Zeros to Heroes
4 Pages (Magazine equivalent)
This article is about the Detroit Lions game Sunday against Minnesota, and how this team has changed so dramatically from the 2008 team.
Summary
The Lions, surprised everyone in 2008, by going undefeated in the preseason, and then shocked America even worse when they didn't win a single game in the regular season that year. In the 2011 preseason the Lions went Undefeated once again, but this year, Detroit fans are seeing a totally different team. In their first game against the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Lions Struggled early, but came back to win 27-20. Their second win came against an absolute blowout of the Kansas City Chiefs. This article is mainly about the amazing comeback win that the Lions had against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday.
For Lions Fans, it was a familiar sight. The Vikings took a 20-0 lead and it looked like that the Lions would continue their losing streak in Minneapolis. However, the Vikings had blown a lead in both of their two previous starts. Mathew Stafford lead an incredible rally in the second half, tying the game at 23-23. The game would eventually go into overtime, where Jason Hanson kicked the game winning field goal. If the Lions can comeback from such a large deficit, then the Lions can do just about anything this season. (maybe even make it to the playoffs)
"There is nothing that can happen on the field, that this offense, defense and special teams can't overcome"
Reactions
I think that Damon Hack did a good job recapping the action of Sunday's game. He used quotes from players and analysts to describe the remarkable turnaround from the win-less 2008 season. He uses examples from around the league to show how well the Lions are doing. The article was well written and I would read any other stories that he publishes.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Popular Mechanics "What Really Happened in Area 51?" (Essay from Magazine)
What Really Happened in Area 51?
7 pages
This article is about the conspiracy theory's surrounding the strange events that happened at Area 51 and in Roswell Nevada.
Summary
The biggest conspiracy involving the infamous Area 51, is what crash landed in Roswell. In 1947, an extra terrestrial flying saucer was recovered, and inside were two short creatures with huge heads, bug eyes and green skin. This incident sparked national fear and countless stories, but what really happened. The most probable explanation for this mysterious event is that it was actually a complex Soviet Scheme to completely freak America out, to buy more time for Stalin in the Cold war race, using technology taken from German engineers right before the end of the war. As for the two Aliens inside the saucer, they were human children mutilated and transformed by Soviet doctors under the command of Stalin.
Is this true, or a government cover up? First of all, there is no evidence of the Soviets created any flying discs, let alone carry two passengers. For the "Aliens", the worlds perception of what creatures from outer space looked like were humanoids with long tentacles, not the modern little green men (which came from Steven Spielberg's movie "Close encounters of the Third Kind), so it is highly unlikely that the Soviets would create two children to look like they did. Whatever happened in Roswell, was moved to Area 51, where people still speculate it is still there. Even if it was Aliens who crash landed on earth, the Soviets, as well as the Americans were in a huge race to see who could build the biggest and the best technology, and some of which has really impacted our lives today.
Reactions
This was a very interesting story to read, and brought up a few convincing arguments for both sides. I believe that we will never know for sure what was really responsible for the UFO crash in 1947, but I think that anything is possible. Whether it was a Soviet scare tactic, or real aliens, Popular Mechanics put out a good article that got us to think.
"What Really Happened in Area 51?." Popular Mechanics Sept. 2011. Web.
What Really Happened in
7 pages
This article is about the conspiracy theory's surrounding the strange events that happened at Area 51 and in Roswell Nevada.
Summary
The biggest conspiracy involving the infamous Area 51, is what crash landed in Roswell. In 1947, an extra terrestrial flying saucer was recovered, and inside were two short creatures with huge heads, bug eyes and green skin. This incident sparked national fear and countless stories, but what really happened. The most probable explanation for this mysterious event is that it was actually a complex Soviet Scheme to completely freak America out, to buy more time for Stalin in the Cold war race, using technology taken from German engineers right before the end of the war. As for the two Aliens inside the saucer, they were human children mutilated and transformed by Soviet doctors under the command of Stalin.
Is this true, or a government cover up? First of all, there is no evidence of the Soviets created any flying discs, let alone carry two passengers. For the "Aliens", the worlds perception of what creatures from outer space looked like were humanoids with long tentacles, not the modern little green men (which came from Steven Spielberg's movie "Close encounters of the Third Kind), so it is highly unlikely that the Soviets would create two children to look like they did. Whatever happened in Roswell, was moved to Area 51, where people still speculate it is still there. Even if it was Aliens who crash landed on earth, the Soviets, as well as the Americans were in a huge race to see who could build the biggest and the best technology, and some of which has really impacted our lives today.
Reactions
This was a very interesting story to read, and brought up a few convincing arguments for both sides. I believe that we will never know for sure what was really responsible for the UFO crash in 1947, but I think that anything is possible. Whether it was a Soviet scare tactic, or real aliens, Popular Mechanics put out a good article that got us to think.
"What Really Happened in Area 51?." Popular Mechanics Sept. 2011. Web.
What Really Happened in
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Dahlin, Tom. "A Pitcher in His Prime" (Essay from Magazine)
A Pitcher in His Prime
5 Pages
This is an article on why the Detroit Tigers star Justin Verlander should be considered for the American league MVP.
Summary
Tom Dahlin Starts off by stating Justin Verlanders' incredible stats for the 2011 season. He has 22 wins, an ERA of 2.44, 231 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.91, and batting average against of .191, all first in the American League. "In other words, Justin Verlander is having a season to please old-school and new-school number crunchers alike---the result, [Verlander] says, is a long accumulation of knowledge that has suddenly all clicked into place." That is what Justin Verlander's season has been like. He has been absolutely dominant in almost all of his starts this year, and is currently in line to win the AL Cy Young and Triple Crown, and possibly the MVP. The strongest argument against Pitchers winning the the MVP is that they play only every five games, and thus do not have as big of an impact as day-to-day batters. However, Justin Verlander has been the Tiger's most valuable player because of the huge relief it is knowing that your bullpen going to get the day off, and your batters are only going to need a few runs. If the Detroit Tigers get in to the World Series, it will be the combination of a good batting order, and outstanding starting pitching by Justin Verlander.
Reactions
I completely agree with Tom Dahlin and his belief that pitchers, if deserving, should be considered in MVP voting. I think that Justin Verlander has had a season for the ages, and with 24 wins and a no-hitter this year, I think that he has the record to persuade voters to give him the AL MVP. If he were to win the MVP this year, he would be the first pitcher to win since 1992 when Dennis Eckersley won. This was a very well written article and gives good defense for the best pitcher in baseball right now.
Duhlin, Tom. "A Pitcher in His Prime." Sports Illustrated Sept. 2011: 62. Web
5 Pages
This is an article on why the Detroit Tigers star Justin Verlander should be considered for the American league MVP.
Summary
Tom Dahlin Starts off by stating Justin Verlanders' incredible stats for the 2011 season. He has 22 wins, an ERA of 2.44, 231 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.91, and batting average against of .191, all first in the American League. "In other words, Justin Verlander is having a season to please old-school and new-school number crunchers alike---the result, [Verlander] says, is a long accumulation of knowledge that has suddenly all clicked into place." That is what Justin Verlander's season has been like. He has been absolutely dominant in almost all of his starts this year, and is currently in line to win the AL Cy Young and Triple Crown, and possibly the MVP. The strongest argument against Pitchers winning the the MVP is that they play only every five games, and thus do not have as big of an impact as day-to-day batters. However, Justin Verlander has been the Tiger's most valuable player because of the huge relief it is knowing that your bullpen going to get the day off, and your batters are only going to need a few runs. If the Detroit Tigers get in to the World Series, it will be the combination of a good batting order, and outstanding starting pitching by Justin Verlander.
Reactions
I completely agree with Tom Dahlin and his belief that pitchers, if deserving, should be considered in MVP voting. I think that Justin Verlander has had a season for the ages, and with 24 wins and a no-hitter this year, I think that he has the record to persuade voters to give him the AL MVP. If he were to win the MVP this year, he would be the first pitcher to win since 1992 when Dennis Eckersley won. This was a very well written article and gives good defense for the best pitcher in baseball right now.
Duhlin, Tom. "A Pitcher in His Prime." Sports Illustrated Sept. 2011: 62. Web
Douglas, Geoffrey. " The Game of Their Lives" (Book)
The Game of Their Lives
Part II
7 Pages
This Book is about the amazing story of the 1950 World Cup, where the American underdogs Stunned the world when they upset England 1-0.
Summary
This chapter is about the contrasting point of views of the soccer match. The English were favored to win the entire cup at odds of 3:1. The post-war record of the English team was 23-3-4 and they were considered unstoppable. Most fans in England were completely bypassing the first few rounds in the world cup, assuming a possible championship match-up with the Brazilian soccer team.
The Americans, on the other hand, had the odds of winning the entire world cup of 1:500. In the 1948 world cup, They suffered embarrassing losses to Italy, 9-0, to Norway, 11:0, to Northern Ireland, 5:0, and Scotland 4:0. Fans of the American team were divided into three groups. One, the passive followers. These fans are mainly college students who come from rich parents, and play soccer on well tended fields at their Prep-Schools. Two, the passionate fans. These are the poor sons of immigrants who play soccer on the street, and some play professionally on Immigrant Leagues and have a greater interest in the game. Three, the Non-fans. This is most every body in America at the time. Not many people care about team that will lose most games they play in.
Reactions
I like how Geoffrey Douglas described how America didn't have the resources, players, or fan support that the English team had, but still managed to pull the upset of the century against the best soccer team in the world. He explained the incredible odds our country had to overcome to beat the British.
Douglas, Geoffrey. The Game of Their Lives. New York: H. Holt and, 1996. Print.
Part II
7 Pages
This Book is about the amazing story of the 1950 World Cup, where the American underdogs Stunned the world when they upset England 1-0.
Summary
This chapter is about the contrasting point of views of the soccer match. The English were favored to win the entire cup at odds of 3:1. The post-war record of the English team was 23-3-4 and they were considered unstoppable. Most fans in England were completely bypassing the first few rounds in the world cup, assuming a possible championship match-up with the Brazilian soccer team.
The Americans, on the other hand, had the odds of winning the entire world cup of 1:500. In the 1948 world cup, They suffered embarrassing losses to Italy, 9-0, to Norway, 11:0, to Northern Ireland, 5:0, and Scotland 4:0. Fans of the American team were divided into three groups. One, the passive followers. These fans are mainly college students who come from rich parents, and play soccer on well tended fields at their Prep-Schools. Two, the passionate fans. These are the poor sons of immigrants who play soccer on the street, and some play professionally on Immigrant Leagues and have a greater interest in the game. Three, the Non-fans. This is most every body in America at the time. Not many people care about team that will lose most games they play in.
Reactions
I like how Geoffrey Douglas described how America didn't have the resources, players, or fan support that the English team had, but still managed to pull the upset of the century against the best soccer team in the world. He explained the incredible odds our country had to overcome to beat the British.
Douglas, Geoffrey. The Game of Their Lives. New York: H. Holt and, 1996. Print.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Douglas, Geoffrey. " The Game of Their Lives" (Book)
The Game of Their Lives
Part I
5 pages
This Book is about the amazing story of the 1950 World Cup, where the American underdogs Stunned the world when they upset England 1-0.
Summary
In the part I read today, Douglas describes the setting of the match. It was in the worst field that could be used for the tournament. The seats were old, the locker room was filled with cobwebs, and the grass on the field was brown and patchy. Even still, there was not an empty seat in the house. The People who came out were Brazilian fans who were not rooting for America, but rooting against England, who would most likely face them in a later round. It was the first World Cup since before the war, and every one was looking forward to it. Soccer is the world's most popular game
Reactions
I really enjoy Geoffrey Douglas' style of writing. He builds tension with each sentence as he describes each play as it happened. He gets personal quotes from the players to make it feel like you are back in 1950 about to play in the World Cup. So far, it is a very good book.
Douglas, Geoffrey. The Game of Their Lives. New York: H. Holt and, 1996. Print.
Part I
5 pages
This Book is about the amazing story of the 1950 World Cup, where the American underdogs Stunned the world when they upset England 1-0.
Summary
In the part I read today, Douglas describes the setting of the match. It was in the worst field that could be used for the tournament. The seats were old, the locker room was filled with cobwebs, and the grass on the field was brown and patchy. Even still, there was not an empty seat in the house. The People who came out were Brazilian fans who were not rooting for America, but rooting against England, who would most likely face them in a later round. It was the first World Cup since before the war, and every one was looking forward to it. Soccer is the world's most popular game
Reactions
I really enjoy Geoffrey Douglas' style of writing. He builds tension with each sentence as he describes each play as it happened. He gets personal quotes from the players to make it feel like you are back in 1950 about to play in the World Cup. So far, it is a very good book.
Douglas, Geoffrey. The Game of Their Lives. New York: H. Holt and, 1996. Print.
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