What's The Word TV
By: Demario Smith
Every generation has its share of great athletes and this will hold true until sporting competitions cease to exist. Most athletes in sports today have yet to dominate thier respective areas of play the way Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice and Wayne Gretzky have, but they are leaving their own legacies: great and not so great.
LeBron James is the most explosive athlete the game of basketball has ever seen. The 6-foot-8 forward moves more swiftly at 250 lbs. than most lithe point guards can. At his size, he can do things spectators of the sport have never witnessed before; from highlight dunks to amazing no-look behind-the-back passes. The one knock on the Akron, OH., native is that he isn’t a clutch perfomer. After winning the 2012 NBA championship, LeBron now has three gold medals, nine All-Star game apperances, rookie of the year honors, three MVP titles, and an NBA scoring title. Not only has he quelled his would be detractors who believed he couldn’t win the big game, but he already has one of the most storied careers in NBA history.
While Bron Bron is the most proflific athlete in the game, Carmelo Anthony is probably one the best visual scorers the league has ever seen. Melo dazzles with his amazing ability to put the ball in the rim from almost anywhere on the court it. He is the player that the average fan wants to be because his style of play is so attractive. But it is also decieving. Being a great scorer doesn’t make you a great basketball player, there are many other facets to the game that Melo appears not to really care about. There is no doubt he is talented but fans often consider him one of the top five players in the game when he usually affects the game in one area. Melo’s defensive ability is pourous and mediocre at best, but not for a lack of ability. Carmelo could be a good defensive player as we have seen from time to time in his contest against LBJ, but he doesn’t put in a concerted effort on a nightly basis. Despite his 6-foot-8 frame, he has never averaged
over 1.0 blocks per game and has never averaged over four apg in any of his NBA seasons. Not to mention he has only been out of the first round of the playoffs once.
Although racing is not considered a “true sport” to some, Jimmie Johnson is perhaps the greatest athlete mainstream America doesn’t recognize. Johnson is one of the few modern athletes to utterly dominate his sport. He has won five consecutive Sprint Cup Championships and was voted the AP male athlete of the year in 2009. The AP award usually go to athletes in major sports because of the thier exposure in the media. The most amazing thing about Johnson is that it appears that his best years may still be ahead of him and he already has a legacy comparable to the greatest of NASCAR drivers.
By: Demario Smith
Outside of the six power conferences that exist in college basketball, there is a traditionally strong mid-major conference filled with much smaller schools that may actually be able to compete against the big boys.
Despite the West Coast Conference producing a No. 1 seeded Gonzaga team and also sending Saint Mary’s to the NCAA tournament, both teams had rather disappointing losses early on. The Atlantic 10 generated three teams in the tourney, but the Saint Louis Bilikins lost to a 12 seeded Oregon team, and the conference hasn’t had many teams who have had success in past NCAA tournaments.
The Missouri Valley conference is by no means a household name, but it is probably the best conference that most people have never heard of.
The reigning repeat MVC champion, Creighton, beat a higher seeded Cinnicinati team (a former member of the MVC). The Jays have been one the more consistent teams in college basketball all year. CU finished first in shooting percentage in the country as they shot over 50 percent on the year. The Jays also finished fifth in total assist per game and produced an All-American in Doug McDermott. Although Creighton was defeated soundly by the Duke Blue Devils, their season as a whole was impressive. I’m sure the rest of the Valley will miss what has become a flagship program once CU leaves for the newly formed American 12 conference.
As if having a program like Creighton isn’t enough, The MVC also houses a 2013 Final Four team in the Wichita State Shockers. Statistically, the Wheat Shockers weren’t very impressive. In the team’s biggest area of strength, rebounding, WSU was only the 25th best rebounding team. In points per game and shooting percentage, the Shockers ranked 117th and 115th respectively. It wasn’t the numbers that propelled WSU to success, but their unity as a team. Everyone on the team had a role to play and every one perfomed that role effectively under head coach Gregg Marshall. The Shockers amazing tourney run was highlighted by wins over No. 1 seeded Gonzaga and highly touted Ohio State before being defeated by Louisville after the WSU had led most of the game.
Despite Creighton leaving the conference and Wichita State loosing key seniors, the MVC looks strong moving forward. It’s small programs like Evansville and Northern Iowa are grabbing higher ranked and local recruits. The competition between the conference teams is getting better and WSU’s success in the tourney will draw much more attention to the small conference. Nationally, college basketball fans are noticing not to take these mid-major programs lightly.
By: Stephanie White
There are several different body types but the most common are pear, hourglass, rectangle, apple and inverted triangle. Knowing your body type is important when it comes to finding the perfect fit that flatters your body type best. In this post I will give you a description of each body type and some celebrities who fit each type. In my next post I will give tips on dressing your body type.
Pear Shape
People who fall into this body type lower body is wider than your upper body meaning your hips are wider than your shoulders. Your bottom is rounded and your waist is well defined. Your best assets are your shoulders, torso and flat stomach.
(Rhianna)
Hourglass
If you fit this body type best then your shoulders and hips are proportionate and set off by a tiny waist. Your best assets are definitely your curves!
(Beyonce)
Rectangle
If your waist, hip and shoulder widths are similar and are usually on the slim side then you fall in this type. You may also have an athletic build and your best assets are your arms and legs.
(Cameron Diaz)
Apple
If you are apple shaped, most of your weight accumulates above the hips, which are narrow. Your back, ribs and shoulders are broad. Your best assets are your legs!
(Drew Barrymore)
Inverted Triangle
People of this body shape have a broad chest and wide shoulders, which are large in proportion to a narrow waist and hips. Your best assets are also your legs!
(Angelina Jolie)
By: Stephanie White
Spring is right around the corner! Make sure you keep up with the latest 2013 fashion trends for this upcoming season. Here are 5 trend must haves for your wardrobe!
1.) Stripes!
(Dress: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Shoes: Giuseppe Zonatti)
2.) Lace!
(Shoes: Valentino, Purse: Kotur Margo)
3.) Pastels!
(Purse: Acne, Blazer: Salvatore Ferragamo)
4.) Floral!
(Shoes: Red by Valentino)
5.) Accessories!
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(Sunglasses: Kate Spade, Bracelet: Unknown)
By Demario Phipps-Smith
Each year thousands of collegiate football players battle for the top spot in the NFL draft. The position of quarterback has become the predominate need on any professional football team. To be the No. 1 overall pick as a quarterback puts one in an elite fraternity of players and affords one with seemingly limitless opportunities.
But this is not always the case.
Being the No. 1 pick usually means you are the best player, the final missing piece on a team, the best value or some combination of the three. NFL scouts have had decades to develop the art of athlete scouting but they still haven’t mastered it.
Honestly, this is part of the game.
Sometimes the scouts get it wrong, or get it right and not know. We all know the stories of quarterbacks Tim Couch, JaMarcus Russell and David Carr. None of these QB’s ascended to the upper echelon of signal callers in the league, but another quarter back had an equally upsetting career.
Chiefs QB Alex Smith was taken first in the 2005 NFL draft out of the University of Utah. As a Ute, he accumulated a record of 21-1 when he started and led his team to a Fiesta bowl victory in 2005. Smith scored a high score on the Wonderlic exam (40 of 50) and passed all the physical portions of the combine with excellent marks.
Who wouldn’t take him as the No. 1?
The San Francisco 49ners passed up on Aaron Rodgers because they felt Smith had an attitude that was more conducive with the way (then head coach) Mike Nolan coached.
Smith’s performances in his first five seasons were less than extraordinary. He was injured a few times during that span but his play was what plagued him and his career.
From 2005-2011, Smith failed to throw for more than 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns, or posses a passer rating higher than 85 percent in any single season. His career was beginning to look bleak as the rest of the franchise was changing around him.
With the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, Smith managed to revitalize his career. In his first year under Harbaugh, Smith threw for 3,144 yards, 17 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 90.7. The Utah product was finally looking like he was worthy of his praised No.1 pick status.
Not only did his statistics improve, but he also led the niners to an NFC championship game—where the team would lose in overtime. But Smith was not the reason why they lost the game; he was a big part of why they were so close to winning.
After ending ’11 on such a good note, Smith and the niners entered the 2012 season on a torrid pace and appeared to be one of the top teams last season. When Smith suffered an injury in week nine of the ’12 NFL schedule, his replacement Colin Kaepernick shined in his absence.
Kaepernick, or Kap, was the spark in changing the niners offense from effective to explosive and almost unstoppable. Kap’s laser arm and swift feet had enticed his head coach since Harbaugh had arrived. Smith’s untimely injury was the prime opportunity to allow Kap to showcase what Harbaugh knew he could do.
Kaepernick wouldn’t sit on the bench for another game after Smith was hurt. He led them not only to the NFC championship game, but also to the Superbowl—and nearly won that as well.
How was it that your No. 1 quarterback, who was so loyal to the organization, not starting for your team? Smith finally earned redemption the year before and proved that he could play at a high level in the NFL. Before he was injured, the niners posted a record of 6-2 and were first in the NFC West.
Through it all, Smith remained poised and professional. He didn’t cry about how unfair it was or how he deserved to be on the field. Smith supported his team, his coach and his teammate.
This week, Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Even people in KC believe that Smith will act as a ‘band-aid’ for the next quarterback. No one seems to believe in the guy with all the natural tools, the mental make-up, and the resume’. What more can he do?
By: DeMario Phipps-Smith
The University of Illinois basketball team (17-8, 4-7) has had an interesting season thus far, to
say the least. After losing four of five games, which started with a loss against Northwestern at
home, the Illini were looking like they had lost their identity and confidence.
UI head coach John Groce must have had one amazing pep talk to deliver to the team after being
defeated by Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin, because his troops rallied to beat the No. 1
ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Normally, teams who lose in-conference games against opponents they
are considered to be more talented than usually fold under the pressure of a big game like that.
The Illini remained calm and collected to upset IU in Assembly hall, and then they beat a ranked
Minnesota team in the next contest. Perhaps U of I is really as good as they have been tabbed,
or maybe they are as bad as they looked against Northwestern. Whatever the case, the rest of the
season should be very entertaining for the orange and blue.
By: DeMario Phipps-Smith
MVP: San Antonio Spurs G Tony Parker- Your eyes do not deceive you.
Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, nor Kevin Durant is the front-runner for MVP
half way through the season. The Frenchman is having the best season of his
storied career, even with Spur’s F Tim Duncan sidelined due to injury. Parker
is averaging career-highs in assists, free throw average and 3-point field goal
percentage. The Spurs have the best record in the NBA, and TP is by far the
best player on the team. Over the last three games, the star guard has scored
totals of 29, 31 and 31. Although he isn’t in an attractive, sexy market, Parker is
worthy of the award.
Defensive Player of the Mid-season: Chicago Bulls C Joakim Noah- With Derrick
Rose still recovering from an injury he sustained last season, Noah has become
the team’s best and most valuable player. The Bulls big man is averaging 12
points and 11 rebounds at the break. I expect Noah to elevate his play with
Rose’s return, as the Bulls look to make a push for the No. 1 spot in the east.
Most Improved: Orlando Magic C Nikola Vucevic- Saying the Magic haven’t been
a great team this season would be a serious understatement. Devoid of any
legitimate scoring threats, Vucevic has become a reliable source on both ends of
the floor. The second year center has raised his scoring average from five points
per game in his rookie campaign to 12.5 this season.
Sixth Man of the Year: Los Angeles Clippers G/F Jamaal Crawford- It’s Jamaal
Crawford people… need I say more?
Rookie of the Year: Portland Trailblazers G Damian Lillard: The young floor
general has provided the Trailblazers with youth and explosiveness. Lillard’s
patience and pacing in the game rivals his more experienced counter-parts. It is
Portland’s thin bench that is holding them back from being contenders because
Lillard, F Nicolas Batum, and F/C LaMarcus Aldridge make a formidable group.
Rising Star Award: Indiana Pacer G Paul George, Golden State Warriors G
Stephan Curry- The Pacer’s talented wingman has filled a scoring void for the
Pacers —left by Danny Granger. He has also been stellar on the defensive end
and active on the glass (7.8 rpg). Curry is also putting together an impressive first
half. The fourth year pro is averaging a career best 20.9 points per game. Curry
is the most essential part of a well balanced Warriors team.
Student Programming Council Television Hope you are ready for the New Shows…
DeMario Phipps-Smith
Many athletes have played professional sports, but very few achieve the level of accomplishment that Lance Armstrong has attained. Tiger Woods, Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky are part of a select group which rivals Armstrong in terms of overall influence to a sport.
Armstrong said he made a mistake, one that he hasn’t begun to reap even half the punishment from.
However, Athletes are people and people make mistakes-quite often actually.
Despite the breech in his credibility, Armstrong has raised millions for cancer research and development. He was the face of inspiration for millions who were familiar with his story (his made-up story).
The lies Armstrong told to protect his image and legacy will resonate in the world of sports for generations, but it is Armstrong’s willingness to target anyone who questioned the cyclist’s honesty that will represent him. Former Teammates of his suggest that he may have coerced them into taking performance enhancing drugs. Armstrong has taken any one to court (teammate or not) for speaking against him, and questioned them for questioning him.
Lance Armstrong was wrong.
He may not ever be forgiven for his transgressions, but unfortunately, I feel more athletes have similar situations to this than we know.
