Niner Times - January 10, 2012

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

NINERTIMES Tuesday, Januar y 10, 2012

Published twice weekly and online at www.nineronline.com

A product of Student Niner Media • The University of North Carolina at Charlotte • Partially funded by Student Fees • Breaking News? Email us at editor@nineronline.com or call 704.687.7148

New on NinerOnline.com: Check out game recaps after every Charlotte 49ers Men’s Basketball game.

49ers start 2012 by helping the Red Cross to save lives

Budding new Greeks Malcolm Carter M C A RT E 7 2 @ U N C C . E D U

In with the new classes, in with the new Niners and in with the new bids and pledges during rush.

Yes, emails will be pouring into 49er inboxes with subject lines such as “It’s not too late to join a fraternity!” Invites will be sent for informal meetings with the members of the fraternities and sororities so prospective pledges can get to know members.

The Interfraternity Council and PanHellenic sororities hold recruitment in a similar manner. During rush, or rush week, prospective students attend various recruitment events hosted by each organization.

These events can include playing sports, doing community service, eating lunch or simply talking to and asking questions of members of the fraternity or sorority.

Toward the end of rush week, the fraternities and sororities extend bids, offers to join, to the students they with to see as new members.

At last year’s blood drive, students donated over 700 units of blood to the American Red Cross. This blood went on to save the lives of many individuals in need. Photos courtsey of Adam King.

RECRUITMENT, pg 2

NEWS@NINERONLINE.COM

For every unit of blood donated three lives have the possibility of being saved, and with the goal of 1,000 units of blood the American Red Cross hopes to help about 3,000 people in need.

Student organizations will come together in the Student Activities Center (SAC) Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. to attempt to break the record for most units of blood collected in one day by North Carolina colleges. This will be the third annual 49ers for Life Blood Drive.

UNC Charlotte currently holds fourth place with 726 units. The university is behind UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and Appalachian State University, which holds first place with 1,261 units of blood collected in one day. Appalachian also ranks within the top ten in the nation.

“Several student organizations are working together to make history in our school,” said Adam King the coordinator of the 49ers for Life Blood Drive. “Last year

OPINION Freshman Fireside: The

weekly freshman column expands into the new year.

Technology cripples: A

shift toward on demand viewing and other factors are hurting the movie industry.

Last Semester: A senior in his last semester reflects on UNC Charlotte and what the university has meant to him as a 49er.

with 726 units [collected] we broke our record, so we’re trying to break it again.”

Organizers set out to sign more students up for the blood drive before the holidays and left after exams with 500 donors signed up compared to the 150 who made appointments prior to donating last year. In order to recruit more donors, tables were set up around campus to inform students about the drive and set them up with an appointment.

Free food from Qdoba, Bad Dogs, Taco Mac and other restaurants will be provided as well as entertainment. The men’s basketball head coach, Alan Major, will also attend the event. “The biggest thing is trying to get the word out to as many people as possible,” said King.

Making an appointment allows the American Red Cross to ensure enough staff for the blood drive. Students and faculty without an appointment can still sign up online at redcrossblood.org with the sponsor code 14077. Walk-in appointments are welcome.

“The more people that have an appoint-

SPORTS

ment the more staff the Red Cross will send making it more efficient and quicker for everyone,” said King.

UNC Charlotte blood donations by year 1000

1000

900

NEWS@NINERONLINE.COM 700 726

600 500

486

400 300 Achieved Amounts

200

Goal 100

2010

2011

2012

Year

A&E

LIFESTYLE

RODRIGUEZ AND JAMES

ALL ABOUT RESOLUTIONS

The draft invitation of the senior

The ball has dropped and “Happy

soccer duo, striker Evan James and

New Year” will never again trend on

defenseman Charles Rodriguez

Twitter due to the forecasted apoca-

made Charlotte one of just 14

lypse. It’s 2012 and this is the year to

schools in the nation to have multiple

get it together.

players competing for a professional contract.

THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN JUST A TATTOO p.11

Library caters to student needs Ciera Choate

800

Units of Blood

Ciera Choate

p 6.

Students and the Niner Times complied a list of top 49er Resolutions for the acdemic year. p.8

After surveying, interviewing and observing students, J. Murray Atkins Library began the construction of the North Entrance, which will lead into a newly designed group work area for students. The change in the uses for the space is due to the increase of group with assigned by professors.

“We haven’t stepped off our commitment to provide students a place to work individually, but we have seen a shift in the type of work teachers are assigning,” said Stanly Wilder the director of Atkins Library.

The ground floor of the library will not be closed for the construction of the new entrance and work areas. The 15,000 square foot area will open March 1, 2012, which was pushed back from the original date of Jan. 19.

The library’s anthropologist worked with students to see what would be most beneficial in the new space. There will be a large conference room with a screen that can be hooked up to a laptop for students only, two touch screen tables for group work that allow plug-in for laptops and areas with whiteboards and wireless.

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NINERTIMES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

LIBRARY from p.1 “The design of this space really has a big element of student input. These spaces intended for student use students have a say in how they are designed,” said Wilder.

“It’s going to make sure the space we build is really successful. I think that’s a mistake a lot of other places make is not taking into account what the people who will be using it need.”

Current construction is part of a larger expansion project for the library. This 25 percent of the project costs about $700,000

and is funded in large part by private donors.

“There is state money in this, but a lot of it is money we have raised,” said Wilder. A majority of the donations were small scale and some came from parents of current UNC Charlotte students.

The library hopes to influence future donations with this project, which will give future donors a preview of what is to come with the whole expansion.

Will the world end in 2012?

CRYSTAL WILLIAMSON

JOEY SHAFFER “My prediction would be that probably nothing happens.”

MOHAMAD KONSOUH

“We’ve had people in the past say the world is going to end and it never does. It’s just people wanting to know. Everybody is concerned but there isn’t really an answer.”

BRANDON WILEY

“If the world’s gonna end there’s going to be scientific evidence to prove that. A lot of destruction in the environment is gonna happen. As long as we don’t we that, I don’t think it’s gonna end.”

“The fact that we’re getting close to the end of time can’t be denied.

Something major is in the works.”

SARAH ZWAYYER

DEBRA THOMAS

Take this opportunity to save someone’s life and beat Appalachian State’s blood drive record.

Let’s show the world how much Niner Nation cares!

“I think that if the world ends now in 2012 it’d be kind of a bad thing because there’s so much violence and crime in the world today. So… I think it would be kinda bad right now, because a lot of people need to be saved.”

RECRUITMENT from p.1 Students can receive several bids, in which case they must choose which organization they felt most comfortable in. After rushing, students may opt to choose none of the fraternities or sororities they were invited to join. There is no obligation at the end.

All IFC fraternities will be holding spring recruitment. Rush week for these organizations will be Thursday, Jan. 19 through Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.

The Pan-Hellenic spring recruitment will be Monday, Jan. 23 through Friday, Jan. 27, 2012.

UNC Charlotte’s culturally based groups have not yet made their spring recruitment information public.

For those interested in culturally based fraternities, sororities and groups, contact them directly and keep both eyes peeled for informational flyers and interest meetings.

Fraternities

ΑΣΦ (Alpha Sigma Phi) To Better The Man ΧΦ (Chi Phi) Truth, Honor, and Personal Integrity ΔΣΦ (Delta Sigma Phi) Better Men, Better Lives KA (Kappa Alpha Order)

“On knowing when the world is going to end, that’s absolutely impossible there’s no way you can find out what happens tomorrow how are you gonna find out what happens in year.”

Dieu et les Dames (For God and the Ladies) KΣ (Kappa Sigma) Fellowship. Leadership. Scholarship. Service. ΛΧΑ (Lambda Chi Alpha) Every Man a Man ΠΚΑ (Pi Kappa Alpha) Once a Pike, Always a Pike ΣΑΕ (Sigma Alpha Epsilon) The True Gentleman ΣTΓ (Sigma Tau Gamma) Something to Give ΣΦΕ (Sigma Phi Epsilon) Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love Triangle Truth Conquers All ZBT (Zeta Beta Tau) A Powerhouse of Excellence

Sororities

ΚΔ (Kappa Delta) Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest ΣΚ (Sigma Kappa) One Heart, One Way ΔΖ (Delta Zeta) Live. Laugh. Love.

NINERONLINE.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

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Looking forward to 2012

Presidential Showdown

November 2012, President Barack Obama and a currently unknown Republican candidate will turn to the American people, want to be given the presidency of the United States.

At this point in the race, the playing ďŹ eld is still a mystery, as there are four men hoping to get their name on the ballot. Below are the names and photos of those still vying for the Republican presidential nomination.

UNC Charlotte student population by race Female

Male

Caucasian (7,806)

Pacific Islander (13) African American (1,408)

President Barak Obama

Caucasian (7,921)

Unknown (446)

NonAsian resident (629) alien Hispanic (666) (844)

Multiple Races (204) Non-resident alien (489)

Hispanic (792) Asian (575)

American Indian (61)

African American (2,659)

Unknown (445) Pacific Islander Multiple Races (12) (247)

VS. Mitt Romney

Source: UNC Charlotte Institutional Research Office files

Newt Gingrich

Ron Paul

Rick Santorum

*Republican candidates chosen from top 4 at Iowa caucus.

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OPINION

NINERTIMES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

A senior’s take on the last semester

NINERTIMES Volume 24, Number 26

A New Year’s resolution in the midst of change

A PRODUCT OF

Joel Hanel

JHANEL1@UNCC.ED

It is my last semester in college, yet I do not know how to react. The last seven semesters have flown by, and I guess I have to register for graduation in the coming weeks.

Thinking about the short time I have left, several options present themselves in terms of a last college semester New Year’s resolution.

The biggest factor in choosing a resolution derives from not knowing where I will be after I receive my diploma at graduation in May. As a premise to my fate, I am a political science and history major, and plan on attending graduate school in the fall.

I have sent off many of my applications, and feel that I am in high school once again, waiting for acceptance letters in the mail.

At the same time, the downside of the applications haunt the process. If I am not accepted into a graduate program, I will have to begin searching for a job, and take another route. Though I hope this does not happen, I have to keep my options open.

I have learned that every senior has to keep his or her options open. According to the most recent data, which was in November of last year, North Carolinians sit at a 10 percent unemployment rate.

When we entered college almost four years ago, the North Carolina rate was just above six percent.

As we, the senior class, have attended college, we have experienced several changes, and many of us have changed.

Hopefully, as a senior, you are not in the process of changing majors, but that might be a possibility for several students.

Despite all of this change, I still sit here not knowing which city I will live in in six months. I do hope that my location will have decent parking. I have spent the last three and a half years planning for this

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NINER TIMES STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Joel Hanel

editor@nineronline.com NINER TIMES MANAGING EDITORS

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SPORTS EDITOR

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NEWS EDITOR

A&E EDITOR

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

LAYOUT EDITOR

Ed Niser

Ciera Choate

Students enjoying their time at last semester’s Quicky Rave. Photo by Corbin Peters point, but as it approaches, I realize there is a cloud ahead.

Yet regardless of the cloud, I do have the memories of the last seven semesters.

I have studied, went to basketball games, sat in Atkins library, done a few loads of laundry, and enjoyed my time at UNC Charlotte.

I can worry about the future, or simply enjoy all of the things I am currently doing, and those that I have done.

As a senior at UNC Charlotte, I have had the chance to expreiece several major changes that have improved my time here.

There is a Student Union, a pit that will become a football stadium, and several new dorms to note the physicial changes.

Emotionally, I have witnessed the closest chance at a National Championship our university has experienced with our

soccer team. I saw several great basketball wins, and had the opportunity to take some of the most influential classes in regards of my career.

Noting these positive points, I will make a resolution that I will continue enjoying these college experiences in the next few months. This is New Year’s resolution, because I realize that it is not about the destination, but the journey.

For the seniors who are planning on graduating this semester, enjoy the last few months despite the fact that you are waiting on your future. Take the time to experience college, however that may be, because it is hard to know what is next.

Though I don’t know where I will be, I hope that my last year of college will be worth the effort. I hope you enjoy waiting too.

Corbin Peters

online@nineronline.com

Haley Twist

Lee Pham

Ryan Pitkin

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Freshman Fireside The new semester gives students a fresh start to 2012 Jordan McSwain J M C S WA 1 7 @ U N C C . E D U

Lots of homemade food, time to relax, family, and free laundry are all words that might have described the past few weeks of your life,but it is now time to forget every one of those things because you are back in college and on your own once again.

Enjoy it. The new semester is going to be filled with different classes and different people, more basketball, baseball and softball, lots more Crown, probably some more snapbacks, a lot more ruined shoes thanks to geese, plenty of nights in Uptown and room for self-improvement.

We are scraping the surface of the New Year and you are probably already breaking your resolutions. Do you have some resolutions for school too?

Get help with those because they will be the easiest to break. This new semester is your second chance to not look like an idiot your freshman year of college and I for one am taking advantage of that grace. Here are a few recommended freshman resolutions.

Manage

After seeing how quickly the last semester went by, time management will be more of a priority. Take this next semester to get more involved and discover more of your campus, maybe see what the gym looks like. Classes are still most likely GenEd and this a good time to boost that GPA so you can screw up later in the hard classes.

Learn

Research book prices instead of just buying the easiest ones to get; find ways to save some money. You can also look smart by dressing well three or four days a week.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Realistic New Year’s resolutions Maurii Davenport M D AV E N 1 4 @ U N C C . E D U

“This year is my year.” That phrase seems quite common for those believing that the difference between two days will affect their relationships, income, and selfesteem.

While it is perfectly understandable to want to turn over a new leaf at some point in life, the lack of common sense and practicality in some people’s New Year’s resolutions are disturbing.

What’s even more troubling is the fact that it’s not just your great aunts making ridiculous prophecies for the next year; but in fact it’s our own peers coming up with ideas that are not feasible.

Losing those extra pounds is the most typical resolution that continuously fails.

While it may be true that you’ve picked up your freshman fifteen plus a few, it would not be wise to suggest you want to be back in the pair of jeans you wore in the ninth grade by spring break vacation.

Unfortunately, all you will be working towards is a first class trip to the closest hospital, for your unhealthy behavior is bound to make you ill.

Instead, try to achieve your goal gradually and promise to eat foods that are beneficial for keeping up your metabolism, along with an exercise routine.

Weight goals for the New Year are most within everyone’s reach, but expecting to shed twenty pounds by a specific date is almost always a set up for disappointment.

Then there are the others that assume a new year automatically entitles them to a better love life. “My resolution is to get a boyfriend by Valentine’s Day.” Being realistic in your goals is the always the best answer. We’ve all seen the girls wearing a noticeably, increased

amount of makeup and high heels on rainy days, waiting for prince charming to make their dream come true.

Choosing to get to know who you are would be the wise alternative, and it’s no secret that anyone looking for love will not find it.

All in all, it’s not what you wish for, but how you wish to achieve the goal.

As a student, our aspirations should be based on our current way of life, and not include anything foreign.

Make aspirations to boost your GPA a few notches by working a little harder in the upcoming semester.

Vow to give yourself more time for assignments, and promise to attend review sessions.

New Year’s resolutions should aim to better yourself, in your present situation.

These can be the break you need to get yourself to new heights, but remember,

MCT CAMPUS

results can be slow, and a new month will not create miracles. New Year’s resolutions are certainly admirable and attainable, however careful thought and consideration should be exercised.

Technology cripples the box-office Los Angles Times

Americans bought 50 million fewer movie tickets in 2011 than the year before, continuing a downward slide for Hollywood that began in 2003. The anemic ticket sales the lowest total in 16 years more than offset yet another increase in average ticket prices, causing box-office revenue to fall for the second consecutive year.

The numbers have some industry watchers wringing their hands, but they’re not a portent of doom for the film industry.

They’re just a sign that movie fans have

Try New Things

Make some more friends this semester and expand your social group.

Try Bistro 49, it’s a great on-campus date place. Stay here on the weekends.

You are not at day camp.

Take the last bit of your freshman year and actually make some changes.

This is college, and we should try to constantly change and better ourselves.

Follow through with promises and stick to the things that you want to improve. Enjoy socializing and make good grades.

Make a difference that you can be proud of. Be a true 49er this semester and make the most of that tuition money. These are the years that the rest of our lives. Enjoy them.

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MCT CAMPUS

adapted to new technologies faster than the studios have.

Analysts offered several explanations for the disappointing box-office numbers, citing high ticket and concession prices, increased competition from video games (such as “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” which generated more than $1 billion in sales in a little over two weeks) and an underwhelming and unoriginal slate of movies.

But then, when the seven biggest hits were all sequels, it’s easy to see why studios put the big dollars behind familiar fare.

A more interesting observation came from the Los Angeles Times’ Ben Fritz and Amy Kaufman, who noted a trend that’s developed over the last several years. Major studio releases often had strong opening weekends, then faded rapidly.

That suggests that avid filmgoers may still be flocking to the multiplex for new releases, but casual fans those who wait to hear what their friends recommend aren’t. Meanwhile, as the population ages, the percentage of young (and presumably more impulsive) ticket buyers has plummeted.

New technologies in the living room, such as digital video recorders and large flat-screen TVs, have helped train consumers

to wait to watch the programming they’re interested in until they can do it on their own terms.

This shift toward on-demand viewing has been supported by the spread of extremely high-speed Internet connections, which have enabled services such as Netflix’s movie streams.

Industry figures through September show that on-demand and discount homeviewing options are growing rapidly in popularity.

Some independent movie studios and producers have responded by embracing on-demand services, even to the point of offering titles on demand while they’re still playing in theaters.

The major Hollywood studios haven’t been so bold; they can’t afford to alienate the theater chains that play a crucial role in launching and promoting the hugely expensive “tent pole” films that bring in the largest chunks of the studios’ revenue.

Nevertheless, this year’s box-office numbers fit into a pattern that’s consistent across all forms of entertainment.

Technology is enabling consumers to be more choosy, and they’re willing to sacrifice timeliness for value.

Studios and theater chains can cling to the hope that the coming year’s sequels, reboots and book adaptations will be bigger hits than last year’s, but the trend lines spell trouble for the status quo.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: SETH MEYERS “Officials with the Iowa Republican Party are investigating a report that 20 votes on Tuesday were mistakenly recorded for Mitt Romney, which would mean that Rick Santorum actually won the caucus. And you know what that means…nothing.”

Police arrested a North Carolina man after he allegidely tried to buy a vacuum cleaner and a microwave at a Wal-Mart with a fake one million dollar bill. Said a Wal-Mart cashier; ‘Everybody knows there is nothing higher than a 10 dollar bill.’”

The Olympic swordsman who performed Darth Vader’s fight scenes in Star Wars died this week at the age of 89 after a long battle with his son.

MCT CAMPUS

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NINERTIMES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

A&E

NEW TO DVD:

LIVE MUSIC:

B.B. King, Jan 13/ 7p.m.

Knight Theater PPR, 2013 Wolves, Jan 12/ 9p.m.

The Milestone

The Killer Elite Moneyball What’s Your Number?

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Third Season

‘Dragon Tattoo’ gets brutal American adaptation

Rooney Mara stars in Columbia Pictures’ “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

Ryan Pitkin RPITKIN@UNCC.EDU

At one point in David Fincher’s new movie “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” a police officer asks bad girl-hacker-heroine Lisbeth Salander when she last ate before showing her some pictures of old crime scenes. “It’s better to see what you’re about to see on an empty stomach,” he says. I would give the same advice to anyone going to see this movie.

The story follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he tries to help Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), the head of a Swedish corporation, solve a decades-old mystery with the help of Salander (Rooney Mara), a young private investigator with major social problems.

Fincher’s new take on Stieg Larsson’s bestselling novel earns every bit of its R rating. The darkness of scenes depicting brutal rapes and kitten mutilation makes it your last option when bringing a girl on a first date. If you are an adult and can handle such things, I suggest checking this movie out as soon as possible.

While many novels-turned-movies leave fans arguing over which one is better (Into the Wild, No Country for Old Men), this one also has a Denmark version from 2009 with a cult following of its own.

I will be honest; as much as I try to be hip enough to watch movies with subtitles, I think it takes a bit away from the experience. There are certain subtle aspects of a movie like body language and facial expres-

Photo courtesty of Courtesy Columbia Pictures

sions that can subconsciously add a lot to the story.

These aspects can get lost when you’re busy reading the script below the screen, no matter how good of a reader you are.

That being said, it wasn’t long into the movie before I realized I could really use some subtitles for the English being spoken in this version.

Maybe it’s the weather in Sweden or just the fact that other countries have IKEAs now too, but people don’t exactly seem to speak cheerfully or even understandably. Of course, I am speaking about movie characters and don’t want to judge the people of that country based on a movie in which the actors speak a different language than them.

The star of the movie is undoubtedly Rooney Mara, who plays Lisbeth Salander. She looks just a tad bit different than her Ivy League role as Mark Zuckerberg’s soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend in Social Network.

One worry I had going into the movie was whether Rooney would be able to portray the more human side of Salander, which can be done easily in the books by a mind-reading narrator. Rooney does a great job, however, of showing that Salander truly cares for a very select few beyond her hardcore exterior.

Fincher also handles the jumps between present time and flashbacks beautifully.

With the change in lighting and accompaniment of narration, Fincher didn’t make it confusing as to which scenes were set in the sixties and which were happening now. That’s easy enough, but the best thing Fincher did in this regard was made sure that the

flashbacks stayed exactly that: flashes.

Fincher didn’t spend too much time at once in the past or even give the old characters spoken dialogue, which makes all the difference when trying to give the viewer a sense of memory. In a mystery such as this one, every detail is a key. When the crime happened forty years ago, sometimes those keys can be lost in the mind.

The title sequence is perhaps the oddest part of the movie, with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” done by Trent Reznor of the Nine Inch Nails and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs blasting to graphics of humans and computers dipped in some sort of shiny oil. It threw me off just a bit but it was more entertaining than Fincher’s opening to his last movie, Social Network. I will take a weird, gothic mind trip over a far too long-winded run through Harvard’s campus any day.

I can’t speak for fans of the Denmark film, but this movie (an adaptation, not a remake) will not displease fans of the novels. I could only find one or two plot lines that strayed from the storytelling of the book in miniscule and irrelevant ways.

It is only unfortunate that Larsson left this Earth so early and won’t be able to spin any more stories using these great characters. It is only so fortunate for Fincher that Larsson left two more great Salander books to be made into movie magic before his untimely death in 2004.

Blomkvist has the dedication to keep writing long after he has the lost the feeling in his hands.

MCT Campus

Community officially not cancelled, best episodes Barry Falls Jr. B FA L L S 4 @ U N C C . E D U

“Community has not been cancelled,” NBC president Robert Greenblatt said at the Television Critics Association press tour last Friday. “It will definitely be back this spring.”

While this news is music to the ears of the series’ many loyal fans, the vagueness of Greenblatt’s announcement left many skeptical as to whether or not the decision to bring it back was set in stone.

And questions concerning a possible fourth season renewal were still left unanswered.

Community has suffered with ratings in its Thursday night time slot, which may be due in part to The Big Bang Theory running at the same time.

While Community does not have the accessibility of other NBC television series like The Office, the fervent excitement of Community fans is unrivaled.

Nevertheless, these fans are not likely to give up on the series until they get what they want: six seasons and a movie.

Here is the Niner Times picks for the best Community episodes so far.

“Remedial Chaos Theory” As far as highly experimental concept episodes, this is Community at its best. “Remedial Chaos Theory” revolves around seven alternate realities that intertwine into one cohesive narrative.

Troy and Abed throw a housewarming party and invite the study group. As they all sit down to play a fateful game of Yahtzee, the pizza delivery man arrives. The group rolls a die to decide who has to let him in.

Seven separate realities are created each exploring the consequences of each character’s brief absence. Through each alternate reality, we discover more about how the study group functions without each character.

What makes “Remedial Chaos Theory” particularly special is the balance struck between all of the elements that make Community one of the best television shows in history- relevant pop culture references, genuine heart and laughs, deep character exploration and the sharp meta components that Abed creates.

“Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” When Jeff notices that a classmate known as “Fat Neal” is being bullied be-

cause of his weight, he invites Neal to play Dungeons and Dragons with the rest of the study group in order to boost Neal’s confidence and sense of belonging.

As the adventure progresses, Pierce’s urges to be included with the study group become darker as he validates the group’s growing resentment towards him.

When the creators of Community decide to produce a themed episode, they go all out. “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” is certainly no exception.

With Abed playing the role of the dungeon master, the Dungeons and Dragons sequence of events is brought to life and it’s full of the absurdity that Community fans have grown to love.

“Epidemiology” A zombie apocalypse-themed episode, “Epidemiology” is likely one of the most creative and entertaining half hours of television. Period.

At a Greendale Halloween party thrown outside of the student library, a bizarre series of events leads to the discovery of a suspicious dish of taco meet purchased from an army surplus store.

The students who ingest this food begin

to exhibit zombie-like symptoms that begin to spread exponentially as the sickness is spread via zombie bites.

What makes this particular episode special is how unique it is. Ultimately it proves that Community is not likely to stay within the boundaries of typical television comedies.

“Modern Warfare” When the dean promises priority registration to the last man standing in a school-wide paintball tournament, Greendale Community College quickly transforms into a savage war zone.

Full of dramatic confessions by bonfire, slow motion gun fights, Mexican stand-offs, revenge, betrayals and racially stereotypical villains, “Modern Warfare” is shot like an action movie with a quirky Community-style spin.

“Modern Warfare” features references to Scarface, Terminator, Rambo and Predator that border on spoof and homage.

The success of “Modern Warfare” led to two more paintball-based that brought the second season to an end“A Fistful of Paintballs” and “For a Few Paintballs More.”

NINERONLINE.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

PAGE 7

The Black Keys does it again with new LP

“El Camino” demonstrates the band’s newfound sense of maturity Ryan Pitkin RPITKIN@UNCC.EDU

I’m not going to do what you all think I’m going to do. A lesser man would spend this entire article talking about why The Black Keys suck.

Why they use to be great when they released “The Big Come Up,” their debut album that sounded like it was recorded in a garage. Say that the fact that they will more than likely sellout both (yes 2) shows at Madison Square Garden this March means they’ve sold out in all senses of the word.

But I hate those people as much as you do.

Black Keys have struck gold with their new album “El Camino,” which hit stores on Dec. 6, 2011. This album, their seventh, brings their style full circle and the attention they’ve garnered from it is well-deserved.

The band recorded the album at lead singer Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, where they relocated from their hometown in Akron, Ohio in mid-2010.

They brought in Danger Mouse, renowned producer and one half of the group Gnarls Barkley, to produce the album.

Mouse has worked with The Black Keys before on their 2009 album, “Attack and Release,” and the hit single “Tighten Up” from 2010’s “Brothers” album.

“El Camino” leads off with their first single from the record, “Lonely Boy.” It is easy to see from the jump that this album will get people out of their seats with a fast rhythm that differs a bit from their last album, which featured some slow songs that the band had problems playing live at times.

If you’re not sure how to dance to this song, check out the video. It went viral right out of the gates.

The Keys keep the momentum going into the second and third tracks, “Dead and Gone” and “Gold on the Ceiling,” respectively.

These songs, as well as the rest of the album, lend more credit to blues, rock and gospel of the mid-20th century than anything that has been recently released.

As the cliché goes, they just don’t make them like this anymore.

You may have heard the blues and rock descrip-

tions regarding The Black Keys before, but the gospel approach is new.

While not religious in nature, most songs feature bacground singing from Leisa Hans, Heather Rigdon and/or Ashley Wilcoxson.

I use the term background singing loosely, because it is these women’s soulful voices that boost a lot of the songs on “El Camino” from listening pleasure to experience.

A highlight of the album, and of the entire 2011 music scene, is “Little Black Submarines.”

Auerbach shows he’s not afraid of playing slow

The album cover of “El Camino” Photo courtesy of The Black Keys songs with two full verses of a ghostly acoustic song that is so beautifully written you may have to listen to it twice before moving on.

The song doesn’t end when you think it’s going to, and anyone who skips through is missing out on the type of no-holds-barred finish that leaves a guy in his car feeling he’s at a packed show.

Danger Mouse also is listed as a co-writer for the entire “El Camino” album.

In December, drummer Patrick Carney told the

New York Times, “It took us a long time to be able to trust somebody like that and not be arrogant little kids about it.”

The newfound maturity shows throughout the record. The sounds have grown with the artists and this album shows what the band has been working towards as they’ve progressed over the last decade.

Although the musical maturity has grown, the band has shown they are the same old pair of guys you can relate to.

Songs like “Run Right Back” and “Mind Eraser” tell familiar stories of their weaknesses with women.

The hilarious video for “Lonely Boy” (it’s almost as funny as “Tighten Up”) makes it easy to see that this band doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

It’s this kind of attitude that has them on the cover of the new Rolling Stone while the band they were opening up for two years ago, Kings of Leon, is nowhere to be found.

Another humorous irony surrounding the album is the cover picture.

One would think that a photo on the cover of an album named “El Camino” would probably depict a Chevrolet of that model.

The cover, however, shows a Chrysler Town & County van of the same type that the duo toured in during their more modest beginnings in Akron.

Auerbach has said that this was the first album that he and Carney approached without planning transitions or writing songs.

This is the most ironic thing about the album because it comes off as the most polished piece of work The Keys have ever done.

The album was released to rave reviews and on Dec. 3, 2011, they became the first non-hosting act to play Saturday Night Live twice in the same year.

The band that used to tour in a Town and Country now plans to hit towns in eight countries for their 2012 tour.

Tickets are already on sale for The Black Keys’ concert at Bojangles Coliseum on March 24th, 2012. Get your seat now, just be warned; you won’t be using it much.

The Great Eight: 2012’s most hyped films Patrick Bogans PBOGANS@UNCC.EDU

If this truly is the last year of mankind’s existence, there will be plenty of great movies to send us on our way. Of all the blockbusters and fanboy movies coming out in 2012, eight of them have already built the sort of hype that is usually saved for only a couple flicks per year. Here are some of the movies that already have internet message board moderators pulling out their hair.

Every film listed is either a prequel, sequel or adaptation of a bestselling book; that may explain the hype.

The Dark Knight Rises (July 20) Director Christopher Nolan is ending his Batman trilogy with a bang this year, and many are calling this chapter the most anticipated movie of 2012.

Since the booming success and critical acclaim of his 2008 film “The Dark Knight,” the tenth highest grossing film of all time, fans have been awaiting this conclusion. They eat up every little detail Nolan discloses before he can make the announcement himself.

Everyone remembers Nolan’s dark, sly and gritty approach to the Caped Crusader’s story as well as the captivating performance given by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Hopefully, this last installment can have the same effect.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 14) Before the world ends, at least we will all get to see this movie. With all of the rumors surrounding the production of the film and Peter Jackson’s battles with the studio, an “unexpected journey” perfectly defines the fact that this prequel to “Lord of the Rings” will actually be released.

The first of the two-part chronicle of Bilbo Baggins will be released at the end of this year, to the excitement of LOTR fans everywhere.

The Hunger Games (March 23) Suzanne Collins’ beloved novel has been adapted to film and will be released early this year.

The first of the planned series, The Hunger Games is about a deteriorated North America that becomes divided into 12 districts. Two representatives of each district are chosen to participate in a brutal fight to the death for the citizens to watch.

The main characters live in District 12, which they describe being called Appalachia by their ancestors. The film was shot in different parts of North Carolina including Charlotte, Shelby and Asheville.

The Hunger Games stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson and is directed by Gary Ross.

The Avengers (May 4) Without a doubt, the biggest superhero film of all superhero films will be coming your way this year.

Many well known super human protagonists will be joining forces in “The Avengers” to fight Loki, Thor’s brother, from destroying Earth. The Hulk, Ironman, Captain America and Thor are among those coming together to prevent this catastrophe from becoming reality.

The film, directed by Joss Whedon of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer fame, will officially trigger the geek in all of us this May. American Reunion (April 6) There was this one time, in 1999, when four guys made a pact to lose their virginity before graduating from high

school.Now, 12 years later, the complete original cast of the original American Pie movie series is back for their high school reunion in Michigan.

Considering that more than a decade later, people still get the references to band camps and MILFs, it will be exciting to see what the guys have up their sleeves.

Men in Black III (May 25) Sticking with this blast from the past theme, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are black – I mean - back this year as well.

Agent J (Smith) goes back in time to stop an alien from killing Agent K (Jones) and changing history.

“Men in Black II” was panned by many critics, so here’s hoping this installment can rectify the series that started out with a movie so memorable.

If Smith can just wear that orange jumpsuit he sported in the first installment, I’m sure it will be memorable enough.

The Amazing Spiderman (July 3) The previous Spiderman franchise, which only ended in 2007, is being entirely rebooted this year.

Andrew Garfield takes over as the new leading man, along with Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans as Gwen Stacy and the Lizard, respectively. The fans’ reception for this new Spiderman series is hard to predict, but hopefully the movie is a worthy reboot to Sam Mendes’ “old” series.

The Bourne Legacy (August 3) There’s a new CIA operative this time around for the Bourne series. Jeremy Renner, from The Town and The Hurt Locker fame, is taking over the franchise in place of Matt Damon with an original screenplay.

A new hero and a new chapter begins

for the Bourne movies this August.

There are many honorable mentions for anticipated movies of 2012. Skyfall, Prometheus, Battleship, Red Tails, Brave, The Expendables 2, Snow White and The Huntsman, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and the final Twilight film are also coming out this year.

Overall, 2012 should be a good year for movies, with so many highly anticipated films hitting cinemas in such a short time.

Even if some of these films are a disappointment, here’s guessing their box office revenue will not be.

PAGE 8

NINERTIMES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Where a Niner’s spare moments go

CAMPUS TREND ALERT

New year, new look Haley Twist HTWIST@UNCC.EDU

Even before it was New Year’s Eve, I started to see many magazine articles discussing the new trends for 2012.

It seemed that many fashion editors discussed new styles early on, such as wacky new patterns, the bold colors and the trendy handbags.

While I took all of these suggestions into consideration as I shopped for the spring semester, I decided to ring in the new year with new hair.

In a previous column I talked about some of my scariest fashion phobias, one of them being a short, choppy pixie cut. Over the break I faced my fear and chopped off most of my hair, creating a new look that made me step outside of my comfort zone in a very good way.

For about a month before I finally decided to cut my hair, I started researching the many different kinds of pixie cuts.

Did I like the pixies that were a little on the longer, somewhat shaggy side? Or did I like the super short, classic pixies?

I read online that each individual has their own variation of the pixie cut depending on face shape and hair qualities.

And after many hours spent looking at pictures of celebrities with pixie cuts I decided that my favorite one was sported by Ginnifer Goodwin, who also has a round face like mine. Seeing so many stylish pixie cuts pushed me to schedule a hair appointment.

The Tuesday after Christmas I walked into the hair salon, nervous but excited about the prospects of the end result. I had been in contact with the hairdresser so we both already knew what the plan was. I took a seat in the chair, had my hair washed and then stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Though I do not really have an attachment to my hair, I did like the fact that my haircut was safe. My hair was parted in the middle and fell slightly past my shoulders.

While it could be described as bland, it was safe and that was the scariest thing of all as I looked in the mirror and watched as about 6 inches of my hair was cut off in one clean cut.

And that was it; there was no going back. The hairdresser and I talked while she cut, deciding how long it should be on the sides and in the front, and frequently going back to a picture of Ginnifer Goodwin for reference.

And when it was all finished I could not be more pleased with the result. It was short. Very short. And while that was scary it was even more exciting. It would give me the opportunity to try new, edgier things with my overall look and style.

The moral of the story is to try something new this year. What’s that one legal thing you’ve always wanted to try? Whether it is with your style or something totally different, use 2012 as the excuse you need to go for it.

Chances are you won’t regret it and will receive pleasing results!

All about

New Year’s

Resolutions Lee Pham COMMUNITY@NINERONLINE.COM

It’s that time again. Your grades are slumping, your circadian rhythm is shot and your bad habits are taking a toll on your brain, heart, liver and/or lungs.

The ball has dropped and “Happy New Year” will never again trend on Twitter due to the forecasted apocalypse. It’s 2012 and this is the year to get it together.

Making annual resolutions has become tradition, but by the end of year, broken goals lay in debris fields of crashed efforts.

It isn’t that they impossible to reach, but putting them off another year is easier and therefore often favorable. Well, it’s time to grow up. Why not make it happen this year?

Successful resolutions begin with obtainable objectives. Many people let their resolutions fall by the wayside because the task is unreasonable. Choose resolutions that you believe you have the potential to complete. Be ambitious but not too ambitious.

After choosing a goal, strategize the best way for you to reach it.

If possible, take a look at ways that others have done so and determine if their tactic is right for you. Not all goals have common routes.

For example, sophomore Hailey Roberts has resolved to quit smoking. Furthermore, she intends to quit cold turkey.

“It would benefit my health by not smoking considering that I have asthma.

I’ve already done it once last semester so

I know I can quit again,” she said.

According to Health.com, quitting cigarettes cold turkey, which means the user abruptly stops smoking without the aid of nicotine supplements, only works for 3-10 percent of people. Roberts has done it before and knows that she has the ability to do so again.

Remember, you know yourself the best, so you have to adapt techniques to suit your needs. In the same situation, some may have a better success rate by quitting gradually.

Another common deterrent is simply forgetting the resolution altogether. Students are oftentimes occupied with classes, work and social activities.

Unless ignoring your resolution has an immediate, adverse consequence, it gets put on the backburner.

“The stress of being back to the daily grind moves your focus from being on your resolution to the day ahead of you,” explains junior business major Jess Taylor.

To avoid neglect, periodically checkin with yourself and see how far you’ve come since the previous benchmark.

Take this time to assess your progress and adjust your approach accordingly.

Each check-in should be another milestone toward tackling your New Year’s Resolution.

There’s a reason you make New Year’s Resolutions. It’s because something you want to do or change has been too inconvenient, challenging or costly to achieve.

Stay focused and, if needed, pace yourself.

NINERTIMES STA FF FE E D

49er resolutions

Cook more instead of resorting to Crown Commons Get buff by spring break Quit (or at least cut back) on smoking Finally make the Dean’s List Take the long way to class Spend more time in Atkins Library Set one night aside a week to study instead of to party Socialize with your roomates Attend more sporting events Show more school spirit Suck up to your professors Start couponing Network with professionals

NINERONLINE.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Warm winter fashion

PAGE 9

NINER TIMES RECIPE

TUrKEY MeATbALlS Tricia Bangit

TBANGIT@UNCC.ECU

It’s the start of a new semester, which means the workload should be relatively light for now. When I have extra time on my hands I love to bake turkey meatballs. They can easily be stored away in the freezer for those busy days that require me to write a paper or get a bunch of laundry done. Don’t be afraid to experiment with this recipe by throwing some of your own favorite condiments and seasonings into the mix.

MCT Campus

Scarlett Newman SNEWMAN6@UNCC.EDU

As the temperature begins to drop, fashion begins to pile high.

Students start bringing out the scarves, jackets, gloves and hats. As much as we want to stay warm and cozy, it’s also a priority to be as equally stylish.

Most winter trends are very affordable and it’s easy to come up with an ensemble that is practical and chic.

A timeless piece essential to any closet, male or female, is a peacoat. Not only are peacoats warm, but they have a subtle military touch to add a great line to any outfit.

Classic peacoats don’t come in a “female” fit but there are many stores such as Forever 21, GAP and Urban Outfitters that retail feminine cut peacoats, making the peacoat an easy find.

An popular alternative is the aviator jacket. Aviator jackets are lighter than peacoats, which are heavier and a bit bulkier.

They are also known as flight or bomber jackets, which were originally used to keep pilots warm in an era when planes did not have enclosed cockpits. They’ve become a big part of popular culture and fashion.

One of the most frequently worn winter

North Carolina native Greg Miller sports a deerstalker hat, a nahajo-printed scarf and a peacoat. Photo/ Scarlett Newman accessories is the deerstalker hat. Deerstalker hats are worn by men and women and are made with real fur or faux fur. Usually described as “the hat with the flaps on

INGREDIENTS: • 1 lb ground turkey • 1 tbsp tomato sauce* • 1 cup bread crumbs • 1 egg • 2 tbsp milk • 1 tsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp salt • 3 tbsp lemon pepper • 1 tbsp garlic powder

it,” deerstalkers can be purchased from stores like H&M to higher-end department stores like Barneys New York.

Hobo or “fingerless” gloves are another staple accessory to have during the winter because they’re functional while trying to complete hands-on activities in addition to

*can be substituted with 1 tbsp ketchup

Dipping sauce • 3 tbsp mayo •2 tbsp mustard • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce • drop of tabasco sauce DIRECTIONS: 1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Lightly grease a baking pan.

3. Mix all ingredients for meatballs in a large bowl. If mixture is too dry, add one teaspoon of milk at a time. If mixture is too wet, work in more bread crumbs.

4. Roll turkey mixture into evenly sized balls and place on the baking pan.

5. Put baking pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the meatballs are lightly browned.

Chelsea Gloria pairs hobo gloves with a cheetah-printed scarf. Photo/ Scarlett Newman keeping your fingers warm. A unisex trend, hobo gloves can be paired with a casual outfit and, when worn properly, a more formal one.

Printed scarves are also something that have been making their way into the winter trend file for quite a while. Various types of prints are worn such as cheetah, navajo and stripes. Solid scarves are constant during the winter as well as infinity scarves, which are fashionable but keep your neck warm too.

Sweater tights are a fairly new trend that are worn as an alternative to trousers or jeans. They are made of knitted sweater material and fall into the legging category.

They keep your legs warm and come in solid colors or navajo style prints.

Many of these are essential to the winter wardrobe. They are functional yet stylish. You can find these trends for any price range, so being a broke college student won’t keep you from being chic during the winter. If you look around campus, you are guaranteed to recognize most of these trends.

6. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the dipping sauce.

7. Put any leftover meatballs in a sealable container or freezer zip-loc bag. Store in the freezer.

PAGE 10

NINERTIMES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

DOWNTIME 10

11

Tuesday

Professional Engineer (PE) Breadth Exam Review for Civil Engineering UNC Charlotte Center City 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Wednesday

Free GRE Strategy Workshop UNC Charlotte Main Campus 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Charlotte 49ers Women’s Basketball vs. Saint Louis Halton Arena

12

Thursday

13

Friday

3rd Annual 49ers for Life Blood Drive

14

15

Saturday

Sunday

Blackout - Charlotte 49ers Men’s Basketball vs. Saint Louis

SAC

9:00am - 8:00pm

Halton Arena 2:00pm

Group Fitness Sampler SAC Group Fitness Studio 5:30pm - 7:30pm

7:00pm

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 10, 2012

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Jan 09, 1493 Columbus mistakes manatees for mermaids

Jan 10, 1901 Gusher signals start of U.S. oil industry

Jan 11, 1908 Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument

Jan 12, 1926 Original Amos ‘n’ Andy debuts on Chicago radio

Jan 13, 1128 Pope recognizes Knights Templar

Jan 14, 1875 Albert Schweitzer born

ACROSS 1 Stops stalling 5 Concert souvenirs 10 Spongy ball brand 14 It’s often fenced 15 Toys that need wind 16 Electric co., e.g.

17 Cosmopolitan piece 20 Without help 21 FDR’s successor 22 Milo of “Ulysses” 23 Nothing at all 25 Inner Hebrides isle 27 “This can’t lose” 32 Sinbad’s transport 33 Part of SASE: Abbr.

34 Support at the meeting 37 Somewhat wet 40 Caesar of comedy 42 Do over, as a bow 43 Island greetings 45 Whole bunch 47 Stein filler 48 Los Angeles Times piece, e.g.

52 “Show Boat” author Ferber 53 School since 1440 54 McCartney bandmate 57 Signal for immediate assistance 59 Cooks cakes 63 Stipulation from a wealthy purchaser 66 Banquet hall vessels 67 Plant in Greek legend 68 Productive start?

69 Pest in a swarm 70 Nautical speed units 71 Heath-covered wasteland DOWN 1 __ mater 2 Shade of black

1/10/12

By Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke

3 Like many lunch orders 4 Song section 5 Do a downhill run 6 Two-bit gamblers 7 Colorado natives 8 “Vamoose!”

9 Outdated geopolitical letters 10 Pain in the neck 11 Carve in stone 12 Make hopping mad 13 Dog bugger 18 Snazzy duo?

19 More stylish 24 Wish one hadn’t 26 Cries of surprise 27 “__ la Douce” 28 Chisel, e.g.

29 Offspring 30 Musical with the song “A New Argentina” 31 Was able to reach 35 River through Sudan 36 Consider 38 Most diaphanous 39 Cheap and gaudy

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

41 Deduces, slangily 44 Hyphenated ID 46 Table tennis table divider 49 Relay, as information 50 Lyndon Johnson’s sonin-law Charles __ 51 Experiencing serious traffic

1/10/12

54 Self-satisfied 55 Undecided 56 “The King and I” role 58 Not snookered by 60 Numbers game 61 Prefix with plasm 62 Ruckus 64 Class 65 WWII espionage gp.

Get the answers at www.nineronline.com/downtime

NINERONLINE.COM

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

Rodriguez and James impress at MLS combine

PAGE 11

SPORTS Men’s SCHEDULE Basketball vs Duke Wed. 7pm, Charlotte, NC

Men’s Basketball vs Duke Wednesday

Wed. 7pm, Charlotte, NC

Men’s Basketball vs Duke

Men’s Basketball @ Massachusetts 7 p.m.

Wed. 7pm, Charlotte, NC

Women’s Basketball vs. Saint Louis 7 p.m.

Saturday Men’s Basketball vs. Saint Louis 2 p.m.

Women’s Basketball @

George Washington 2 p.m.

SPORTS RESULTS

Men’s Basketball

WIN @

Seniors men’s soccer standouts Charles Rodriguez (pictured above left) amd Evan James overball during the 49ers Sweet 16 victory over Akron, impressed Major League Soccer coaches at the 2012 MLS Superdraft combine in Orlando,Fla., with the draft to be broadcasted live on ESPN2 at 12 p.m.

Thursday. Photos by Chris Crews Ed Niser

SPORTS@NINERONLINE.COM

Prior to the 49ers men’s soccer teams’ run in the final four of the College Cup, they learned that two of their own stars were on the receiving end of an invite from the MLS to their draft combine the first week of January.

The invitation of the senior duo of striker Evan James and defenseman Charles Rodriguez made Charlotte one of just 14 schools in the nation to have multiple players competing for a professional contract.

James stockpiled the accolades throughout the 2011 campaign, bringing home Atlantic 10 player of the week honors twice along with being named to TopDrawersoccer.com’s National Team of the Week.

James seemed to transition into the role of a facilitator this year than in previous years when he was more of a scorer.

His field awareness allowed him to create chances for teammates leading the team with seven assists.

On the offensive side of the pitch, James possesses the ability to score in traffic using controlled dribbling, but when given space to work with, he’s lethal down in the corners.

In 2011, James scored just five goals partially due to the emergence of fellow

striker freshman, Giuseppe Gentile, who led the team in goals with 10.

At the combine this weekend MLSoccer.com’s Jason Saghini commented on the play and potential of James’ stock in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

“He has the skill, but the main question many are asking, is does he have the mentality to be a pro and stay in the game the entire time, I thought his performance

to a goal or less, tallying a shutout in nine matches.

If Rodriguez is taken in the MLS Draft, the team who picks him up will immediately notice the agressive style of play he possesses when over ball, as well as his fierce style of play.

Rodriguez has the intangibles all players should have, including the team mentality.

Catch James and Rodriguez in their final combine match live on mlssoccer.com today at 10:00 a.m. as Adizero faces Prime. helped himself in front of the coaches, he was very activem,” said Saghini following the first day of competition in front of MLS owners and coaches.

Rodriguez, the Niner’s second combine invide, garnered two All-American first team honors from Soccer America and the National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association, following the 49ers run to the National Title game.

Rodriguez is the type of player who makes everyone around him better, as the Charlotte defense limited 21 opponents

Throughout the entire NCAA Tournament run Rodriguez always diverted the attention from his individual performance to that of the overall team.

The combine action continues through Jan., 12 when the draft will be broadcasted live on Espn2 at noon from Kansas City, M.O. James and Rodriguez are currently playing on the Adizero team, throughout the combine.

On Sunday Rodriguez was able the start for Adizero’s defence.

FANS OF THE WEEK

Saint Joe’s

57-52 Women’s Basketball

WIN @

Xavier

58-54 SPORTS FACTS

Top Performer

Pierria Henry led the 49ers in all offensive categories with 11 points and 5 rebounds against Saint Joe’s

Men’s Soccer Trivia?

Which English soccer club did recently promoted men’s soccer coach Kevin Langan play for?

Tweet your answer to @nineronline

The Niner Times would like to thank you, the readers and fans, for the continued support of all 16 varsity sports, you truly provide the 49ers’ an added advantage. Photos by Corbin Peters(left) and Chris Crews (right)

PAGE 12

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012

NINERTIMES