so there was no need to dress up for our presentation.

Until she said that, though, I hadn’t given much thought to what I was going to wear to talk to a class of high school students. I wondered what the dress code was like, what would be appropriate and what would not be appropriate. It’s not like Jayna, Sam or I were going to walk in wearing shorts our cheeks hang out of or shirts that exposed our midriffs, but you never know how strict school policies are ... Or how flashy Sam is feeling at any given moment.

The three of us ended up looking like we would any other day of the week. Nothing too scandalous.

The biggest problem we had, well, I had, was a morsel of chocolate frosting and sprinkles had, apparently, fallen off one of my Dunkin’ Donuts and decided it wouldn’t mind spending the day on my T-shirt.

I didn’t even notice it was there until after we finished our presentation. Sigh.

Luckily, no one noticed, not even Jake Hogue, the very nice junior who told me he is a Fashion Dungjen fan. (Bonus points for Jake.)

Being back in high school, although it wasn’t my high school, brought back interesting memories of my not-sofashionable high school days.

In high school I convinced myself that I was way too awesome for my own good. I did anything and everything I could to escape the notion of wearing anything with a blatant label — I read somewhere Lindsey Lohan wasn’t into labels so, for some ungodly reason, I thought it was a good idea to mimic her.

(Thankfully, it’s the only thing I’ve mimicked from Lohan.)

Skinny jeans, funky T-shirts, homemade T-shirts. I was the first in my grade to rock leggings with a denim skirt.

Big, obnoxious jewelry. I had a Converse only shoe policy. I actually wore green high tops with my black cocktail dress to junior formal.

For all intents and purposes, I was a scene kid.

I wore bandannas in my back pocket. In fact, I wore a pink bandanna in my pocket once and my math teacher made me take it out. He thought I was flashing gang signs.

I’m not exactly the most terrifying person. Plus, the most hardcore, intimidating gang in Wadsworth was probably the band of old women who worked at the library and strictly, very strictly enforced the no-gum-inthe-library rule.

My makeup was over done and eccentric. If I wasn’t wearing at least three shades of eyeshadow, carefully blended to look like a piece of art, I felt naked. And they weren’t three neutral shades — it was usually blue, green and yellow. Royal purple, blue and green. I spent a week or so smudging creamy hot pink eyeshadow under my lower lash. Instead of looking like a badass, I looked like a dumbass.

I stopped when my psychology teacher literally laughed in my face. I cannot thank him enough for that wake up call.

My hair was also a force to be reckoned with.

I would style my hair the same way every day — or at least the same way every time I took a shower and had to redo my hair. Make pigtails and use about 80 bobby pins to create two very large, for lack of better explanation, Mickey Mouse ears.

I finished it off with either a huge bow, a fabric headband or about seven butterfly, army tank or guitar hair clips.

It’s not something I’m totally proud of now. I do, from timesee fashion| page 2

When Cincinnati police received a phone call from an anonymous person saying shots were fired, the caller gave no specific location, just said shots had been fired, according to Cincinnati police.

Within minutes of the call, there were more than six Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati police cars and at least 12 officers in front of Van Wormer and Dyer halls. Officers arrived on campus after searching Hughes High School.

Students were pacing, rushing around; people were screaming there was a bomb threat and that someone had been shot. Nobody seemed to know what was going on. It was pandemonium, chaos like UC has never seen — not in the past four years, at least.

Rumors started — there was a bomb inside Dyer Hall, there was a gunman on campus, campus was going to be locked down.

None of it, as we know now, was true.

Despite the fact that people were worried and scared, what students need to remember is that there was a police presence on the scene — on three different scenes (Hughes High School, Dyer Hall and the Shoemaker Center) in less than 10 minutes.

That’s pretty impressive.

The response from students, though, was even more impressive.

The notion of a gunman or someone being shot on university property was viral (as one might expect and hope). Mass text messages were sent out among friends, students were calling other students, sending out Tweets asking what was going on or passing out information they heard.

While spreading information happened quickly, it happened among chaos, maybe not in a careful way. Once a Cincinnati police officer told students they were allowed to enter Dyer Hall for classes — after the building had been spot searched — groups of students refused until they had explanation because they had been told there was a bomb threat;

they didn’t feel safe.

It’s easy to get stories mixed up when tensions and emotions are high. The News Record even got different accounts of what happened at the peak of the excitement. First we heard students had been evacuated; then we were told the dean had evacuated students. Finally, we learned that no students had been evacuated. Most students and teachers inside the building didn’t even know about it.

The lack of information to people inside Dyer had people upset. Laura Montier-Ball, a career development instructor, told The News Record she didn’t know what was going on until class was dismissed. She wasn’t happy. One student Tweeted at The News Record (@NewsRecord_UC) that he hadn’t been notified at all.

Had the university notified everyone in Dyer, though, it would have increased the panic and chaos 10 fold. Asking students to evacuate the building see response | page 2

gold, err, oil digger

peter springsteen | the news record

Smoke-free UC?

We’ve told you why some students don’t approve of having a smoke-free campus, but what about the ones who do? Weigh in, voice your opinion and join the debate online at newsrecord.org.

Tobacco-less campus will benefit society Maria bergh

The fact is, while ethically it should be instated to respect the breathing rights of everyone who resides on campus, it will have the same effect that anti-smoking medical campuses have: a cluster of nurses and doctors (or students and professors) on smoking breaks across the street or at the bus stop — just barely off of hospital (university) property. And, ultimately, that isn’t enough. It might be that a few people will find the inconvenience of traipsing across the street to light up enough to quit; but ultimately smoking has outlived its time. In a world obsessed with sustainability, there is no justification for this lethal high.

Smoking starts in acres of fields, often envisioned in the South where tobacco seems to be the most common roadside plant. This image is limited in its truth, though. China produces nearly six times as much as America, and India and Brazil also narrowly beat us out. Tobacco is propagated more than any other non-food agricultural product in the world, perhaps the most universal, pervasive and perverse legacy of the native American tribes.

The farmers spend the strength of good soil, lots of water and (petroleumbased) pesticides on this cash crop, using up to sixteen applications in a threemonth growing period, according to stopsmokingsteps.com. They also pay in

their own personal health — for example, Kentucky is known to have very poor air quality and high asthma rates, attributed to the prevalence of smoking, while handling raw tobacco itself can cause illness. These spent resources are similar to those exhausted on imported tomatoes, grain for feedlot cattle or other agribusiness products, without even the justification of being healthy or edible.

Once in the store, cigarettes are one of the most expensive habits on the market. To many, the sight of homeless men and women smoking is ironic; so is the image of students lining up to light up. The phrase “poor college student” is too cliché to invoke, but if the peer group is so poor it seems odd that so many find funds to smoke. Perhaps imagine quitting as the equivalent of granting yourself a lucrative scholarship.

And, finally, once the product has been grown, cured, wrapped, packed, shipped and bought, it becomes once more a cost: a tax on our health care system. The process of smoking is long-term suicide. Every cigarette is an added risk, tilting the balance of health toward bigger, costlier disorders like cancer, heart disease and emphysema.

And for what? An easy high, a distraction.

It’s not something that inspires awe. Its a habit that passes time, that expresses a minor rebellion, that brings you up, that gives time to talk and see society | page 2

Health on campus should improve with ban stephanie kitchens

Secondhand smoke kills approximately 50,000 nonsmokers in the United States annually, according to the American Cancer Society.

Students living on campus are exposed to smoke every day when they enter or leave their residence halls. The smokers that congregate together outside these buildings are not only endangering their own lives by smoking, but they are also negatively impacting the lives of the other residents who live there. Inhaling the smoke is unavoidable for nonsmokers. But by proposing a ban against smoking on campus, proponnents now can have more of a say in whether they want to breathe in clean or smoky air.

The health benefits of a smoke-free campus are substantial. Nonsmoking asthmatics might experience increased severity of their asthmatic symptoms because of secondhand smoke. It also causes coughing, mucous, chest discomfort, reduced 509 and 510 Swift Hall University of Cincinnati 45221-0135 Office phone 556-5900 Office fax 556-5922

T he N e w s R e c o rd

F O U NDED I N 1 8 8 0 The News Record, an independent, student-run news organization of the University of Cincinnati’s Communication Board, is printed during the school year every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, except holidays and examination periods, from its office located in 509 Swift Hall and is distributed to the UC community. The News Record distributes to more than 80 locations and has a weekly circulation of 22,500. One copy per person is free.

Additional copies can be picked up at The News Record office for $1.

lung function, heart disease, lung infections, ear infections and cancer.

All college students should have received an education about the dangers of smoking from programs like D.A.R.E. while they were growing up. People should be allowed to make their own decisions about what they want to put into their own bodies. But if people choose to abstain from smoking, it is unfair that they can still experience the same complications as a smoker by inhaling secondhand smoke. A campus is a learning environment and students’ best interests should always be top priority.

Canada provides a clear example of the positive impact that banning smoking can have . Nine years ago, the country passed anti-smoking legislation prohibiting smoking in restaurants and bars, and since then, the number of patients with respiratory and heart problems have dropped by a third: 33 percent and 39 percent respectively, according to an article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Editor-in-Chief taylor dungjen Managing Editor ariel cheung Business & Advertising Manager thomas amberg Director of Student Media Len Penix

opinion.newsrecord@gmail.com

The researchers said the study’s findings were “consistent with the evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke is detrimental to health and legitimizes legislative efforts to further reduce exposure.”

Another possible benefit of a smoke-free campus is that it could cause students to cut down on how much they smoke or just quit altogether.

Those who are social smokers would be less inclined to smoke with their friends and hopefully stop smoking.

The lack of smoke on campus would also enhance the attractiveness of the University of Cincinnati. Although it was recently named one of the most beautiful campuses and one of the greenest schools, having no smoke on campus would make the school increase considerably in both categories.

If the smoking ban is to pass, it would attract health-conscious parents and students who would see health | page 2

News Editors gin a. ando james sprague

enTertainment editor sean peters

Graphic Designer aaron kurosu jamie ritzer

college living/ spotlight editor jayna barker

online editor sam greene

copy editor joy bostick

Photo Editor coulter loeb

CLASSIFIEDS Manager Kelsey price

Sports Editors peter marx Sam Elliott opinion editor taylor dungjen Multimedia editor Blake Hawk

| 513.556.5913

Chief Photographer Justin tepe Production Designer mitul dasgupta

Advertising representatives KRYSTAL DANSBERRY Jenaye Garver

5

classifieds

We d n e s d a y May 5, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

RATES

1 All ads must be prepaid.

2 Out-of-town advertisers must send check with copy.

3 NIU’s must be signed and filled out before acceptance of ads.

4 All ad changes are due two days prior to publication.

5 No refunds unless a mistake by The News Record’s staff occurs in the advertisement. Refunds are not granted for ads placed, then cancelled. Adjustments are limited to the portion of the ad which is incorrect. Under no circumstances will an adjustment be issued greater than

the cost of the ad.

6 To receive student discount, current verification must be shown.

7 Students or student groups may not use display or classified discounts for non-university, for profit businesses.

8 Advertisers should check their ads the first day of printing. The News Record is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

9 The News Record reserves the right to reject any ads at its discretion, with or without notification to the advertiser.

10 These policies are not negotiable.

Choose a variety of categories to sell everything/anything. Students may not use UC rates for non-UC, for profit businesses. Valid ID card required for discount.

Students: Bold Type: Non-Students: Bold Type:

1-3 runs $0.50 $0.60

4-6 runs $0.40 $0.50

7-9 runs $0.30 $0.40

10+ runs $0.20 $0.30

$0.60 $0.70

$0.50 $0.60

$0.40 $0.50

$0.30 $0.40

DEADLINES Deadline for classified ads is 4 p.m., two days prior to publication.

Display ad deadline is 4 p.m., three days prior to publication.

Deadline for Monday issues is 4 p.m. Thursday for display ads.

For classified and display advertising information, please call 513-556-5900.

Equal Housing Opportunity All apartment rental/sublet advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for apartment rentals or sublets which is in violation of the law.

Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

FOR RENT Now renting for September 1st. Go to uc4rent.com for a virtual tour. Call 6217032.

Need an apartment? www.ucapartments.com Historic large upscale rental. Possible 6 bedrooms. Gaslight district.

Large chefs kitchen. 3.5 baths. Generous off street parking. Idea for graduate students or professional family looking for that something special. 513604-5159.

Ohio Avenue. One bedroom apartment.

Utilities furnished, clean.

Call 513-621-6446.

4 bedroom, 2 bath apartment in quiet two family house. Near campus, no pets. Part hardwood floors, ceiling fans, laundry. $1200/month. Call 513381-6374.

EFFICIENCIES, 1-BEDROOM, 2-BEDROOM, 3 BEDROOM in HYDE PARK for rent in excellent condition. New appliances including dishwashers, A/C. HEAT and WATER paid. Balcony, pool use, 10 minutes from UC. New kitchens and bathrooms.

Laundry, off-street parking/ garage. Starting at $545 per month. Call us at 513-4772920.

ONE BEDROOM, two blocks to campus, completely remodeled, eat-in kitchen and off street parking. Cats welcome, A/C and ceiling fans, $350.

Call 513-379-5300.

FREE Heat, Electric & Water! Newly renovated!

Large 3 bedroom, 1 bath apartment with free flat screen TV. Available a couple miles from UC! Great kitchens, large bedrooms, A/C, laundry facility, private parking. $350/person. Call Seth 513-383-9435.

2 bedroom, beautiful natural woodwork, stain glass, hardwood floors. New deluxe kitchen. Sunroom, parking, & laundry. $600.

Other high-end apartments available. 513-604-5159

Clifton houses for rent.

2 and 3 bedrooms, close to UC and hospitals.

Appliances, $700-$900/ month. 1 year lease, onemonth deposit. Call 513886-0094.

September Apartment Rentals. www. ucapartments.com.

Available now and September 1st, newly remodeled, one bedroom apartments.

5 minute walk to DAAP. Heat, water, off-street parking, and high speed internet included. Please call 513615-6740 or email baumerproperties@hotmail.com.

Two bedrooms, BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOORS, completely remodeled.

BALCONY, two blocks to campus, eat-in kitchen with dishwasher, living room with fireplace. Laundry, free off street parking, cats welcome, A/C, ceiling fans.

September, $660. Call 513379-5300.

3 Bedroom, 1.5 baths.

Off street parking. A.C., Security System, laundry, deck, dishwasher. Walk to campus. $850/month. Call 513-941-0161.

NICE three bedroom apartment. Available Sept 1 513-378-7919 or visit our site www.qcr4rent.com.

2 bedroom, equipped kitchen, available September 1st.

Egepropertyrental.com.

Call 513-307-6510.

House, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, equipped kitchen with parking.

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

EMPLOYMENT

Available September 1st.

Egepropertyrental.com 513-307-6510

welcome, A/C, laundry, ceiling fans. September, $595. Call 513-379-5300.

THREE BEDROOMS, QUIET, BEST VIEW. Remodeled, two blocks to campus. Kitchen with dishwasher. 13x25 living room. Laundry and parking.

Central A/C. Cats welcome. $660. Call 379-5300.

OWN FOR LESS THAN RENT. 2 BR/2 ½ Bath Historic Riverside Area Townhome for Sale. Under 10 minutes to Univ. of Cincinnati Med. Center. 2 min to downtown, 15 min to airport. Walk to restaurants, shopping, Reds and Bengals. Off street parking.

Private patio/completely finished basement.

On cul-de-sac in quiet neighborhood. Appraised at $170,000+ /asking price $160,000. Immediately available. Contact: Mark Streety at 1-859-421-2662 or angeliathompsonmd@ hotmail.com

Newer 4 bedroom 2 ½ bathroom house. 5 minute walk to campus.

A/C, dishwasher, washer and dryer hookup. ADT security, $1400/month. Call 513-678-0028. Available September 1st.

Large 1&2 Bedroom apartments; dining rooms & living rooms, new appliances. Classic building, newly relandscaped, located on quiet cul-de-sac. FiberOptics, off-street parking.

Heat & water paid. Close to Eden Park, with easy access to Columbia Parkway, Downtown and Uptown. Call 518-1041 One bedroom available September 1st. Go to uc4rent.com for a virtual tour. Call 621-7032.

Two bedrooms, HEAT PAID, beautiful hardwood floors, completely remodeled. Balcony, three blocks to campus, eat-in kitchen with dishwasher.

Living room with fireplace.

Free off street parking, cats welcome, laundry, A/C and ceiling fans. September, $640. Call 513-379-5300.

3 Bedroom, 1.5 baths.

Off street parking. A.C., laundry, deck, dishwasher.

Walk to campus. $850/ month. Available in June.

Call 513-941-0161 Two bedrooms, HEAT PAID, completely remodeled. Two blocks to campus, eat-in kitchen with dishwasher. Living room with large bay window and fireplace. BALCONY. Free off street parking, cats

Unique, quiet 2 bedroom house. 3326 Bishop.

Available 5/1. Must see.

Near UC hospitals. 513569-9433

EMPLOYMENT Play it Again Sports needs part time sales clerks.

Flexible schedule, fun job.

Call Mary at 310-3933.

National Exemplar Restaurant in the historic Mariemont Inn is looking for a few great people.

Full or part time, day and nigh positions available for cooks and food servers.

Must be available on weekends. Professonal image and great personality are required. Apply Monday-Friday 2:304:30PM. 6880 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, OH 45227 Tumbling Director Wanted: Part-time.

Teaching/spotting skills required. www.dance-etc. com BARTENDING. $250 / DAY POTENTIAL. No experience necessary, training provided. Call 1-800-965-6520 ext 225.

HOOTERS NOW ACCEPTING APPS!

Hooters of Springdale is now accepting applications for Hooters Girls, Hooters Girls at the Door and Cooks. So if you’re hard working with a great attitude and looking for a chance to make great money, then apply in person at Hooters of Springdale – 12185 Springfield Pike Springdale, Ohio. Check us out on Facebook and www. hootersrmd.com! 513-6712772.

Swimsafe Pool management has several positions available for managers, assistant managers and lifeguards at our area pools. Great summer work and pay.

Please contact us at 513755-7075 or visit www. swimsafepool.com for more information.

Attention Grad Students.

321-RIDE: Chauffeurs needed - nights/weekends.

Drive clients in their cars locally. Must have clean driving/background record. Shift pay + tips. 513.321.7433 or www.321RIDE.com.

We are currently looking for part-time reps for business to business phone sales. The position pays an hourly plus commission.

Perfect opportunity for college students who may be looking for a flexible work schedule, or a part time summer job. Call Scott today to arrange an interview. 513-520-5855.

Caregiver wanted in Mason for active, physically disabled 51-year-old. No experience, flexible hours.

10+/hour. Call 513-5646999 Ext. 688990.

COMMUNITY Tender Tots Daycare Opening March 15th. We accept 0 - 5 years, limited spaces available. www. tender-tots.com

Want to place

your classified here?

Call 513 556 5900

THE NEWS RECORD

Out Every: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

6

Wednesday May 5, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

sports covering all uc sports

SAM

ANTICS sam elliott

Cincy’s win streak ends at four Peter marx the news record

Sports never die, calendar keeps turning

Girlfriend asked an interesting question the other day: “Is there ever a time of year when there aren’t sports on TV?” Absolutely not. Thank goodness.

With every page of the calendar, there is a sports season in full bloom.

It never dies. The closing of one door brings the opening of another, and the life of a sports fan moves along in perfect rotation and rhythm. All is right with the world.

The calendar begins with basketball regular seasons in full swing with playoffs approaching and hockey moving at a similar pace. The college football season is slowly crawling to a close, as only major bowl games remain more than one week into the new year. And we’re in the heart of the NFL playoffs with the Super Bowl waiting right on the other side of January.

The sports calendar gets things going like any New Year’s resolution — off on the right foot.

Once football wraps, the march toward playoff basketball and hockey continues and anticipation builds.

As for the third month of the year, well, they don’t call it March Madness for nothing.

There’s no better time of year.

College basketball has the best postseason in all of sports.

If there’s one time of the year where you need one TV and three laptops to watch all of the sports action efficiently, this is it.

Once the college king is crowned, it’s time for the big boys in the NBA to decide their champion.

But it is April and, if playoff basketball isn’t your thing, maybe the NHL playoffs or NFL draft will tickle your fancy.

(An aside, but the new, three-day draft format was a huge success. They got exactly what they wanted — more new viewers, myself included.)

April also brings college football news to discuss, with spring camps opening on college campuses across America. The teams don’t play any real games, but fans love getting a glimpse at the future of their programs.

And we can’t forget baseball’s Opening Day. Although there are 161 games still to come, day one garners the most excitement.

By May, both the basketball and hockey playoffs are just starting to get good. Look at this year, for example. As if San Antonio knocking off No. 2 Dallas, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee putting up fights and Grant Hill finally advancing to the second round in the NBA’s Western Conference isn’t enough, the NHL’s Eastern Conference is in shambles. Four of the bottomfive lower seeds advanced past the first round and the league lost its best player, Alexander Ovechkin.

By the time trophies have been handed out and parades have been planned, summer is in full swing. So is baseball.

Full disclosure: our nation’s pastime isn’t my favorite sport, but even I can enjoy a ball game on a crisp summer night.

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a hot dog, throwing peanut shells on the ground and buying beer more expensive than the game tickets in downtown Cincinnati.

But for me, baseball exists solely to get us through from the end of basketball and hockey to the beginning of football — which is getting earlier and earlier every year.

By the time camps open, “Hard Knocks” airs and the NFL preseason kicks off, the college football regular season is already churning right along.

Despite its postseason flaws, college football really does have the best regular season.

As the leaves change, baseball’s Fall Classic decides the year’s latest champion as the regular seasons of football continue forward as college basketball and the NBA quietly tip off.

But the holiday season is dominated by football. From the NFL on Thanksgiving to college football’s bowl season surrounding Christmas, football is the reason for the season.

But there’s good basketball and hockey to be watched by now, too. Serious contenders are beginning to emerge and playoff pushes aren’t far on the horizon.

The sports calendar works in beautiful, miraculous ways. It’s a timeless, continuous cycle that has survived the test of time and, at this rate, will never die.

Gentlemen, the next time your girlfriend complains about sports on TV, remind her no matter what time of year it is, sports are always in season.

The Bearcats (23-21, 8-10 Big East) had their four-game win streak snapped Tuesday, May 4, when Wright State University scored four runs in the eighth inning to earn a 9-3 road victory.

The Raiders held a slim 4-3 lead going into the eighth, but put the game away when senior outfielder Casey McGrew hit a 2-RBI single up the middle to cap off the big inning.

“I think they scored most of those runs with two outs,” said UC head coach Brian Cleary. “It was disappointing that we couldn’t close out the inning.”

The Bearcats came into Tuesday night’s game riding high after a home win against rival Xavier April 28 and three-straight wins against conference foe West Virginia spanning the weekend, but they couldn’t stop Wright State Ian Johnson | the news record

Win Streak Snapped The University of Cincinnati baseball team had its four-game winning streak brought to a halt against Wright State May 4.

(24-17, 12-4 Horizon League), which amassed 12 hits with no errors.

Cincinnati finished the game with eight hits and two errors.

“You have got to show up and you have to pay attention to what you’re doing every night,” Cleary said. “We don’t have a lot WRIGHT of room to play with mistakes.

We have to play clean everyday CINCY because we don’t score a lot of runs.”

Wright State took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second after senior catcher Gerald Ogrinc hit a two-run shot over the wall in deep left center field.

The Bearcats, however, would respond with a blast of their own.

Justin Riddell hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning — his second of the season — which sailed just over the left field wall.

Riddell went 2 for 4 with one RBI. Lefty Josh Godfrey was brought

9

3

in to pitch in the top of the fifth inning, just in time to see the Raiders put another run on the board.

With one out and runners at the corners, sophomore Garrett Grey grounded out to first, scoring the runner from third.

Trailing 4-1 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, UC climbed back into the game when T.J. Jones hit a two-run homer the other way over the right field wall.

Jones went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and the home run was his fourth of the season.

Leading by five, Wright State tacked on another run in the top of the ninth to close out the game.

UC freshman pitcher Zach Isler picked up the loss and moved to 0-2 on the season.

Raiders starter Cody Kopilchack earned his third win and now holds a 3-1 record on the season.

Kevin Johnson finished 2 for 4 at the plate and Chris Peters went 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Cincinnati is scheduled to play its next three games on the road, the first at Wright State at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 5.

Ian Johnson | the news record

Home Run Hitter Catcher Jimmy Jacquot leads the UC baseball team with 10 home runs this season.

Feel the burn Jacquot on watch list for Johnny Bench Award

Jason Garrison the news record

Squat down and stay down. Feel the burn in your thighs and the pressure on your knees? It’s uncomfortable.

A baseball game lasts about three hours.

Can you imagine staying in that position for three hours? Jimmy Jacquot can. He does it all the time, and he does it better than most.

Jacquot, the University of Cincinnati baseball team’s catcher, was added to the watch list for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza. The award is given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher who starts at least 75 percent of the team’s games and is considered the best catcher based on athletic ability, sportsmanship, team leadership and character.

“It means a lot,” said Jacquot after the Bearcats swept the West Virginia Mountaineers in a three-game series Saturday, May 1. “To be put on a national ranking list as far as the Johnny Bench [Award] watch list. It also means a lot, I think, to our pitchers too, because in order to be a good catcher you need good pitchers. It just doesn’t work without it.”

Jacquot has a .987 fielding percentage and has made just four errors this season. He is batting .275 and leads the Bearcats in home runs see Jacquot | page 2

Sam Greene | the news record

just caught stealing Jacquot, a senior, has a .987 fielding percentage and has committed just four errors this season.

Who will win 2010 NBA Championship?

NASH, SUNS WILL CONTINUE TO RISE

LEBRON, CAVS BEST IN BASKETBALL

Peter Marx the news record

sam Weinberg the news record

This is not your Phoenix Suns team of years past. This team is different.

Yes, Steve Nash is older, Grant Hill is just plain old and they don’t play much defense, but the Suns are going to win the championship and here’s why: The addition of Jason Richardson was huge for the Suns and after just one year, he’s proving to be their x-factor.

Richardson averaged 15.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during the course of the regular season; when he scores more than 20 points, Phoenix is almost unstoppable, holding an impressive record of 30-4.

In addition to Richardson, the Suns have a slew of three-point shooters that can hit from anywhere on the court.

Nash, Hill, Channing Frye, Jared Dudley and Earl Clark all shoot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc. As a team, Phoenix is the best in the league from distance, making 41.2 percent of its 3-pointers.

The Suns average more than 110 points per game. It all starts with the pick and roll, and nobody does it better than Nash and Amare Stoudemire.

Stoudemire gets to the rim with ease and, although he has been criticized for his lack of defense and rebounding, he has improved greatly this season. Stoudemire is averaging a team-high 23.1 points per game and is averaging 8.9 rebounds, which is .8 more than he did last season.

The Lakers might have more talent and the Cavaliers have LeBron James, but the Suns have the better team. Phoenix has finally put all the pieces in place and this will be the year they win it all.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be this year’s team to beat in the 2010 NBA Playoffs and they’ll hoist the Larry O’Brien championship trophy because they have LeBron James, also known as the best player in the world.

James won’t let the Cavs lose this year. After leading his team to the playoffs with the best record in the NBA and adding a second MVP trophy to his mantle, the only thing King James has yet to obtain is a championship ring.

Averaging 31 points per game during the postseason, James has shown he really wants that ring.

But it won’t be just James. Except for Ben Wallace — who was replaced by Shaquille O’Neal — the starting cast that took the Cavs to the Eastern Conference Finals last year all remain.

Cleveland still has its perimeter shooters in Delonte West and Mo Williams, as well as rebounders in Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

In fact, if it wasn’t for Dwight Howard tearing people up in the paint last season, the Cavs likely would have won the East against the Orlando Magic.

If a matchup occurs this year, the Cavs will come prepared, bringing kryptonite in the form of O’Neal to stop Superman in his tracks.

The Cavs also made a great acquisition during the season, getting Antawn Jamison, who will add even more firepower to the Cavs offense.

With the best player in basketball and a team of able sidekicks to back him up, there’s no way Cleveland will lose this year in the NBA playoffs.

Heads or Tails?

sports.newsrecord@gmail.com | 513.556.5913