The Crusader Oct 2014

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VOLUME LXV ISSUE i

SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949

ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL

October 2014 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY

Ice bucket challenge creates supporters, critics By Greg Schoepp ’15 This past summer, social media ignited a firestorm with one Facebook wall post, the first video of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. American social media has since been swarmed with countless videos of what seems like everyone we know, dumping water on their heads and spreading awareness for ALS. However, the movement has come with some serious criticism. More specifically, drought-stricken California residents have scorned the challenge for causing further depletion of usable water. In addition, critics from all over the country have attacked the challenge for being a medium of “slacktivism.” Nevertheless, the sheer amount of donations, spreading awareness, and support of ALS affected families exhibit just how beneficial the challenge really is. On July 14, Jeanette Serchia completed the challenge for her husband, Anthony, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- more commonly known as ALS. She then posted her video to Facebook, and in a flash, their entire community of friends and family rallied around the Serchias, making videos of themselves completing the challenge and then posting them to social media. “Everybody came together in our community,” Senerchia said. “We couldn’t keep up with all the videos.” Not long after, these videos started clogging the social media pages of Pat Quinn, an ALS sufferer who has many connections in that community. He passed it on to Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball captain, who in turn passed it on to various athletes and celebrities. And that’s where the Ice Bucket Challenge really took off. That’s where it officially became the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. As this social phenomenon exploded, criticism spread everywhere like shrapnel. The first major issue critics tend to have with the challenge is that it allows for superficial people to pretend to care about others in order to get Facebook likes or other forms of praise on social media. While some see this as a valid argument, and it may be true, sufferers of ALS could not care less. Bo Stern, an author and wife of an

Eric Rocha and Wesley Morris douse Band Directors, Kyle Hildebrant and Scott Souza, Jason Conci and Nick Silva.

ALS sufferer wrote in her blog titled, “What an ALS Family REALLY Thinks About the Ice Bucket Challenge”: “And if someone gets to look good while plunking their $50 in the ALS tip jar, I have zero problem with that. Because here’s the deal: We are in for the fight of our lives with this monster, and the very LAST thing I want is for people to give quietly, anonymously, and then slink away. Raise the roof! Raise a ruckus! Call all sorts of attention to yourself! I will be happy for you and every Facebook like you receive, as you nudge ALS an inch or two closer to the collective public consciousness.” Essentially, what Stern says is that this transcends the cynicism of critics. ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, as it is also known, is severely underfunded and lingers in the shadows of the unknown for most Americans. Because of this lack of adequate attention, any and all efforts to promote awareness are appreciated. The next curveball critics try to throw at the Ice Bucket Challenge is that it seemingly does not raise enough money, seeing as the option proposed in the challenge is to either donate $100 to ALS or dump the bucket, so anyone posting a video of water dumping (which is A LOT of people) apparently did not donate, right? Wrong.

The overwhelming trend throughout the course of the challenge has been that the majority of people do the challenge AND donate, and boy do they donate. According to Matthew Herper’s article on the success of the challenge in Forbe’s magazine, “the ALS Association has since said that it has raised $15.6 million as a result of the challenge, nine times what it normally raises in the same time frame. Another ALS charity, Project ALS, told the Washington Post that its donations were 50 times normal. ALS TDI, another ALS charity, says it has raised $580,000 since the beginning of August, 10 times what it normally receives.” Being California residents, the repercussions of the challenge in light of the drought must be considered. According to the Washington Post, the challenge has used a little more than 5 million gallons thus far, and more is on the way. Many ice bucket challenge takers felt terrible for having done the challenge, seeing as seven communities were predicted to run out of water by Sept. 1 in California. However, further information from California’s Department of Water Resources information officer Doug Carlson in Wire may have changed more minds.

Photo by Viggen Rassam

“In the severe crisis we’re in right now, people should reduce the water they’re using,” he said, adding that the department has not given the Challenge any thought in light of the drought. “People waste more water than [the 5 million gallons] needlessly watering their lawns.” Shirely Li, journalist for the Wire continued, “Indeed, there are many ways to look at the math. If it’s 5 million gallons of water wasted so far in three weeks, that’s a tiny amount compared to the 320 gallons of water used by an American household per day. Then, given 117,538,000 households according to the last census, that’s 37,612,160,000 gallons used in one day. Five million out of more than 37.5 billion gallons equals about .01 percent. That’s literally close to nothing.” Essentially, the Ice Bucket Challenge comes with some serious pros but cons. However, for some, the pros drastically outweigh the cons, due to the sheer amount of money raised, and the awareness that has spread. When it comes down to the issue of the drought in California, supporters say that California residents who take showers longer than one minute, water the lawn, or wash their cars, have no right to criticize the Ice Bucket Challenge.

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OPINION

October 2014

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Parking privileges should extend to seniors By Gavin Kinahan ’15

As an upperclassman at ARHS, one of the biggest concerns of my day is where in the heck to park my car. That’s stress we do not need. Just being able to have somewhere that we can park would make our day so much smoother. Everywhere you go around Riordan, you have City College students trying to find parking, plus you also have other ARHS students trying to find parking. Honestly, how big of an issue would it be for a couple kids who drive their own cars to school to park in the school parking lot? Seeing

that if someone like myself gets to school around six in the morning, we should be able to get a spot in our school parking lot. Not being able to park around the school could be a troubling issue for a good portion of those who drive to school. Having talked to other students who drive, they also say they have the same issues. There is a fantastic expression that explains what it’s like to claim parking around Riordan: “The early bird gets the worm.” Sadly, that is not always the case here. When I go out to eat lunch around 12:45, there are many empty spots everywhere you look. But for some reason, students are not allowed to park. Students and the teachers should be able to work around this problem. Maybe students get to park in the lot for one half the week and teachers get the other half. Or, maybe we can all park there together. If we park in the lot, we run the risk of having our cars towed. This sounds extreme. Maybe just a ticket from the administration would be better.

Some teachers don’t drive their car to school or carpool with others. Therefore, those spots should be up for grabs. A student does well in class and the teacher wants to give him a break, so maybe give him a little slip allowing that student park in his or her spot for the day. City College has two massive parking lots that would be impossible to fill up every day with only those students. The top half of the parking lot is pretty compact while the bottom half is open. It looks like no one has ever been down there. Maybe the ARHS administration could work something out with City College and allow us to park there for maybe a dollar a day. Seeing that they never use it, they would be making so much more money from us using it, and any kid who has gotten a ticket would rather pay a dollar a day than paying $200 or even more for a ticket they get for parking on street cleaning days. If you are an athlete, you have to go to your car after school, and

race back to get there before rush hour happens, before all the kids are getting picked up. That can be a real nightmare. Everyone is like zombies: double parked here, double parked there. All the student drivers that I have talked to would much rather drop their car off at City College and walk one or two minutes to the parking lot than have to go through even more chaos, let alone trying to find a spot in the morning and risk being late for class. Another thing that would be nice to promote would be carpooling. Students who carpool with others could have priority in parking in the lot. That would save on gas, too. Not only would that promote a healthier environment, but less chaos that is a goal for the world as a whole. The main idea for school should be focused on academics, not worrying about parking.

Crusade for improvements continues By Alex Herrera ’16

It’s the start of the 2014-2015 school year, and many of us should already be accustomed to the daily routine of attending ARHS. At this point, one can already form opinions about the direction the school is heading in this year. This being my third year attending ARHS, I know the ropes as good as anyone. Putting everything into my own perspective, Riordan is in an unadvertised decline. There is no question that many of our favorite faces among the faculty and staff have not returned this year. As to the why they did not, is unknown. There are several reasons as to why faculty members chose not to return. Whether it be a financial, personal, or professional decision, their long lasting effect on Riordan continues through the memories and stories.

Possibly in direct correlation, the size of classrooms this year has noticeably increased. The benefits of smaller classes are no longer something the majority of main courses can claim to provide. Teachers are now instructing multiple courses, with larger numbers, instead of being able to focus on just a few. Both the increase in the student body, most notably the classes of 2016 and 2017, and recent faculty changes have an effect on class size and class effectiveness. As ARHS admits larger groups of students, our smaller campus will need expansion to accommodate the growing student body. Although expansion would make sense, expansion costs large amounts of money, requiring a larger source of income. Although it can be argued that alumni funds and donations are sufficient sources of capital, private funding is never a constant flow of spendable dollars. This means that ARHS’ main source of money comes from the tuition of students, especially those in the boarding program. I believe this is the reason for the increase in enrollment. In addition, the downhill direction of Riordan Athletics is no secret. For the past few years, Riordan has not been able to successfully compete with other WCAL schools such as

Bellarmine and Serra. Over the years, attempts to change the course of Riordan athletics have included changes in coaching staff, athletic directors, and plans for the athletic facilities. With the exception of past successful basketball and wrestling seasons, Riordan Athletics have experienced losing records time after time. Being known for subpar competition creates a sense of frustration and embarrassment among the Riordan community, leading to the loss of spirit and enthusiasm for our athletic teams. Anyone who has attended a Riordan rally over the years has likely noticed the lack of participation and interest in the event. The overall support of the student body can really motivate Riordan athletes to perform well and competitively. Unfortunately, spirit and the support of our teams are scarce within the community. Like any issue, the support of our community and those on a higher level can stimulate progress through necessary and effective decisions. For us as students, we must support our teams, and continue to voice our opinions. Stay informed, and fight for the direction y’all believe Riordan should be moving in. The bottom line, we define our school.

Co-editors: Mike Patterson ’15 Greg Schoepp ’15 Contributing editors: Jordan Batres ’15 JC Canicosa ’16 Brandon Castro ’18 Alex Herrera ’16 Gavin Kinahan ’15 Brian Kosewic ’16 Ron Manlapid ’16 Luis Martinez ’15 Keven Munoz ’18 Karim Ndiaye ’15 Sean O’Driscoll ’16 Brad Peraza ’16 Roman Peregrino ’18 Jake Rassam ’16 Baktu Godhwani Segismond ’16 Stephan Smith ’15 Jacob Taylor ’17 Andrew Trapsi ’15 Newspaper Advisers: Ms. Mary Dalton Ms. Susan Sutton, CJE

1949

October 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

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The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Knights earn College counselor coaxes schools to campus their stripes By Andrew Trapsi ’15

New to the Archbishop Riordan community, but a veteran in college counseling, Melissa Nagar takes the stage to guide students along the path to higher learning. Before Riordan, Nagar was the college counselor for Lick-Wilmerding High School. Nagar said, “I am very excited to be a part of this all boys Riordan community.” Nagar is somewhat familiar with Riordan because she has had family and friends who attended school in Crusader Country. She described Riordan as a fun environment full of energy.

Representatives from various colleges penciled in Riordan for a visit to our campus and to get to know the students better, as they may some day be their students. Students who are interested in learning more about what colleges have to offer and how to be admitted are advised to meet the admission directors and find out as much information as possible long before senior year. To find out when specific colleges will visit, go to naviance.com and sign in. From there, students will be able to access the college visit schedule and sign up for upcoming visits. Check regularly because updates will often occur. High school students are overwhelmed with many activities at school and at home, but Nagar is there to help guide students and reduce any anxiety they have about college admissions. Counselors advise freshman and sophomores to not be scared to try new things, but rather, explore interests by joining activities and clubs. Develop good study habits to

strengthen and maintain academics. Keep in mind that academic performance is the most important aspect of college admissions. Juniors are cautioned to remember that although junior year is perceived to be the toughest in high school, they should excel in academics and extra curricular activities. For seniors, continue to work hard and do not let “senioritis” take over. Stay organized and check email regularly because a lot of information will be delivered frequently and quickly. Work hard until the very end and finish strong. Most of all, remember you are not there yet. Mike Patterson ‘15 said, “Meeting with Mrs. Nagar was very informative and useful.” For more information, students should stop by and talk to Nagar in the counseling wing to get to know her and prepare for the future. Although students can contact her via email, mnagar@riordanhs.org, she would prefer that they visit her office and set up a meeting.

By Luis Martinez ’16 The Knights of Riordan is a group of young men who wear purple and white striped rugby shirts and assist visiting parents and prospective students around campus. Led by Director of Admissions Derek Tate and his assistant, Sally O’Connell, the knights are the guardians of the gate, hosting eighth graders at Riordan, and visiting schools to promote the benefits of Archbishop Riordan High School. Matthew Quach ‘17, the C.E.O., is the student leader for the group, which is more than a club because they represent the school at Bay Area high school fairs. Jacob Rassam ‘16 said being a knight means a lot to him because he feels that he is helping the school in securing its future and making Riordan’s present better. O’Connell said, ”The Knights of Riordan represent almost every type of ethnicity, academic level, athletic skill level, and club on campus, and really show what Riordan is all about and show the values of brotherhood.” The Knights are also in charge of organizing open house, which is on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Counselor coaches on court, in classroom By Karim Ndiaye ’15

Archbishop Riordan High School opened its doors 66 years ago and since then, many faces have graced the corridors. Among them is Danny Arias, Head of the Counseling

Department and basketball coach. Arias grew up in San Jose, where he attended Archbishop Mitty High School and then Chico State. He spent his junior year of college in Florence, Italy and received his Masters at San Jose State University. Arias really loves his job as a counselor because he gets along with the students, sees them grow up, and also helps them become better young men. He enjoys being around amazing people. Even though every year is different, it always promises to be exciting. As a basketball coach, he loves working with coach Rich Buckner ’90 and the other coaches and staff.

Riordan hosts Crusaders for a Day By Keven Munoz ’18

On Sept. 15, five students came to visit Archbishop Riordan High School as part of the Crusader-for-a-Day program. This program gives 8th grade students the opportunity to preview our daily life, reflect upon their visit, and eventually decide to choose Riordan as their new home for the next year and beyond. They all described their visit as “interesting” and “fun.” The effects of our nature made them re-think where they want to go to high school and are now struggling to figure out

which school to pick: Archbishop Riordan or another high school in the greater Bay Area. One of the visitors said, “Riordan is now tied for my first choice.” As the year progresses, and recruiting continues, students and staff hope that everyone stays positive and shows the eighth graders why Riordan should be their top choice. The Director of Admissions, Derek Tate, said, “It’s the number one thing to attract prospective applicants into our school.”

He loves competition and enjoys watching the players get better, smarter, and stronger. Inspired by his dad, who was a basketball coach at El Camino High School in South San Francisco and the fact that he no longer plays competitively, he knew that he wanted to be a basketball coach. He said he enjoys working with the students, helping them achieve their goals, and seeing them reach their potential. Although he had some tough moments as an assistant coach, losing in the NorCal championship two years in a row, and as a counselor seeing students endure difficult times, so far,

the work has been rewarding. Arias said in five years, he hopes to be head coach of the basketball team, win league, section, NorCal and state titles. He added that he’d like to find a good woman to marry, have a family, achieve some of his goals, and spend time with his family and friends. He advises students to pay more attention, and think about everything they do: How they approach school, and treat people. They should fully commit to what they are doing and think about where they want to be in the future.

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CAMPUS NEWS

October 2014

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Renovations reinvigorate programs By Alex Herrera ’16

While the summer meant a getaway for most, school leaders spent countless hours making changes to the staff and the building, providing well needed additions to the school community. Although it may seem too early to say, this school year already seems to be full of ambition and goals. Still, before any changes can be made, there is the need for proper funding and realistic budgeting, according to ARHS President Joseph Conti. Since Archbishop Riordan High School is under the private school system, the majority, if not all, of funding is private. This can limit the speed in which a certain project is started and even completed, yet allows school leaders to have more options in which the funding can be used. Conti stated, “I think both have their challenges. When you have government funding, you have some very specific criteria you have to work to… Being a private school, the challenge is getting our story out. I find when I do talk to benefactors, they want and are happy to support the school… They like seeing what their funds are going towards.” With proper funding, the team in charge of building renovations and other campus related projects was able to commence in a series of major projects before the 2014-2015 school year began. The numerous changes to the campus include the renovated snack bar and the bathrooms that are connected to it, the complete renovation of the TV studio and neighboring room 114, general maintenance in the dorms, and the moving of a couple administrative offices. The biggest addition to the campus is the renovated TV room/ studio. Scott Rea, Director of Facilities, said, “We had a fairly large project in

our TV Studio. That TV studio was one of the original fixtures of the school in 1948, so it was time for some upgrade. We now have a really professional TV studio where the students can do our daily broadcasts.” In regards to the opportunities the new studio would provide, Rea said, “I think the idea behind the project is a great idea. I was a student who excelled more in science and theatre. The TV studio allows students to actually be hands on with the newest technology, giving all students an opportunity to participate in something they excel in.” Being a school in the WCAL, the West Catholic Athletic League, ARHS is part of an athletic empire that seems to sweep California sporting events. To many, there is no question as to the importance that the athletic programs have. That being said, many contend that ARHS is in need of upgraded athletic facilities and

upgraded training equipment. Associate Athletic Director Bob Greene would like to focus on structuring the programs before focusing on the distant future. He said, “Championships are nice and winning is great, but my focus is more about the process than the product. Meaning, I want us to do things the right way en route to our end result. I want ARHS to be known as having an athletic program that has integrity, toughness, decency, and professionalism.” In regards to the Football Field project, something that has been promised for the past three school years, Conti confirmed that the project is still in place. School leaders have every intention to complete the field. When it will be completed, however, is still unclear. The main issue is the lack of funding for the project in addition to finding the right time to complete it. A project of that size will take countless hours of labor and a large sum of money. Jacob Rassam ’16 said, “The addition of a nice athletic field would hopefully bring out more enthusiasm from the athletes, and even bring more attention to the school. That being said, I don’t believe we will see the field anytime soon. I give it four years or so.” As the year goes by, the administration will authorize more upgrades and renovations will be needed, complete current projects, and seek ideas for future projects. As of now,

room 215 is still being converted from a storage room back to a teaching classroom for RSP, and additional general maintenance that carried over from the summer is still in progress. Future projects include painting the school, upgrading athletic facilities, remodeling the band room, and continuing to upgrade other aspects of the campus. Rea said, “They’re major projects when you talk about future projects. They’re five year out projects… painting the school is something we are trying to accomplish, and one of the largest things on the forefront of the school is our athletic facilities. All the plans are in place. Everything has been drawn up for those particular projects, and as of right now, we are in the funding phases.” Schools within the WCAL are in constant competition to claim titles and trophies. As one school upgrades its facility, another school does the same. As one school excels in athletics, band, or academics, the other schools attempt to outplay, outperform, and outthink its competition. Conti said, “We’re providing a service, so there is always that aspect of competition. It is always there, no doubt about that. At the end of the day though, we have to remember who we are. Everything we do should be focused on the students who really want to come here. All of the schools are different and similar in the way they do things. We have our diversity, and the important aspect of individuality. Two things that have not changed at ARHS.” Photos by Viggen Rassam

October 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

5

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Seniors stroll down Memory Lane By Mike Patterson ’15

Seniors come to the harsh reality that their teachers were right. High school flies by. Three seniors shared their highs, lows, and regrets over the years. Andrew Trapsi, Elliot Lloyd, and John Howard, are students who have made their mark in different areas during their years at Archbishop Riordan. Trapsi has been involved with sports such as basketball, football, and lacrosse and other activities such as being a part of the LIFE Team, liturgy team, PAC, telecast, and newspaper. He has also been on the honor roll, maintaining at least a 3.0 or above since his freshman year. He is looking forward to graduating and participating as a member of the LIFE team, mostly because his favorite memory of Riordan so far has been the LIFE retreat. The LIFE retreat is a six-day event that involves the Riordan LIFE team along with other LIFE teams from Los Angeles and Hawaii.

“I met more people, made a lot of friends, and got closer to my Riordan brothers,” he said. As Trapsi looked back on his experience, he realized that he hasn’t regretted anything so far. He has gotten the opportunity to do everything he wanted. As his time in high school winds down, the one word that describes his Riordan experience so far is “astonishing.” The next senior, Elliot Lloyd, is the student body president of Riordan. Lloyd has achieved a lot during his three years at Riordan, academically and sports wise. He played basketball, and participated in track and field/ cross country. He is a part of student government, the LIFE team, CORE team, Crusader Brothers, Amnesty International, and the Quiz Bowl. Lloyd has been on the honor roll since freshman year and continues to display his academic excellence through the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. Outside of Riordan, he plays

club basketball, takes photos, and likes creative writing. This year Lloyd looks forward to track and field, Senior Olympics and “helping run the school right.” His favorite memories of Riordan included every day in his American Sign Language class with Masayuki Oshita. Throughout the years, Lloyd had few regrets. He wishes that he could’ve “learned Mongolian or had an in depth conversation with Coach O.” The word that describes his Riordan experience is “life-changing.” And now, John Howard. Howard is also a member of the LIFE team, chorale, and theatre, being involved in several plays. “Freshman year was awesome,” Howard said, because he made a lot of new friends during his first year. “Although some would say sophomore year is forgettable and non-important, it was the BEST year for me so far. It was when I really got involved at Riordan.”

Junior year is a very important year in high school because students take the PSAT, SAT, worry about grades, colleges, etc. Because of this, Howard thought that his junior year was the most stressful and difficult, saying “the pressure was on.” Howard looks forward to senior year, his final year as a Crusader. He is most excited for band, theatre, and taking a leadership role in the LIFE team. His favorite Riordan memory is the time he auditioned for “A Mid Summer Nights Dream.” Howard expected to play a small role in the play, but instead, landed a main role. His only regrets at Riordan are not playing lacrosse, football, wrestling or rugby. Finally, one word that describes John’s experience at Riordan is “swift.”

Archbishop Riordan High School welcomes several new members to Crusader family By Keven Munoz ’18 Nora Birmingham

Birmingham is the new school receptionist. She went to Mercy High School and is the sister of a Riordan Alumnus. Previously, Birmingham was the cafeteria manager at Saint Anthony-Immaculate Conception Academy. She said her best quality is her hospitality skills. Birmingham came to Riordan because she “wanted to work at Catholic school.” At the reception desk, she is the first person students, staff, and visitors see when they enter the building.

Gilleran is the new Athletic Director from Seattle, Washington. He attended an all-male high school and has lived in San Francisco for 30 years. Previously, he worked as an NCAA investigator for eight years and as a conference commissioner for the West Coast Conference for 25 years. He went to Seattle University on a basketball scholarship and received a law degree and a BA in Journalism, according to a news release. Both of his boys graduated from Riordan and he is happy to be back. He said, “When your kids are happy, you’re happy as a parent.” Gilleran loves to read, for he says that a symbol representing him is a guy sitting in a library. He likes to have time to read and a break from all the excitement in the world of sports.

drove all the way from Maryland, three to four days, a couple months ago and worked at Starbucks as a barista. He has always loved technology and, “interacting with you guys,” is even better, he said. He studied at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and demonstrates perseverance, having moved from across the country. All he has to say is, “It’s a miracle.”

Huling, at the help desk, has a very different story from all the other new faculty and staff members. He is also a new member to the Bay Area, originally coming from Maryland. He

Susan Sutton

David Lin

Richard Huling

Mike Gilleran

to impact someone’s life.”

Lin is a Riordan graduate from 1999 and previously worked at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, but said that he has always wanted to work here at Riordan. He began his career as an intern for principal Vittorio Anastasio. When he found an opportunity to come back to Riordan, he went for it because he said, “It’s always been like home.” Lin coaches football, as well, which helps him meet the sophomores. He said, “In my life, I learned to be grateful,” which is why he chose to describe himself as “grateful.” He’s grateful for “being able

Sutton is a San Francisco native who graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy and taught at Jefferson High School for 13 years. She came to Riordan because of the positive way her Crusader friends have talked about the school. In addition, Sutton said, “After 13 years, I needed a change and something to reinvigorate my love for education.” She said she is enjoying her first year at Archbishop Riordan High School, teaching Introduction to Composition and World Literature, as well as advising the student newspaper. She sees herself to have a lot in common with a cat, saying, “A cat can be quiet, and they see more than people realize.” These are only a few of the new members of our school. The next issue will feature several more new residents of Crusader Country.

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

October 2014

A look back: Past Crusader champions inspire athletes By Jake Rassam ’16

WWE champions, professional bullriders, and NBA greats have all walked through the doors of Sleep Train Arena. However, on March 23, 2002, Crusader purple and gold shined brightly throughout the arena. Archbishop Riordan High School has a rich history in California athletics, especially when it comes to the basketball program. Many championship teams, first-team WCAL players, and even McDonald’s AllAmericans have practiced, trained, and played in the same gym we get to call our home. Growing up, we heard stories of Riordan greats such as Jaha Wilson who leads Riordan history in scoring (1,825), rebounds (1,337), and blocked shots as well as players who went on to play professionally in foreign lands like Dwayne Fontana ’90, Rob Jones ’07, Terrence Mullins ’86, and several others. Two Riordan greats even played in the NBA: Chris Munk ’86 and the late Kevin Restani ’70. Above all, only one Crusader team has been able to attain the coveted state championship title. The 20012002 Crusaders, coached by Rich Forslund, battled their way to Sleep Train Arena (Arco Arena at the time) located in Sacramento. The team was a strong unit; however, star senior captains Marquise Kately and John Tofi elevated the team to success. In light of the big game, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Mitch

Stephens noted, “Tofi and Kately are connected by more than just entry passes or follow shots. They are trueblue friends clad in Riordan purple and gold, brought together by the game and bonded by big but delicate hearts.” Coach Forslund had more to say about the stars, stating, “For big-time players, they are very unselfish. They are always more concerned about their teammates than individual success. They quietly go about their business and get the job done. You’ll never see John or Marquise pounding their chest, saying ‘Look at me, look at me.’” On that historic day in March 2002, the Riordan Crusaders filed into the packed stadium, preparing to take on southern California powerhouse the Centennial Apaches, located in Compton. The Apaches were a great coalition of talent, including senior forward Darius Sanders, who stood 6 feet 6 inches tall, a powerful backcourt composed of lights out shooter Gabriel Pruitt, and most notably, point guard Arron Afflalo, who currently plays for the Denver Nuggets. The game was a battle evenly matched until Riordan’s experience outlasted Compton’s athleticism. L.A. Times reporter Ben Bolch was on the scene and reported, “Kately, who finished with a game-high 24 points, dribbled past Sanders, laid the ball on the rim and watched it roll into the basket with 25 seconds left. ‘He kind of surprised me on how explosive he

Student parking problem persists By Greg Schoepp ’15

To many students, the parking situation at Riordan is really difficult. Students find themselves having to arrive to school earlier and earlier in the morning just to find a single space. Some students are fine with purchasing a pass to park at City College. Other students aim to find better means to park in the mornings, and as sophomores will be getting their driver’s licenses soon, solutions will be needed as soon as possible. One possible solution is to ask teachers who do not drive to school

was on that last play,’ Sanders said, his eyes red and swollen with tears. Then he paused. ‘I let my team down.’” Tofi also contributed immensely by grabbing 10 boards and 15 points with a floater to tie the game in its waning moments. By winning this state championship, Riordan obtained their first state title, as well as becoming the first boys’ state champion among all San Francisco high schools since 1926. The 2002 Crusader team was nothing less than spectacular. Coach Forslund won the San Jose Mercury Coach of the Year award and continued coaching until the 2008 season, accumulating a record of 194124 at Riordan. Marquise and John both continued their basketball careers at Division I colleges, University of California at Berkeley and University of Texas, El Paso respectively, as well as gaining numerous first team nominations and awards among Bay Area and California athletic associations. Currently, John Tofi resides in the Sacramento area, but plays professionally in Belgium; he returns to his home in San Francisco to compete in the Pro-Am league hosted at Kezar Pavillion during the summer. Marquise holds second place in scoring (1,454) and rebounds (679). Tofi sits in right behind in rebounds (660) and scored a total of 866 points throughout his Riordan career.

Another notable baller produced from this team was senior shooting guard Josh Vegara, who holds fifth place in most three pointers converted (65). The 2001-2002 Riordan Crusaders have left their marks throughout Riordan history, and even San Francisco athletics.. Coach Forslund was kind enough to express how he presently feels about the team and also what is most memorable to him. "I have seen every player from that team on one occasion or another...One of the biggest factors in this group's success was how unselfish they were and also how supportive the parents of this group were." He further expresses his appreciation for this special team by stating there was "Outstanding player performances, fantastic parents and fans, great student body support, super teacher and administrative support from the Riordan faculty and staff and tremendous help and following from Riordan Alumni. It was an unbelievable journey for two years and one I will always treasure. It was a great opportunity for all of us involved to represent San Francisco and Archbishop Riordan High School and I am truly blessed to have been small part of it." Statistics provided by ARHS Statistician, Patrick Segurson ’82

International Drive raises money for Nairobi school By Jordan Batres ’15

every day to allow upperclassmen to park in that teacher’s spots for a small fee. Teacher Nate Simon, who does not drive to school every day, said, “I think it’s a great idea, and would definitely help the problem.” Principal Vittorio Anastasio said that “these empty spaces are a necessity for visitors” and cannot be used by seniors. In addition, he pointed out that CCSF has moved from a system of issuing semester long passes to only issuing the daily passes to students. Although Anastasio is not necessarily in favor of this “Space Share Plan,” he agrees that the parking situation at Riordan is quite difficult, especially if one is not able to arrive early enough to find spots close to the school. According to the school parking lot map there are 73 parking spaces for staff, three for visitors and two designated for handicapped drivers. There are not enough spaces for the entire faculty/staff of the school, however, many elect to commute or take public transportation.

Several weeks ago, Riordan finished the first drive of the year, the International Drive, which raises money for Our Lady of Nazareth school in the Mukuru area of Nairobi, Kenya. Mukuru is one of the poorest areas in Nairobi and because Our Lady of Nazareth school is a Marianist school, the Crusaders are helping the Marianist communities around the world. To many, education is one of the most important gifts a person will receive in his or her life time and the kids at this school really embrace that. They try their hardest to excel in school and after they graduate. School is something Americans may take for granted, but it is really a blessing, and the students in Mukuru understand that. Going to school at Our Lady of Nazareth costs money, so Riordan’s goal was to help pay for the education of as many students as possible and give them the same privilege

Crusaders have. For instance, $125 pays for a scholarship for a student to go to school at Our Lady of Nazareth. During the two-week drive, Riordan raised a whopping $2,600, exceeding the goal of $2,000. This amount is enough for 20 scholarships and then some; 20 scholarships means 20 more students get an education in an underprivileged area. Andres Uribe, CORE team adviser, said, “The students exceeded our expectations and did very well with being generous this year.” Giving to others is an important part of Marianist life and the entire community succeeded in doing just that during the drive. The winning homerooms were: Chris Fern, room 220 and Ted Desaulnier, room 102, who raised $298.75 each, and honorable mention to Mary Ann Datoc’s homeroom, 119, who donated $223.43.

October 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

7

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Homeroom 203 wins 43rd annual Frosh Olympics By Roman Peregrino ’18

In an exciting Freshman Olympics, the closest in recent memory according to Freshman Class Moderator Jeff Isola, Michael Vezzali’s homeroom, 203, emerged victorious on Sept. 11. Homeroom 203, who was coached by David Lin ’99, due to the absence of team leader, Michael Vezzali ’88, had a tough road to becoming champion with many nervous moments at the end. “It felt stressful actually,” said Zachary Hilario ’18, a member of 203. “It was really tight, and we were pushed to the limit. Then we came out on top.” Another member of the team was a little less anxious. “I knew we were going to win,” Cole Grubbs ’18 said with a grin. At dinner in the cafeteria beforehand, tension was in the air. There was a sense of anticipation for the games to begin. As it came closer to 6:30, the doors to the gym opened and everyone ran in, yelling and screaming all the way. With time winding down, the homerooms each started to chant, trying to be louder than the other. When it was time to start, the Crusader mascot came out

and “lit” the Olympic torch. Finally, it was time to begin! As each block and event progressed, the intense need to win in all of the contestants’ faces was apparent. Homeroom pride was clearly a big deal. From arm wrestling to checkers, everyone was trying his hardest to put his homeroom on top. “There was great brotherhood, teamwork, and unity. It was tense and we showed tremendous teamwork,” said Hunter Parker ’18. Teamwork was key in the most nerve-wracking and strength testing event: tug-of-war. The leader going into the event was 203 who had held the lead since block two. The only other contenders for the overall title were 205 and 207. Homeroom 205 had stayed in contention by having a strong showing in all the races and 207 had been a consistent finalist all night long. So, after four blocks it came down to the final event, and all 203 had to do was get third place to win. The third place game overshadowed the championship match, because 203 beat 205 to clinch them the championship! Final

Homeroom 203 celebrates their victory.

tallies showed 203 as the winner, 202, getting second due to their lastminute tug-of-war victory, and 205 falling into third. After the Olympics were finished, the participants and Crusader brothers came together for a spirited rendition of the “Alma Mater.” On the injury front, there were many minor injuries including rope burns and bruises and a member of 204 may have broken his nose. On the lighter side, there were several

Photo by Prestige

comedic moments. There were slipups, especially in the three-legged race, and in the balloon pop relay, some people struggled to pop the balloon. All in all, freshmen, parents, teachers, and staff thought it was a great evening. Members of the Class of 2018 learned that it’s not just about winning, it’s the laughs, the cheers, the hard work and the brotherhood that they will remember.

Gilleran appointed new Athletic Director By Karim Ndiaye ’15

This month, Archbishop Riordan High School welcomed Mike Gilleran as the new Director of Athletics. Interim Director Bob Greene will stay on as Associate Athletic Director. According to a news release, Gilleran brings years of athletics management experience to Riordan. For more than 20 years he served as the Commissioner for the West Coast Conference, working with private colleges and universities in California, Oregon and Washington to develop policies and articulate strategic directions for intercollegiate athletics program. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Santa Clara University’s Institute of Sports Law and Ethics and is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco’s Graduate Program in Sports Management. Gilleran has many hopes for this year, including, interacting with coaches, knowing their philosophies to keep players motivated, and supporting them. He also wants to interact with parents, advising them to encourage players to learn about themselves as well as support them and not to put more pressure on them. His main goals this year are the following: making the right decision, and get the entire athletics department involved and on the same path. In terms of the day-to-day tasks, Gilleran wants to reserve officials early as well as make announcements about programs earlier so that athletes and fans can prepare to play and support the teams.

He also long range goals to promote the school, have coaches share their spirit with the players, and promote a strong, positive voice for the school. Gilleran is confident he will achieve these goals because he has a determined team of people and coaches behind him. Gilleran advises students to learn to face adversity in life and in sports, have a strong mental know how to bounce back from an obstacle, and lastly, to be honest with themselves. “Our athletics department has seen a number of changes over the past few years, and we are excited to bring Mike on board to further continue the great traditions of Riordan Athletics,” said Principal Vittorio Anastasio in the news release. Anastasio continued, “We also want to thank Bob Greene for leading Athletics as we began the school year, and are pleased that he will continue to be involved through his role as Associate Athletic Director. Together Mike and Bob will lead the department and help create the best possible experience for our student athletes.” Gilleran is a long-time member of the Riordan community. He is the father of Joe ’12, who was the corecipient his senior year of the Molkenburh Brothers Outstanding Athlete Award, and Graham ’13, who is currently a starting member of the varsity basketball team at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Gilleran with his son Graham and wife Virginia Griswold, M.D. at 2013 Senior Night.

“As the parent of two Riordan graduates, I understand the mission of the school as well as the needs and opportunities. There is tremendous spirit, heart and dedication among the students, faculty, coaches and parents at this school,” said Gilleran.

Gilleran attended Seattle University where he received a BA in Journalism and later a law degree. He also played professional basketball in Europe. Photo by Viggen Rassam

8

LOCAL & WORLD NEWS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

October 2014

California continues quest to quench thirst ISIS crisis prompts American response By Brian Kosewic ’16

By Sean O’Driscoll ’16

California is suffering one of the worst droughts in state history. Water reserves are quickly running out, and government regulations may not be enough to prevent disaster. This year has been the hottest on record, and the drought is showing no signs of letting up. 99.8 percent of the state is covered with “severe” drought, and more than half the state is under “exceptional” drought, according to a report by the U.S. Drought Monitor. What is even more disturbing is that the International Panel on Climate Change forecasts that temperatures will rise between 2.5 to 10 degrees during the next century. That means that the conditions that seem unusually hot and dry to us will soon be considered normal, and that this drought will not end anytime soon.

The regulation also allows local governments to issue fines of up to $500 a day to individuals that do not follow the regulation. But is that enough? The regulation does not fully prohibit the use of drinking water for watering gardens and lawns, nor does it limit other wasteful practices like washing cars. Additionally, the regulation must be enforced by local governments. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, for example, seems reluctant to fine water wasters, saying that their enforcement of the regulation “focuses on education and notification; fines and citations are a last resort only.” Besides the obvious danger of running out of water, droughts pose another threat: the hot, dry conditions

A before and after photo of an East Bay resevoir.

Photo by meterhero.com

The state only has enough water in storage for about 11-17 months, and yet Californians continue to use water at an alarming rate. People are still watering their lawns and washing their cars, wasting precious drinking water. Golf courses retain their vibrant shades of green, even though the average golf course uses about 312,000 gallons of water a day. In January, Governor Jerry Brown called on Californians to reduce their water consumption by 20 percent. At the time, Timothy Quinn, executive director for the Association of California Water Agencies, called the move “a critical step for the state amid this crisis.” It wasn’t. In the months following Governor Brown’s plea, water usage across the state actually increased. The fact that people won’t reduce their water usage means that much more drastic measures by the government are required. On July 29, the state enacted an emergency regulation that states, “all Californians will be expected to stop: washing down driveways and sidewalks; watering of outdoor landscapes that cause excess runoff; using a hose to wash a motor vehicle, unless the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle, and using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is recirculated.”

are perfect for wildfires. Since the start of 2014, firefighters have fought close to 6,000 fires, meaning that a new forest fire starts every 56 minutes. So far, none of the fires have become an unchecked disaster, but that may not be the case for long. Seasonal winds often cause fires to spread out of control. “That’s what changes the fire behavior from something they can put out to something they can’t,” said Bill Stewart of the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. If this drought really is a sign of things to come, then Californians need to start re-examining the ways that they use water, and begin to treat it as a finite resource. Brown lawns, shorter showers, and unwashed cars will likely be the reality of the future. While the state does have some long term plans in place to construct salination plants that can convert seawater into potable water, the reality is that such plans will never be able to replace the abundance of water that we enjoyed during the last century and a half. There still may be a silver lining to the drought, though. As water prices rise, it may become cheaper for Riordan to turf the football field than to pay for the water to keep it green.

ISIS has been trying to create a united Islamic nation through the conquest of the Middle East since 2003, and has recently captured places such as Tikrit and the Iraqi city Mosul. With the recent execution of an American journalist, world leaders are preparing to deal with the terrorist organization. ISIS/ISIL, or the Islamic State, recently released a video of a masked man beheading a person with a knife. That person has now been confirmed to be the journalist James Foley, who went missing in Syria on Nov. 22, 2012. The masked assailant had Foley read a presumably scripted speech in which he said that the U.S. Government was his “real killers.” The masked man went on to blame the United States for the deaths of many Muslims because of recent airstrikes authorized by President Barack Obama. He claimed that the United States was “no longer fighting an insurgency,” and that “any aggression towards the Islamic State is an aggression towards Muslims from all walks of life who have accepted the Islamic Caliphate as their leadership.” The terrorist declared that “to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic Caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people.” The man then beheaded Foley, and displayed another prisoner who is identified in the video as Steven Joel Sotloff, a correspondent for TIME magazine. Leaders and people from countries around the world are shocked and horrified by the release of the video, and want a solution to the crisis in the

the threat posed by ISIL terrorists.” The United States and Iraq have already begun to combat ISIS. Iraq has sent in its military to combat the terrorist group and recapture strategic points such as Mosul Dam near Mosul, Iraq. The United States has been assisting the Iraqi military by providing air support. Seemingly in response to the recent execution of Foley, the U.S. military announced that 14 more airstrikes had been conducted against hostile militants. These airstrikes come after President Obama said on Aug. 20 that the “United States of America will continue to do what we must do to protect our people. We will be vigilant and we will be relentless. When people harm Americans anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done.” Many countries seem determined to end the threat of ISIS, and to deal with the growing number of Western fighters within ISIS. Whether ISIS could be a direct threat to Western countries is being evaluated, but the largest threat is in the Middle East. People around the world, both government officials and civilians, are protesting and calling for their respective countries to combat ISIS. In London, there were protests in late August conducted by Kurds and supporters of another terrorist organization called the PPK. Brian Kosewic said, “the (United States) government has to deal with them, and I am not opposed to sending American troops.” Whether or not ISIS will still pose a

Middle East, as well as an to the killing of journalists. “My response...would be to gather world support for a tragedy that’s not just happening to Americans but the world as a whole” said Mr. Elu, a history and economics teacher at Archbishop Riordan High School. “It is an attempt to end free speech for not just America, but for the world as a whole.” Intelligence agencies in the United Kingdom as well as the U.S. are working to identify the masked man based on voice analysis. His accent suggests that he is from Britain, possibly the London area. United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron ended his vacation early to address the issue of the video and ISIS as a whole. His office stated that Cameron, “will meet with the Foreign Secretary and senior officials from the Home Office, Foreign Office and the agencies to discuss the situation in Iraq and Syria and

threat in the coming years remains to be seen, but as long as they exist, they will continue to terrorize people across the Middle East. John Kerry, Secretary of State for the U.S. said, “There is evil in this world, and we all have come face to face with it once again. Ugly, savage, inexplicable, nihilistic, and valueless evil. ISIS is the face of that evil, a threat to people who want to live in peace, and an ugly insult to the peaceful religion they violate every day with their barbarity.”

Photo courtesy of bbc.com

October 2014

SPORTS

9

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

NBA preview: King James returns to Cleveland seeking crown By JC Canicosa ’16

The 2014 off-season was the most exciting in recent history. Lebron comes home to Cleveland to form a super team with Love and Kyrie, Carmelo chooses loyalty with New York over winning Chicago or starstudded fame in LA, the rooks from the most hyped draft class of this century have found new homes on new teams, and team USA found gold in Spain. The league has officially been shaken up and everyone's looking forward to see what's in store. The NBA's an unpredictable league, so here's my attempt to predict the unpredictable. (These rankings are where each team will seed next season, not who is better than whom.)

East 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: MVP- Lebron James On paper, the Cavaliers are the most talented team in the entire league, led by their new Head Coach David Blatt. Blatt is already undoubtedly a better coach than Mike Woodson, Cleveland's former coach. Even though Blatt has never coached an NBA game in his life, he was very successful as a coach abroad with a record of 182-53. And with an all star cast of Love, Lebron, and Kyrie-how can you mess that up? Cleveland has also become a free agent hot zone with Lebron after signing highly regarded veterans Shawn "Matrix" Marion and Mike Miller. The only concern for this team is that not too long ago, many were saying these things about the disastrous 20122013 Los Angeles Lakers. Both cases are very similar as their big threes are made up of three ball dominant superstars. If they can get their chemistry correct, which they should, there is no reason Cleveland can't be a 60 win team in the East. 2. Chicago Bulls: MVP- Joakim Noah The Bulls have had the second best offseason in the league. First, the Bulls have maybe the steal of the draft with Doug "McBuckets" McDermott. Then,

they signed Pau Gasol at the price of Carlos Boozer, then added one of the best overseas players, if not, the best in Nikola Mirotic, and finally Derrick Rose is back (and claims to be in the best shape of his life)! Derrick Rose (at MVP shape) alone makes the Bulls title contenders once again, so with all these great added pieces, expect Chicago to give Cleveland a run for their money. Just don't fall too far into the Derrick Rose hype. He does look fast and strong, but he played terribly in FIBA. He could get into the paint just fine, but he couldn't finish inside or shoot outside at all. He converted on just 25 percent of his shots and made only one 3-pointer out of 19! When the NBA game speeds up, defenses in the paint are going to be much tougher and the three point arc will be a couple feet back, so Rose is a long way from being back into MVP shape. 3. Washington Wizards: MVP- John Wall Washington took the biggest turn into playoff contention last season after being subpar for several years. After losing in the second round to the imploded Indiana Pacers, the Wizards have kept their young core together after re-signing Marcin Gortat, their defensive anchor, to a 6-year $50 million deal. They also added huge veteran presences in Paul Pierce and Kris Humphries. The Wizards do have the potential to make it to Conference Finals, but it all comes down to how

John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, and all the rest of their young talent can improve this season and get over the hump. 4. Miami Heat: MVP- Chris Bosh Bosh is the All-Star player that potentially saved the franchise from being lottery-bound afterJames signed with Cleveland. And while he hasn’t been a team’s “go-to” player since his days in Toronto, Bosh is ready for the challenge and has recently been working with that new role in mind. Others expect Dwyane Wade to simply assume the leadership position he held prior to the Big 3 union in 2010, but with Wade’s health and consistency at question, Bosh’s versatility, and contract, make him the obvious focal point for Miami’s offense next season. Even with Lebron's departure, the Heat still have a potent offense and great overall depth with the additions of Shabazz Napier, the (as Lebron says) "best point guard in the draft,” Luol Deng, an all star level forward, and Danny Granger, a recent former star. The Heat are still an elite team in the league with elite talent and an elite front office. Lebron leaving doesn't change this team's championship aspirations. 5. Toronto Raptors: MVP- DeMar DeRozan Toronto was one of the most exciting teams last playoffs. They've also kept that core together by re-signing Kyle Lowry to a four year deal. The Raptors also have great young talent in DeRozan, Terrence Ross, and Jonas Valanciunas who can only get better from here. Toronto was able to steal the 3rd seed last season, but they've moved down the seeding not because they've become worse, but because other Eastern teams have upgraded their talent so much.

6. Charlotte Hornets: MVP- Al Jefferson The Hornets, not too long ago, were the worst team in NBA history. Now, they've turned completely around and reached the playoffs and look to do so again. This turnaround is mostly due to new head coach Steve Clifford integrating a high level defense onto the team, Al Jefferson signing a huge deal with Charlotte, and improving their roster with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Noah Vonleh, and Lance Stephenson. Kemba Walker, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Vonleh are still very young in their early 20's. This young core along with Stephenson and Jefferson can take the 6th seed and stay playoff contenders for years to come. The Hornets’ new name symbolizes a change this franchise is heade towards. Charlotte will be a force in the Eastern conference for years.

7. Atlanta Hawks: MVP- Al Horford Many forget that a fully healthy Atlanta Hawks team was the clear 3rd seed in the East and going toe to toe with the Pacers and Heat in the Eastern Conference domination. Unfortunately, their star center Al Horford suffered a torn pectoral muscle mid-season and the Hawks fell all the way to the 8th seed and a few games away from blowing a playoff appearance entirely. As an 8th seed, the injured Hawks squad went blow for blow with the 1st seed Pacers and at one point, everyone thought Atlanta would take the series, but eventually lost to the more talented Pacers. Now, Horford is healed and ready for training camp and this new and re-vamped Hawks squad is ready to build on their near upset and finish even stronger. They haven't added much to their current roster, just defensive specialist Thabo Sefolosha, but that shouldn't stop Atlanta from having another good season. Drama in front office may hold them back, but their racism scandal seems to be being handled very well by the front office and NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.

continued on page 10

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SPORTS

October 2014

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

continued from page 9 8. New York Knicks: MVP-Carmelo Anthony The Knicks came close to losing Melo in free agency, but Carmelo had enough belief in Phil Jackson, and the Knicks’ Front Office President’s plan to turn the Knicks around. The Knicks made a Head Coaching change by hiring Derek Fisher who used to play Point Guard for Phil with Los Angeles

after complete domination in the NBA finals. The 2012 Celtics proved to us that three first ballot HOF's aren't enough to overcome age and consistently win championships. The difference between the 2012 Celtics and 2014 Spurs is Greg Popovich. Popovich is an anomaly of a coach; his defensive and offensive systems have consistently been top 5 in both categories for years, no matter who he coaches. The Spurs have the talent, experience, and chemistry to repeat, so the question becomes: Can they hold off the new talent the Western Conference has to offer? 2. Oklahoma City Thunder: MVP- Kevin Durant Oklahoma City is more talented than they've ever been. Westbrook and Durant create the best onetwo combination in the Western Conference and Ibaka is arguably the best defensive power forward in the league. Steven Adams moving to the starting center position gives Oklahoma one of the best starting

for 10 of the 18 years of Fisher's career. Many expect Fisher to act as a surrogate coach for Jackson, which was all but confirmed when Fisher implemented the triangle offense into New York's summer league team. The offense was effective considering he only had a few days to integrate the system to a summer league team. Moving away from New York's isolation heavy offense should improve their offensive efficiency by now having an organized offense. The Knicks core has changed. An offseason trade with Dallas left New York without Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler in exchange for Jose Calderon. New York's many positive changes led by Carmelo Anthony will make New York a playoff team once again.

West 1. San Antonio Spurs: MVP- Tim Duncan The Spurs are coming off their 17th straight 50 win season (if you count the 2011 lockout shortened season since they were on pace for 50+ wins) and a championship

lineups in the league. They have great young depth as well with Kendrick Perkins, Reggie Jackson, and Jeremy Lamb. With maybe the best offensive talent in the league, the Thunder has the potential to take the Western Crown and dethrone the Spurs. 3. Los Angeles Clippers: MVP-Blake Griffin The Clippers have two of the top 10 players in the NBA. They've got a great, even starting lineup, a strong backcourt and front court, but have lost Alvin Gentry, who

built the Clippers' #1 ranked offense. They did lose some depth after losing their best back up guard in Darren Collison, but are still one of the deepest teams in the league by adding defensive specialist Ekpe Udoh, stretch five Spencer Hawes, and Jordan Farmer. This depth is the reason the Clippers always perform well in the regular season, but fall short of their unrealistic expectations in the postseason. Depth matters less in the postseason when rotations become smaller and teams rely more on a shorter seven-man rotation. Many expect the Clippers to be title contenders, but if they keep losing in the first round or early in the second, they shouldn't hold the status of "title contender" for long. 4. Golden State Warriors: MVP-Stephen Curry The Warriors are fresh off a game seven loss to LA. Without Andrew Bogut, the Warriors went toe to toe with the Clippers and came as close as possible to closing them out. Building on where they left off won't be easy, but having a hell of an offseason will certainly help. First off, the Warriors got a huge coaching upgrade over the offseason. The front office scrapped the entire coaching staff and hired an all star cast of coaches. They hired Steve Kerr, who is a great basketball mind coached by the likes of Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson and plans to integrate a motion-triangle hybrid offense, which was extremely successful in summer league. Seeing how successful Kerr was able to integrate such a high of offense to a summer league team

makes many excited that the Warriors are going away from Mark Jackson's isolation heavy offense. Second, they hired Alvin Gentry, who designed the #1 Clipper offense last season, as

associate head coach and Ron Adams, who was the Bulls’ go-to defensive specialist next to Thibbedeau. Finally, adding pieces like Luke Walton and Jarron Collins makes this the most balanced Warrior coaching staff in years. The Warriors have also plenty of depth on their bench. Shaun Livingston is the best two way point guard off the bench who takes the ball handling pressure off Curry and Iguodala. Brandon Rush is back to 100 percent and looks to contribute the same way he did with Golden State in 2012. Standouts in Golden State's summer league team Aaron Craft, James Macadoo, and Justin Holiday were also added to the team and look to make an impact and Festus Ezeli is finally back from his knee injury in 2013 and is hungry to see the court again. With the statistically best starting lineup in the league, an already 3rd ranked defensive rating, and the best coaching staff in years, this Warrior team will look to do better than ever. 5. Dallas Mavericks: MVP- Dirk Nowitzki Dallas had an outstanding off-season; Cuban has done it again by acquiring Chandler Parsons, Tyson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, Richard Jefferson, AlFarouq Aminu, and Raymond Felton.

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October 2014

SPORTS

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Cross Country sets pace for successful season By Greg Schoepp ’15

The first light of dawn has just begun to appear on the horizon. The Riordan campus is quiet. The one sign of life is a few figures on the track. Speaking in hushed voices, they exchange quiet jokes and laughs as they shed jackets and sweatpants. They stand in the cold morning air

Brian Kosewic with a solid lead in the race.

Photo by Jacob Taylor ’17

Tr a c k t e a m triumphs in summer By Jacob Taylor ’17

The summer track season culminated with the Crusader team invading San Diego for the California games in late July. For the first time ever, Riordan Hilltop Speed received a first place team title in track and field at the California Games. The team received 34-points overall, in the 15-16 year old group, which was 4 points ahead of the second place holder, Trebuchet Track and Field Club. In the 15-16 age group, Charles Levine placed 5th in 100-meter dash, 8th in 200- meter dash, and 1st in the 4x100 meter dash. Jacob Taylor ’17 placed fifth in high jump and first in the 4x400 meter dash. In the 17-18 Age group, Gabriel Rouhani placed 1st in 1500-meter race. Derik Wendland placed 9th in the 110-meter hurdle dash and third in the 400-meter hurdle race. Kajari Burns, Riordan track coach, stated that all the athletes who participated learned a lot more about the mechanics of running, giving more effort, and therefore improved their skill in the sport making them better prepared going into their next season. He also said that this summer track season was really just an experiment, and next season the athletes will hopefully be able to go to more state meets and even AAU national competition.

wearing only t-shirts and running shorts. They hunch over, pecking at their watches, then suddenly they burst into motion in silent unison, gliding away into the fog. A year ago, such a sight would have been unheard of at Riordan. Cross Country has been neglected at Riordan for some years, lacking strong coaching and talent. When Matt Illarina became the head coach two years ago, the program finally began to move in the right direction. Along with strength and conditioning coach Kajari Burns, he began to turn Riordan into a competitive distance running program. The next piece of the puzzle was Benny Willers, who joined the coaching staff last year after running Division One Cross Country and Track for Sacramento State. Coach Willers worked to develop a strong training mentality on the Riordan team. Finally, all of that work is beginning to pay off. This year’s team is the most talented that Riordan has seen in years. The team is led by a strong core of returning athletes, including junior Brian Kosewic, who qualified

11

Football gears up for tough 2014 crusade

for the CCS championships last year, sophomore Ian Cranfield, who was a breakout star in track, and junior Tycho Meimban, who said that the team By Brian Kosewic ’16 “is hoping to improve throughout The 2014-2015 Riordan Crusader the season, and then, at CCS, we’re planning to drop the hammer on the football team is aiming for a strong other teams.” Also notable is senior season this year. The currently Gabe Rouhani, and freshman Trevor 1-4 team has had its share of Paulbitski, who is already showing shortcomings, primarily as a result of potential to become one of the best team injuries, and a very difficult preseason schedule, but looks to refine runners in school history. With a strong team and strong its talent before its next matchup coaching, 2014 is going to be a historic with Valley Christian, a school the season for the Crusaders. After only football Crusaders have not defeated sending one runner last year, Riordan in the past seven years. This year’s team is a junioris looking to send an entire varsity heavy team, but carry with them team to the CCS Championships, an outpouring of talent. Junior and possibly even to the state finals. That’s a lofty goal, but according to standouts include running back Coach Willers, “There’s no such thing Raymon Sanders and linebacker as setting your goals too high. The Jamarion Caston, both of whom higher you set your goals, the more competed for Team USA. In addition, the team has serious you are going to work. If you don’t senior leadership players like reach it then it’s okay, just as long as linebacker Tim Balderamos, running you set it and then give a hundred percent of yourself. This is what we do back Angelo Novello, and three-year on Riordan’s Cross Country team and varsity player Jake Cochrane. Senior there is no group of guys better at this lineman Gavin Kinahan said, “We have a lot of talent this year, and I than us.” hope it meshes together as well as it should.” With all this ability, it would seem clear that the Crusaders are hoping for a successful season. Unfortunately, the team has suffered four losses, two of which by an extremely close margin, to Sacred Heart Atherton (20-21) and to St. Francis (23-25). Past By Jake Rassam ’16 games have resulted in losses, with a 21-0 loss to Milipitas and a 14-7 loss It’s 2:35 p.m. Although the school to Sacred Heart Prep. Aside from their day is over, many Crusaders’ days are season opener loss to Milpitas (27-0), just starting. Riordan athletics, each the Crusaders have only allowed 17 being challenging in its own right, all points scored, showing an effective have one common goal this evening: and WCAL ready defense. “Get better.” The Crusader Grind has In addition, the players have begun. great confidence in the team. Every Riordan has a rich, diverse history player is a hard worker, and the in athletics. One can recall many seniors especially hold the younger historic teams, achievements, and members to a high work ethic on and athletes who have walked through off the field. the same doors as we do today. The offense, spearheaded by junior Many feel it is the students’ QB Jackie Luavasa, looks to improve responsibility to continue the legacy created by our great alumni. Lately, the 2008 basketball teams both won the their chemistry and efficiency looking toward their matchup with Valley looming anticipation and excitement WCAL and CCS championships. Coach Curtain wishes to see Christian. During an invigorating first amongst Riordan sports teams has Riordan athletics prevail once again. win against Sacred Heart Cathedral been noticeable, as we have recently kicked off our 2014 football and Cross The amount of time and dedication last week, retaining the right to the put in by the athletes is equivalent to Stanfel Cup, keeping Nick Stanfel Country seasons. Furthermore, our basketball, the dedication Coach Curtain has to ’83 and his memory at its rightful location, the Crusaders showed wrestling, soccer, and baseball the Archbishop Riordan community. Curtain said, “I am very excited to intensity and athletic prowess up to teams are currently working hard in take on this job. In general, I want to par with the rigorous standards of the anticipation for their seasons. Every day after school, athletes of do my part to ensure all Riordan teams WCAL. Fans should look forward to all varieties are lifting in the weight achieve the level of success I did when seeing the Crusaders succeed as the room, conditioning on the field, and I was here.” season progresses. Fan, Luis Martinez He added, “Athletic programs in doing those dreaded ab workouts. Teams are working out from the time the WCAL have taken huge steps added, “The team has more talent the bell rings to about 6:30 at night; forward in the last decade. Athletics than I’ve ever seen here at Riordan and although the variety of athletes itself is a constantly changing part which is so exciting, and it seems like differ, Danny Curtain ’08 is in there of high school. Some of our newer the coaching staff is well-prepared athletes coming in will contribute to and ready.” working just as hard as the athletes. With a powerhouse coaching Curtain, known as Coach Curtain, helping us achieve success. We need staff, headed by Coach John Lee, was a part of two historic Riordan to be on the cutting edge this year; the Crusaders look forward to athletic teams. In 2007, the football not only catching up to our strongest Valley Christian this Saturday and team won its first CCS championship; competitors, but surpassing them.” then Junipero Serra, both serious furthermore, the 2006-2007 and 2007opponents, but beatable.

Athletes battle from dawn to dusk

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The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

iPhone 6: Newer, The Expendables 3 By Stephan Smith ’15 bigger, faster, Rating: 7.5/10 thinner, better By Brandon Castro ’18 This past week Apple released the new iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 plus. The iPhone 6 is 4.7 inches and the iPhone 6 Plus is 5.5 inches. These two new iPhones both come with a smooth metal surface that seamlessly meets the new Retina HD display. The new iPhones come in three different colors: gold, silver, and space gray. As for the price, with a contract it is about $199, but without a contract, it is about $600-800.

The iPhone has come in with a new look now and no gaps. In addition, the smoother, seamless bond of metal and glass feels like one continuous surface. Unlike the previous iPhones, the new iPhones are made with metal instead of glass, and this new design has changed the iPhone forever. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are the thinnest ones yet, with the iPhone 6 being 6.9 mm thin, and the iPhone 6 Plus being 7.1 mm. When it comes to the video and camera quality, Apple always goes bigger and better. Now with a built in 64-bit architecture, the new A8 chip delivers more power, and with the new M8 motion coprocessor that gathers data from advanced sensors and new barometer. Also, they have added new Focus Pixels that enable faster auto focus, which promises better quality photos. Along with the release of the newest iPhone, there is the new IOS 8 update. So, for consumers who are still under contract with an older iPhone, the IOS8 may make it feel like a new phone. Be wary, however, because upgrading a really old phone may do more damage than good.

Explosions. Big, bloody shootouts. Knife fights. Over the top, testosterone-filled action fests. Unlimited amounts of 100 percent excitement and non-stop violence. As teenage men, we understand that we crave these things like dogs crave Milk Bones. We cannot survive without them, whether it be in the movies we watch or the video games we play. And, it is because of this that I freaking LOVED Expendables 3. It’s funny, violent, clever, violent, overly enjoyable, violent, and this team proves they still have a thing or two to say to the generation who has to put up with Twilight and Frozen. Did I mention it was violent? The movie has an even bigger ensemble than the last two movies, with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, and Terry Crews returning for more. The newcomers to the series are Kelsey Grammer as a friend of Sly’s, Wesley Snipes as a knife-flinging medic (who makes a pretty clever joke about his release from prison), Harrison Ford filling in for Bruce Willis, Antonio Banderas as a talkative death machine, Mel Gibson (for this casting piece, I almost cheered. Mel’s back, baby!) as the main adversary of the film, as well as younger generation actors Ronda Rousey (UFC fighter, subpar performance by the way), Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz and Kellan Lutz. I’m not going to discuss the plot, because chances are you haven’t seen the movie yet. For that I blame video pirates who pretty much ruined this flick’s chance at the box office. Again, it’s a pretty awesome romp and a

fun night to be had at the movies. The whole point of this series is to be a throwback to 80s action movies, amping up body counts, one-liners and big explosions as it goes along. Basically, there’s no way you can take a movie like this seriously. It’s cheesy, it’s over-the-top, but that’s exactly what I liked about it. It has no illusions as to what it is, it sells itself as an ensemble action flick with a cast to be reckoned with. I was practically leaping out of my seat with excitement in the last 30 minutes, which of course involves the most epic pieces in any action movie. There’s an insane amount of gunfire, there are tanks, there are C4 explosions, Harrison Ford flying a helicopter--it’s just a movie that only guys could really enjoy. I mean, that’s who these movies are for, right? Guys who love action movies. Sure, there’s R-rated comedies and horror flicks, but action movies have been and always will be the essential guy movies. Gamers will get this too. The better the action, the better the movie or video game. We don’t play games like Call of Duty: Black Ops or Halo for the look of it or for the characters. Those are just add ons. What we as guys like are big action pieces that show devastating amounts of damage thrown at the bad guys way and lots and lots of gunfire. This movie gets that. We love action movies, and if you have a

brain in your head and any manliness in your system, you need to see this movie. GET TO THE CHOPPA!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles By Stephan Smith ’15 Rating: 6/10 I realize that anyone who’s heard about this movie already has their mind set as to how this movie turned out. Chances are, they think it’s a piece of garbage, without having actually seen it. Those who have seen it by now probably also think it’s terrible. As for myself, I’ve been a fan of the incredibly ludicrous and cheesy TMNT-verse ever since I was 8, having seen most of the 2003 television series and all three of the live action movies (anyone remember the animated movie? No? Didn’t think so). So, being a fan, I can understand the animosity towards this movie, without actually partaking in it. It’s very simple: fans will more than likely love this movie. Non-fans will hate it, spit on it, and call it complete and utter crap that only talentless hack Michael Bay could produce. But yes, because I am a fan, I did enjoy the movie. I felt it was most certainly worth the 10 dollar ticket and a good way to waste my evening.

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continued from page12 The basic plot of the movie is simple: a criminal syndicate known as the Foot Clan (run by an almost Samurai-like kingpin dubbed Shredder) begin their hostile war on New York City, being covered by news reporter April O’Neil (played by Megan Fox). Eventually, she meets up with the vigilantes who are fighting the Foot: their leader Leonardo (Johnny Knoxville from Jackass), tough-guy Raphael (Alan Ritchson from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), computer geek Donatello (Jeremy Howard from My Name Is Earl), and pizza-loving party dude Michelangelo (Noel Fisher from Hatfields and McCoys), along with their adopted father and sensei Splinter (Tony Shalhoub from Monk), who is a mutated rat. Pieces fall into place, a crisis emerges, and as usual, the heroes rise up to take on their adversary and in the process save New York City. The action, as can be expected from anything associated with Michael Bay, is filled with over-thetop explosions, fighting and slowmo, but unlike Transformers, here it’s actually quite good. For example, in a particular scene involving a fight in a dark subway station, there’s the smashing of people against tiled walls and even one man getting thrown through a window on a moving train. Even better than that, you have a downhill chase that’s been shown in the previews that’s even better when watching the full feature, and a very cool showdown between main villain Shredder and Splinter. The action scenes meet all the requirements to make a nerdy teen scream like a toddler. Although I did indeed enjoy the movie, it was not at all without its faults. For example, Megan Fox is as bland and dry in this movie as she was in… well, just about everything she’s in. She unconvincing, uninteresting, and really just a piece of eye candy that has become typical in anything associated with Michael Bay (Transformers… ugh…). Donatello and Leonardo didn’t really have any presence of screen; they were pretty much just there because they couldn’t do the movie without having all four turtles, even though most of the Michelangelo bits were hilarious. In fact, the one turtle this movie really focusses on is Raphael, making the other three practically useless. At least most of the other characters had an actual feeling of on-screen presence. I also was disappointed by the climatic battle: the obviously expected showdown between the Turtles and Shredder. I didn’t find it to

be as enjoyable or exciting as the rest of the action scenes, and how they actually defeat Shredder I found to be just… dumb. I won’t spoil anything, but a face-palm is inevitable. And was there any real excuse for including a freakin’ fart joke?! I mean, come on! One other thing: the look of the Turtles. First, they were a cartoon, then puppetry mixed with costuming, and now they look like the freakish armored offspring of Shrek and Arnold Schwarzenegger. While you now try to deal with the horrific image that might have just been planted in your head, try to consider that they were at one point more of a technical prop as opposed to a piece of computer imagery. You know they’re not really there when you look at the screen. Back in the 90s, when the live-action movies came out, you could tell they were actually there in front of those cameras, instead of just being the result of a few computers putting together some rather not-pretty images to jump across the screen. Those should have been real people in real costumes like in the good ol’ days, but this just goes to show that a lack of imagination is indeed present throughout Hollywood. Overall, it’s an enjoyable yet flawed movie, and far better than the third live-action one from the 90s. It is at times intense and hilarious, but at other times comes across as dry and underwhelming. People have every right to tear this movie apart, and that’s fine, let them. But being a fan of the franchise, I still managed to sit through it without stepping out of the theater to shove a finger down my throat like I did at the last superhero movie to come out before Guardians, that being Amazing Spider-Man 2. In

the end, I guess this movie is at least an alright start to a potential trilogy, with future installments to feature fan favorite characters Casey Jones and Bebop & Rocksteady. If you feel like paying the 12 dollar price for two hours of dumb fun and possible childhood nostalgia, then I say go for it. It’s worth it. Cowabunga!

Guardians of the Galaxy By Stephan Smith ’15 Rating: 9/10 I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a total comic book nerd, having a collection of over 50 graphic novels, 5 Batman themed video games and seeing just about every superhero movie that is released because, quite simply, I need to. It should come as no surprise that a nerd such as I found Guardians of the Galaxy to easily be one of the best movies of 2014 so far, if not the best that Marvel has so far done, and is also the most fun I’ve had watching a movie this year. This was also a movie where I went in blind, expecting utter stupidity and not having any real knowledge of the comic series--only the little bits I had read just to get a taste of what I could expect from the movie. But when I saw the movie, I instantly went to my nearby comic shop and got any Guardians book I could get with 50 bucks. This is not a movie you think about seeing because the critics and audiences say it’s awesome. You will

see it. It’s mandatory. The story follows Peter Quill (Chris Pratt, Parks and Recreations and The Lego Movie), a smart-aleck 80s music dude who just so happens to be a space pirate. After stealing an orb that for some reason that will remain unstated is wanted Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace, The Hobbit), the film’s main villain and fanatic servant of Thanos (Josh Brolin, No Country for Old Men). Escaping in his ship to the planet of Xandar, Peter attempts to sell the orb but ends up engaging in a fight with Thanos’ adopted daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana, Avatar and Star Trek) and bounty hunter Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper, The Hangover and the upcoming American Sniper) and tree-like bodyguard Groot (Vin Diesel, Fast and Furious). As a result of the fight, they are shipped off to a prison in deep space, where they meet the ignorant yet deadly Drax The Destroyer (Dave Bautista, WWE wrestler). Forming an uneasy alliance, the group sets forth an escape plan that will ultimately lead to them becoming reluctant saviors of the galaxy, because as Pratt’s Quill puts it, he’s “one of the idiots who lives in it.” As opposed to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which I thought had a lot of problems, I didn’t find any in Guardians. It’s action-packed, it’s funny, and at the same time beautiful to look at. Director James Gunn, who wrote Zack Snyder’s remake of Dawn of the Dead as well as the video game Lollipop Chainsaw, and directed the alien horror comedy Slither, took a huge chance with the movie due to his inexperience with the superhero genre and managed to pass with flying colors. I was actually

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hesitant due to his other writing/ directing credits. I thought Slither was generic and Lollipop Chainsaw to be underwhelming, but I was as surprised as I’m sure the millions of other people who saw the movie were. It’s got shootouts, fistfights, spaceship battles, and quirky hilarity thrown together into a big stew pot. And instead of just doing yet another ensemble flick like The Avengers, it goes above and beyond, creating a movie that almost completely trumps any of the other MCU movies before it (except for Winter Soldier). Sure, there are bound to be superhero movies that are better than this; I for one think I’ll end up giving Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice a 9.5. But for now, this is most definitely the best we got.

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

When it comes to the performances By Sean O’Driscoll ’16 of actors, it’s as good as can be expected. Pratt brings some of the funny stuff from Parks and Rec to make a character that, at times, is as funny if not funnier than Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. Salanda, even though she does her now typical role of a strong female, shows that she’s still got it and probably won’t be losing it any time soon. Eventually, you’ll forget that the voice behind Rocket is the guy from The Hangover, he’s just that convincing, and even manages to be both funny and dramatic. Dave Bautista was perfect as

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, a game set within the universe of the Lord of the Rings, seems to be a promising game with some familiar features and innovations alike. In Shadow of Mordor, you play as Talion, a Ranger guarding the Black Gates of Mordor. Talion and his family are killed when Sauron’s army, a massive army of orcs, attacks the outpost lead by a servant of Sauron known as the Black Hand. Talion is then resurrected by wraith who melds with Talion to give him wraith powers alongside his natural abilities.

the main characters in the game. Celebrimbor is the wraith that has melded with Talion, but he also played an important part in the history of the Lord of the Rings universe. Celebrimbor was the lead elf who led a group of jewelsmiths to forge 16 rings of power, seven of which went to the dwarves, and seven of which went to the men. Besides the lore of the game, there are also new features created along with this game, the Nemesis System being one of those features. The Nemesis System is an in-game mechanic that helps

The game is set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books written by J.R.R. Tolkien. The developers of the game said that they wanted to make their game based on Tolkien’s literature, not the Peter Jackson films that spawned from it. This attention to detail of Tolkien’s literature shows through one of

create interesting and refreshing playthroughs in Shadow of Mordor, and creates unique encounters with characters. For example, if Talion were to burn his opponent in a fight, but the opponent escaped and faced him later, he might comment on the burn and want revenge on Talion. Another aspect of the Nemesis System allows Talion to cause chaos

Drax, a mixture of brawn and… well really, just brawn. This guy is so stupid and literal that when someone says the metaphor of something going over his head, here’s what we get: “Nothing goes over my head! My reflexes are too fast. I will catch it!” Needless to say, he nails it. And finally we have Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel. Here, it’s mostly a guy wearing a mask put up against a green screen, with Diesel constantly repeating the phrase “I am Groot” just to signify that he’s literally unable to say anything other than that. But, because of that dumb innocence and the fact that he’s as deadly as the rest of the team, we love him anyway. Again, I have to say this is one of the best movies that is based off a Marvel comic and one of the best of 2014. I may be a geek, but deep down everyone has something that they nerd over for reasons that only make sense to them. Even if you don’t read comics or are not into comic book movies, you still need to see this movie. If Rocket’s laser gun doesn’t blow you away, then the movie certainly will.

within Mordor’s orc society. If Talion feels that a certain captain would do better as an informant or assassin, during a fight with that captain, Talion can use one of his many wraith powers to essentially brainwash the orc to kill another captain, cause a rebellion, and so on. In addition to having the power of brainwashing, Talion is bestowed many other powers from Celebrimbor. Talion is able to use the wraith’s bow and arrows, he can use wraith vision similar to that seen when Frodo equips the One Ring, teleportation, and many other unrevealed abilities. Some features that may be familiar to players is the climbing system of the game, as well as the combat. The climbing system is very reminiscent of the Assassin’s Creed game series climbing mechanics, and the combat is very much like the recent Batman game’s fighting mechanics, but only Talion has a sword, bow, and a dagger. Overall, this game looks very interesting and seems to be a nice mix of familiarity and innovation that would interest gamers from different walks. For those uninterested in the storyline, the gameplay should provide an ample amount of fun and be familiar enough to not be turned away from the game. For those that have been dying for a new Lord of the Rings game (that actually has good quality), this game is definitely for you. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor was released on Sept. 30 for PC, Xbox One, PS4. For Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, it will released on Nov. 18, and will have a less-sophisticated Nemesis System. Console versions of the game will be priced at $59.99, while the PC version will cost $49.99.

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Fans mourn loss of king and queen of comedy By Brandon Castro ’18

Within the span of a few weeks, America lost two great comedic actors, Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Robin Williams died on Aug. 11, and Joan Rivers died on Sept. 4. It would not be an exaggeration to call them the king and queen of comedy. Williams was an American actor and comedian who started his career as a stand-up comic in the 1970s and rose to fame from there. From stand-up to the big screen, he had everyone laughing. Some of his most well-known comedies were Aladdin, Mrs.

Doubtfire and Jumanji. Williams, whom some may describe as the funniest man alive, brought many laughs to many different people, young and old. Williams taught people how to laugh and to never be afraid to do anything out of the ordinary. In addition to comedy, Williams was also a serious actor, starring in Dead Poets Society, for which he won an Oscar and Good Will Hunting. In these films, Williams played inspiring teachers. According to Marin County Sheriff’s Department reports,

Williams committed suicide. His wife, Susan Schneider, said he had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Joan Rivers started her career in the short-run play Driftwood, then went on to stand-up at various comedy clubs in New York. Around that time she had been invited to be a guest on her mentor’s show, The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson, and it was there some say she established her comedic style. From there, she began to gain more and more fame, and in 1986 she had her own late night show The Late Night Show With Joan Rivers.

Archbishop Riordan Drama Department presents it’s 65th annual fall play DEAD MAN WALKING Written by Tim Robbins Based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean Directed by ARHS drama director Valerie O’Riordan Dead Man Walking is the true story of a convicted murderer on death row and the nun who answers his plea for a pen pal. Through the portrayal of Tim Robbins’ finely drawn characters as the days, hours, and minutes tick down to the condemned man’s execution, powerful emotions are unleashed. While Matthew Poncelet and his spiritual advisor Sister Helen Prejean work for a stay of execution, the nun reaches out spiritually and assists in a final salvation as the convicted murderer walks to his death. SHOWTIMES: Friday Saturday Friday Saturday Sunday

Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23

8:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 2:00pm matinee

LOCATION: Lindland Theatre (on the Riordan campus) TICKETS: $8.00/Adults, $5.00/Students & Seniors Purchase online www.riordanhs.org

When the show aired, she was the first woman to ever have a late night television talk show. More recently, she became famous for her scathing comments on stars’ fashion choices on the red carpet and her numerous plastic surgeries. She died during surgery after going into cardiac arrest. Rivers showed society that no one should ever be scared to speak his or her mind, and never worry what people think, even if it means talking trash about famous people in 140 characters or less.

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continued from page10 depth in the regular season killed Portland as they started out hot with a 24-5 record, but running out of gas and only finishing with a relatively low 30-23. Portland did have a deep playoff run, which is expected when they have a starting lineup with two all stars. If Lillard can take his game to the next level and become the elite of elite point guards, the Blazers can overcome their bench issues and achieve another deep playoff run.

Choosing between Dallas and Portland is really a toss up. Both teams have similar talent levels (even though Dallas has the better coach), but Dallas has a much deeper bench, which generally leads to better seeding. We also can't forget Dallas came closer than any team last season to taking down the Spurs, pushing the series to seven incredibly exciting games. Unfortunately, Dallas lost two great small forwards in Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, a huge spark off the bench. But with the pickups of Chandler Parsons, Al-Farouq Aminu and Richard Jefferson, the Mavs are still very deep in the small forward

position. Expect Dallas to make a huge leap into the Western a Conference race and maybe be the dark horse title contender. 6. Portland Trailblazers: MVP- Lamarcus Aldridge Choosing between Portland and Dallas is really a toss up, but Portland has the worst bench in the league. They ranked worse last season than any other bench, and now have gotten worse with the loss of Mo Williams. They have picked up Chris Kaman and Steve Blake, but if Steve produces this season like he did last season, he should be a non-factor. Lack of bench

Germany nets World Cup soccer title By Baktu Godhwani ’16

The FIFA World Cup is one of the most monumental sports moments in history, which occurs every four years. It is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world. Since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, there were 715 million people watching the finals. Only eight teams who have won the title out of all 20 World Cup tournaments. Brazil has won five times and has always participated in the tournaments. Germany, the winners of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has won four times, while Argentina—who lost the 2014 World Cup Finals—has won two times. Don’t forget Italy, who has won four times and one of two teams who earned two consecutive wins. Uruguay, who was the team to win the first ever World Cup in 1930, has won two times. Last but not least, Spain, France, and England have all won once. Unfortunately, the U.S. had high expectations after the tied game with Portugal but went home empty handed with heads held high. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Brazil for the second time in history, there were many contending teams as well as surprising teams. The obvious top three contending teams

were Germany, Brazil, and Argentina because of their fan base and past records. The top three surprising teams were the USA, Colombia, and Costa Rica. In addition, there was Colombia, who sneakily edged into the quarterfinals. The game of Colombia vs. Brazil was an intense and exciting game to watch. As the youngster, James Rodriguez, had a lot of pressure on his back, he pulled through as the lead scorer in the 2014 World Cup. In the game of Costa Rica vs. Netherlands, Costa Rica was participating in a game where they didn’t know if they had any chance to win, but their fears were unfounded because they previously beat Greece and Italy. The 2014 FIFA World Cup finals was an enjoyable match. The rivalry between Germany and Argentina was intense because each and every player had in their minds that this is the end, the last match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Each team had fun while trying to win another title for their country. In the end, Germany defeated Argentina with a score of 2-1, ending a 24-year drought for Germany. Photo courtesy of bbc.com

7. Memphis Grizzlies: MVP- Marc Gasol The Memphis Grizzlies finished with 49 wins last season, despite the fact that their best player, Marc Gasol, was out from an injury for 23 games. Had Gasol been healthy, Memphis could've easily been a 55 win team. Building off their loss to the Thunder in maybe the closest series in the entire post-season, Memphis looks to reach the Conference Finals again since 2012. They've added a needed scorer off the bench in Vince Carter, but lost their best shooter Mike Miller. Memphis still has one of the best defenses in the league and are the best team in the league at controlling the tempo, forcing their opponents to play at a slow bang-in-the-post style, which they specialize in. If Memphis can stay healthy and not drop off from age, the Grizzlies will be the team nobody wants to play in the first round. 8. Houston Rockets: MVP- Dwight Howard Choosing between Harden and Howard for MVP was difficult, but ultimately, the guy who plays elite offense and defense is better than the guy who plays elite offense and no defense. Anyway, according to James Harden, he and Dwight are the “cornerstones” of the franchise and the rest of the team just “role players.” Even though Houston has downgraded their depth, that's no way to treat your teammates. The chemistry in Houston seems as shaky as ever, which is never good. They've lost Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, and Chandler Parsons this offseason, and Trevor Ariza and Jason Terry can't come close to filling that hole. Ariza is a slight upgrade from Parsons, but Asik and Lin were strong assets while Terry is hitting the twilight of his career. Houston's star power alone should be able to keep Houston in the playoffs, but lack of depth and good coaching could be

very detrimental to this team.

Honorable Mention: Phoenix Suns: MVP-Goran Dragic Dragic's Suns achieved an NBA record last season by winning the most games in an NBA regular season and not making the playoffs, but the impressive thing about this feat is that they won 48 games when their second best player Eric Bledsoe didn't play half the season. The Suns did lose Channing Frye who made their Pick and Pop almost unstoppable, but what they lack in front court depth they made up for in backcourt depth. With maybe the steal of the offseason, the Suns signed Isaiah Thomas in a four year, 27 million dollar deal. They re-signed guard Eric Bledsoe, and also obtained rookie guard Tyler Ennis and European star Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Suns also drafted Alex Len to fill the center position. The Suns are deeper and more talented than last season, but aren't better than the Rockets, Blazers, or Grizzlies to make the playoffs. This season runs so much deeper than last season. There are so many great storylines and new team changes that this is the season of unpredictability. Anything can happen, which is exactly why fans love basketball. So on Oct. 31, Halloween, let the chaos begin.