Baltimore Wins Championship, Loses Celebration

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Blaine Shores

Traditionally in the National Football League, the previous season’s Super Bowl Champion gets the forthcoming season’s kickoff party and a primetime game on Thursday night complete with ring ceremony and championship banner.

This season should be no different, right? Wrong. The Baltimore Orioles have something to say about that.

The Baltimore Ravens will start the season on the road during the first week of the season (They still get the primetime Thursday night game). The Orioles start a 4-game home series against the Chicago White Sox that night.

In most cities this wouldn’t be a major problem. In fact, it would be well received. It would be a major party in most cities.

The problem here is that M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards, home to the Ravens and Orioles respectively, share a parking lot.

Why can’t the Orioles say they will postpone the game until the next day and play a day/night doubleheader? What is so important about that one particular game that they MUST play it that night and the World Champion Ravens must start their championship defense on the road?

The answer to that question is nothing. There is nothing important about that game that it absolutely must be played that night.

This is a completely selfish move by the Orioles to not give up the night to allow the Ravens to celebrate with their fans.

The Ravens will return home the next week and will host the primetime Thanksgiving game this season. But that does not replace the selfishness and shameful decision making that has been shown by the Orioles management.

 

Local Athletes Join NFL Teams

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Shelby Mustain

Dreams became reality for two Texarkana natives Saturday, April 27, 2013. University of Arkansas football players Cobi Hamilton and Dennis Johnson were welcomed to NFL franchises on the third day of the annual first year player draft.

Hamilton, a former multi sport star at Texas High School, was drafted in the fifth round, 197th overall, by the AFC North’s Cincinnati Bengals. Hamilton was a four year starter at wide receiver for the Razorbacks and holds the school record for single season receptions and receiving yards He was a 2012 All-SEC selection his senior season. Hamilton finished his college career with 175 receptions, 2,854 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns.

Saturday, Hamilton took to Twitter to express his thankfulness to fans and his new team.

cobi hamilton

Former Arkansas High School running back Dennis Johnson, who helped lead the Hogs to back to back high school football state championships in 2006 and 2007, was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, following the draft. Johnson ran for 2,036 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in his four years at Arkansas. He missed most of the 2010 season after sustaining a bowel injury during a game against University of Louisiana-Monroe and saw limited action under interim head coach John L. Smith during the Razorbacks 2012 season.

Like Hamilton, Johnson chose the social networking site to voice his excitement in joining the Texans and learning from Houston’s current running back Arian Foster.

dennis johnson

 

International Library Week

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Kendall Barajas

All across the world, librarians celebrated International Library Week during the month of April. TAMUT held theirs from April 15-April 19. Their first event was the edible book festival. Students and faculty entered a cake that best resembled their favorite book. All attendees were able to try a piece of each cake. The competition was based on overall appearance and taste as well.

The global event has been celebrated since 2000 in various parts of the world, where “edible books” are created, displayed, and small events are held like ours. The event was inspired by art librarian and curator Judith Hoffberg (1934-2009). Over 21 countries participate yearly in this world wide festival.

There were over 15 participants in the TAMUT festival but only 3 received a prize. The first place winner was Marlena Ballard (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie). “I really enjoyed making the cake with my mom! If you give a mouse a cookie is one of my favorite books from childhood. It was so fun to participate in the contest,” Ballard said. The second place winner was Neisha Federick (Charlotte’s Web). The third place winner was Barbara Mackey (James and the Giant Peach).

The second event of the week was free books for the students. The free books consisted of education lesson plans, how to books and teaching books. “I just grabbed 3 new books that I know I can use to help me with my lesson plans when I’m a teacher! I’m so glad they did this for us,” Education Major Amy Soileau says.

The librarians also held a raffle for the end of the week giving away a large fuel for finals basket. The basket consisted of snacks, drinks, pens and more. While promoting the raffle the librarians caught more attention by dressing up as their favorite book characters. The TAMUT Librarians had a successful and are already making plans for next year’s events.

 

Things I Didn’t Know I Loved

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The directors that brought you the Murder Mystery Dinner are back with a new play, Things I Didn’t Know I Loved

The main character is Nazim, a World War II survivor. In the play he uses time travel to communicate with a woman 50 years in the future.

This play will be a little different from most. The play is for the ears, set up as if on the radio with being audible and visual but hardly any physical acting. Three people are assigned to read scripts aloud on the side of the stage while having a “live” conversation through video chat. As the scripts are being read pictures will be shown to illustrate the reading.

The team has been rehearsing this play since February. The actors for this play are all students from the Drama Department.

“After all the hours we put in to prepping for this it will nice to finally see the live production”, said Technical Director Josh Lacy.

The play will be April 24th and 25th, 2013 in Eagle Hall at 7:00 p.m.

 

College Football Playoff Details Announced

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Blaine Shores

The upcoming college football playoff system, which begins next season, now has a name. College Football Playoff.

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. won the bid for the first National Championship game under the four-team playoff format, just nine months after hosting the NCAA Final Four in March, 2014.

“We decided to call the playoff what it is — the College Football Playoff,” BCS Director Bill Hancock said. “We think the new playoff will be the most dynamic improvement to college football in a generation. Certainly, it’s what the fans want. We also invite everyone to vote online to select the logo and help us kick off the new College Football Playoff.”

The committee is expected to unveil the logo for the playoff next month, but there will not be a title sponsor attached to it.

“It won’t be ‘The Vizio Championship Tournament,'” Hancock said, alluding to the Rose Bowl title sponsor. “The Final Four doesn’t have one. The Masters doesn’t. The Super Bowl. That’s the kind of event we have.”

Hancock also added that the semifinals will maintain their original sponsors, explaining that it will be “something to the effect of” the College Football Semifinals at the Discover Orange Bowl.

The first set of semifinals in the rotation will be The Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, Calif. and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. These games will both be played on Jan. 1, 2015.

Other bowl semifinals in the 12 year rotation will be: the Orange, Fiesta, Chic-Fil-A, and Cotton Bowls.

The National Championship Game will be played on Jan. 12, 2015.

Jodi Ann Arias, Scorned Lover or Abused Victim?

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Breann Cooper

http://flic.kr/p/dUR7B5

Jodi Arias is currently standing trial for the June 4, 2008, murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in his Mesa, Arizona home.  Arias admits now to stabbing Alexander 29 times, slitting his throat from ear to ear, and shooting him once in the head but claims self-defense.  She also says that she has no recollection of the actual murder and the events leading up to the murder are foggy. Although Arias first claimed innocence explaining that two masked intruders had broken into the house killing Alexander and allowing her to go, she could give no explanation as to why she did not contact authorities in that scenario alerting them to Alexander’s situation.

Defense expert psychologist Richard Samuels testified that Arias had PTSD early in the trial saying that is why the events leading up to and the actual murder where foggy or non-existent. Another expert for the defense, domestic violence expert Alyce LaViolette testified that Alexander was an abuser and Arias was forced to kill him in self-defense.

The Arizona v. Arias trial reached its fiftieth day on Thursday, April 18, 2013.  Prosecution psychology expert Janeen DeMarte was on the stand answering questions from the jurors. Arizona is one of the few states that allow the jury to ask questions of witnesses in order to clarify testimony.  DeMarte diagnosed Arias with “borderline personality disorder.”

According to HLNtv.com DeMarte compared a person suffering from this type of disorder to “an immature teenager with identity issues.”  DeMarte also discredited Samuels during cross examination.

“During the fight or flight response the brain will usually record something,” Demarte said.

Samuels had stated early in the trial that Arias’ PTSD was likely behind the memory loss of the murder.

DeMarte also testified that giving gifts and spending too much time with the person a psychologist is evaluating can lead to bias and cross the line from evaluation to therapy which can lead to more bias and sympathy and skewing of results, referencing a self-help book Samuels had given Arias and the forty hours LaViolette had spent with her.

The trial resumed Tuesday, April 23, 2013 with the prosecution’s rebuttal followed by the defense’s and then the closing arguments. The trial looks to last into May. For more on the Arias trial catch the live blog at hlntv.com.

photo http://flic.kr/p/dUR7B5

TAMUT Coach Escapes Boston Marathon Bombings

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Meagan Garrison

Texas A&M-Texarkana’s very own track coach Jeff Haynes was in Boston on Apr. 15, 2013 competing for the first time in what many runners feel is the hall of fame of marathons, the Boston Marathon.

After recovering from an injury, Haynes ran some but then walked most of the way from mile 21 to 24.  “At mile 25, I was reenergized and didn’t walk another step until I crossed the line,” said Haynes.  As he crossed the finish line Haynes recalls giving children high fives and a man taking his picture on the side of the street once he got his medal.

Haynes finished the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 52 minutes. “If God had not pushed me through that last mile, I would have walked in about 15-17 minutes later,” said Haynes.  “The bomb went off at 4 hours and 9 minutes.  17 minutes!”  The bombs would kill 3 people and injure more than 140.

“According to the news, the bombers were spotted on surveillance being at the finish line 15-20 minutes before the bomb went off, this means that my family and I were there at the same time,” said Haynes

Haynes, along with his wife and daughter were about a half block away when they heard the first bomb go off.  “After hearing the second bomb go off, my wife and I knew we needed to get out of there and get our daughter to safety,” said Haynes.  After many attempts to get a taxi, they saw a man get out of one and they grabbed his.  The Haynes’ family saw many police cars, fire trucks and ambulances fly by and head towards the finish line.  “We asked the taxi driver what was going on and he said it was the Boston Marathon, its Patriot’s day,” said Haynes.  He then replied, “I know that I just ran it, and then that’s when we heard over the taxi’s radio that there were two explosions that went off at the finish line.”

“God is good and he ain’t done with me! He protected me and my loved ones. Better get it right before you get it wrong,” said Haynes.

When asked if he would ever compete in the Boston Marathon again after experiencing this, Haynes replied, “You bet!”

Amid Tragedy, Baseball Returns to Boston

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Shelby Mustain

Baseball resumed in Boston this weekend after the tragedy at Monday’s Boston Marathon.  The Red Sox returned to a full house at Fenway Park for a weekend series with the Kansas City Royals

“A lot of us are anxious to get back home, play in front of our crowd, and try to uplift the people of Boston,” Red Sox catcher David Ross said prior to last weekend’s series.

Patriots Day, a national holiday in the city of Boston, was marred by tragedy Monday when two bombs went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon resulting in three deaths.  The Red Sox returned home Friday from a series with the Cleveland Indians, anxious to get back on the diamond, however the opener of their weekend series was delayed due to the continued search for the bombing suspects.

Saturday’s game brought with it plenty of emotion as Neil Diamond flew in to lead the Red Sox crowd in a rendition of his hit song “ Sweet Caroline,” a tune that has become a staple during the eighth inning of Red Sox home games. Saturday afternoon also saw the return of slugger David Ortiz from the disabled list for his first game of the season.

“This past week, I don’t think there’s one human being who wasn’t affected by what was going on down here.” Ortiz said after the Red Sox 4-3 victory Saturday afternoon.

The Red Sox are currently in first place in the American League East standings and start a four game series with the Houston Astros this Thursday at Fenway Park.

photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/heylookitsam/3047535542/

 

Aprilfish

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Russell Martin

April Fools’ day has come and gone for this year, but it is never too early to start preparing for next year. April Fools’ is a holiday practiced all around the world, from America to France, and even South Africa. People of all ages, nationalities, and beliefs take part in this once a year day of pranks on their friends, families, coworkers and innocent bystanders. Festivities include elaborate schemes that make headlines and simple yet effective pranks that ensure a good laugh and knee slap. Though it is widely celebrated, its’ origin is still relatively unknown.

Many scholars believe that its origin commenced in France in the early 16th century as Poisson d’Avril, or April Fish Day. The story claims that France’ king, Charles the IX, altered the French calendar to make January 1st the beginning of the year, in lieu of March 25th or Easter, in order to reduce confusion, this was already a widely accepted practice. Easter follows the lunar calendar, thus falling on a different day each year created mass differences throughout France and Europe. The change aligned with synonymy of the Roman calendar; many rural dwellers either received late word of this change or refused to conform to societal law and failed to celebrate the beginning of the year on January 1st and were so dubbed April Fools. They were then susceptible to having pranksters tape fish to their backs as a way of mocking their so-called rebellion. To this day, French natives still exchange chocolate fish with one another as a celebratory practice.

That is just one theory; there are many differences geographically and throughout time. References of April Fools’ jokes can be dated back to the 14th century in a poem titled, The nun’s priests tale, by Chaucer, where a fox and rooster exchange pranks. Britain, like France, also has the April Fools’ legend of a calendar change as the culprit for such festivities, some claim the tradition goes as far back as Greek Mythology. Only one thing is known for sure, no one truly knows how April Fools day commenced. Let us not falter at the thought of April Fools, but instead, make our predecessors proud and engage in some of the most elaborate schemes that we can carry out this April 1st.

For those individuals delving into mischief for the first time, there are pranks that are harmless yet effective:

• When your roommate, parent, friend, or sibling slips into a deep oblivion draw a mustache and uni-brow on their face.

• If that doesn’t suit your fancy, place saran wrap underneath the toilet lid and wait for the next female to use the bathroom.

• Add temporary dye to an unsuspecting friends bottle of conditioner and give them green hair for a day.

• If the kitchen sink has a sprayer, place a rubber band around the handle and wait for the next user to get soaked in your glory.

• Stick a raisin in the tube of someone’s toothpaste and watch horror wash over his or her face as they bare witness to an unidentified object that was squeezed out.

• Place a thick sheet of peanut butter inside the sole of someone’s shoe.

• Put flour on the top of the ceiling fan and wait for someone to turn it on.

• Cook spaghetti noodles and hang it over tree limbs in a neighbors yard.

• Offer to make your friend a sandwich and don’t remove the wrapper from the cheese.

• Glue quarters on a sidewalk and watch passerby’s, with great effort, try and pry the quarters from the cement.

Whatever prank you choose the key is to commit to a prank that isn’t obvious; subtlety is key! Whether its taping fish to a strangers back, or setting someone’s alarm two hours too early, take pride in knowing that you are keeping this age old tradition alive.

Comedies: The Rejected Genre

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Bethany Solomon

For those of you who watch the Oscars every year, you are well aware that very sparingly does the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognize a comedy for its cinematic achievements. It’s odd that such a beloved genre that generates billions in revenue every year is so rejected by the very people who worship the art of film making the most. Granted, many comedies lack in profound meaning in their plots. However, there are many movies that deliver knee-slapping entertainment while not turning your brain into mush.

Past films that I believe are worthy of a “Best Picture” Oscar are:

“The Women” (1939)

This movie gives you those “Oh No She DIDN’T” reactions. Norma Shearer plays an innocent housewife who finds out that her husband is cheating on her with, well, basically the meanest slut you can imagine (Joan Crawford). She goes to a retreat for divorcee women and determines how to best overcome the situation and come into her own. This film is so awesome, that a remake starring Meg Ryan was made.

“Donovan’s Reef” (1963)
Most people do not automatically think “comedy” when John Wayne is mentioned. Believe me, “Donovan’s Reef” is one of if not the best film that the Duke made and it is a shame that he did not appear in more. Technically a romantic comedy, the film delivers laugh and romance without being too corny. If there is such an invention of a manly romantic comedy, this is it.

“CaddyShack” (1980)

Although this film does have plenty of silly moments, it is a necessity for any DVD collection. It deals with the age old battle of the rich vs. the poor, the classy vs. the tacky. It’s a cult classic with an awesome theme song and an abundance of memorable quotes. I refuse to give any more of a synopsis, because shame on you if you don’t know about this film!

“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” (1987)

If you need a film that’s an instant pick-me-up, this “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” is what you need. John Candy. Steve Martin. You will laugh, and you will cry. It’s that good.

“Jeff Who Lives at Home” (2011)

Jason Segel plays Jeff, a 30-something slacker who still lives in his mother’s basement. He believes that everything and everyone is inter-connected and that the power of fate is real. This movie is to put it simply, adorable. Ed Helms of “The Office” plays his responsible, social-conformist brother who is having problems with his marriage, and Susan Sarandon portrays his hard-working mother who just wants him to grow up. Although it has a mystical quality to it, this film is very realistic, and is very easy to be drawn into the plot and feel as if you are a character as opposed to a viewer.

I’m going to focus on Steve Carell films now. First, “Dan in Real Life” from 2007. Long story short, Dan, (Steve Carell) falls for a woman and then realizes she is dating his brother. This movie has real substance. It’s witty, comedic, and original.  A more well-known Carell feature is “Dinner for Schmucks”, released in 2010. Carell portrays a naïve, not so bright but loveable character who is invited by Paul Rudd to a dinner under the false pretenses that it is for extraordinary individuals, when in fact it is to see who the bigger idiot is. In the end, the schmucks prevail, and you’re left with a satisfying viewing experience. The last Steve Carell film I’d like to mention is “Crazy Stupid Love” (2011). Carell’s character Cal finds out that his high school sweetheart and long-time wife is cheating on him and gets coaching from a very sexy character portrayed by Ryan Gosling on how to get over her. There are a few twists in the plot, so I won’t tell the rest, but trust me when I say it’s hilarious!

“Cold Souls” (2009)

This movie is a bit obscure and may not be for someone who wants a clear-cut slap-stick style comedy. It is very original in content, and has more of a dry and sarcastic humor that makes you stop and think. It stars Paul Giamatti as himself, but in a fictitious and far-fetched portrayal of his personality.

While I could name more than a dozen other comedies that are Academy Award worthy, here are a few that John Farr recommends in his Huffington Post article on the same topic.

“Some Like It Hot”

“The Odd Couple”

“Young Frankenstein”

“National Lampoon’s Animal House”

“The Big Lebowski”