Tag Archives: Sports and sports journalism

Lochte’s career takes a dive

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By MADISON BROWN

While Michael Phelps left the Rio Olympics as the most decorated Olympian of all time, the spotlight has been on another U.S. swimmer.

Ryan Lochte got into some trouble when he fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint while in Rio.

The news media blasted Lochte after he “over-exaggerated that story,” as Lochte told Matt Lauer in an NBC interview.

However, the news media are not the only place Lochte is facing backlash for the lie.

Rio police charged Lochte with falsely reporting a crime, and some of his sponsors dropped him. Speedo, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gentle Hair Removal and Airweave are among the companies that will no longer be working with Lochte.

According to CNN.com, Lochte is suspended from swimming competitively for 10 months, and will not be eligible for the 2017 world championship.

Meanwhile, “Dancing with the Stars” added Lochte as a cast member in their upcoming 23rd season. Apparently, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

“I think it’s time to hang up my Speedos and put on my dancing shoes,” Lochte said on Good Morning America when the cast was revealed.

That’s one way of looking at it, since he will not be allowed to wear his Speedos competitively anytime soon.

Kaepernick effect felt in hockey

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By ALEX GOLDMAN

The name Colin Kaepernick has probably permeated some portion of your brain tissue by now.

Kaepernick plays for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Surprise. It’s not his play that’s getting him headlines. The 49ers haven’t played a regular season game.

Not to mention the fact he isn’t even starting.

Yet he’s found himself in the news cycle in all the major — and minor — news outlets for purposely sitting, or most recently kneeling, during The National Anthem of preseason games.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said.

The news media have reported on his choice of expression daily.

During a question and answer session with local journalists Marc Caputo (Politico), Patricia Mazzei (Miami Herald), and Dan Sweeney (Sun Sentinel), a student asked about the ongoing reporting of Kaepernick’s expression, including the reactions to the message. He wanted to know why news outlets continued to report on the same issue.

Caputo thought the relatively uncommon nature of Kapernick’s act was just cause, and fodder, for continued coverage.

Other athletes have joined in Kaepernick’s message. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane both took a knee during the anthem before games this past week.

While the protest has reached the soccer pitch, don’t expect any dissent in a hockey rink anytime soon. At least if John Tortorella is your coach.

On his radio show The Right Time with Bomani Jones, Jones brought up the remarks made by Tortorella, the United States National Team and Columbus Blue Jackets head coach.

“If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game,” Tortorella said.

I liked Jones’ take on the coach’s new rule.

“Who are you?,” Jones asked. “I’m a grown man. I get to make some of these decisions for myself. So I got to stand up for what you believe is the proper form of indoctrination.”

Well put.

A coach is there to set rules, sure. He’s not there to set the moral compass of the players he coaches, however.

It isn’t the first time Tortorella made news with his comments.

NFL debuts with Super Bowl rematch

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By NICHOLAS BRUENS

The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers faced off at the NFL Kick Off in a rematch of Super Bowl 50.

This game was much anticipated as these teams played a gritty, grind-it-out game in the Super Bowl.  Many were expecting a similar game in the rematch.  But despite these anticipations, quarterback Cam Newton did not share these feelings.

“It’s not a rematch,” Newton told the Associated Press, “It’s just our next opponent.”

Despite Newton’s feelings, he played the Broncos, the same team that beat him for the Lombardi trophy, on NBC in Primetime.

The high amount news media attention drawn to this event was expected due to the importance of this game.  It marks the beginning of the 2016 season of the NFL which is the highest grossing professional sports league in the United States.

Also, the game features Newton, who is arguably the most marketable player in the league and reigning MVP.  A player of his charisma is bound to draw attention and therefore media.

Finally, media was tuned in to see if any players would partake in the Colin Kaepernick’s demonstration of not standing for the American flag. Linebacker Brandon Marshall was the only player to do so.

The Broncos released a statement acknowledging there stance on the matter.

“While we encourage members of our organization to stand during the national anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision,” said the Broncos in their statement to NBC.

The multiple personalities and story lines heading into his game have created a perfect melting pot for media follow.

Cam and the Panthers were unable to change the outcome as the Broncos repeated their success with a 21-20 victory.

Perfect ending for NBA regular season

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By WYATT GELLER

On the final day of the NBA regular season, the race for the playoffs had already concluded.  What needed to be settled was the all time regular reason win mark but more importantly, a farewell to one of the league’s greatest players ever.

Both of these games occurred in California on national TV as The Golden State Warriors hosted the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers welcomed in the Utah Jazz.

We have been talking all season about the Warriors breaking the 72-10 record set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, especially after the Warriors began the season 24-0.  At 72-9, it came down to the final day for this to happen, and the Warriors were in full control throughout the game.

NBA MVP Stephen Curry needed eight three-pointers to reach 400 on the season to add on to his single season record that may ever only be broken by him again.  He finished the year with 402 three-pointers and 46 points on the night, as the Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 125-104.

The media attention the Warriors got throughout the season made this record extra special. Users onESPN.com comment sections had posts comparing the 95-96 Bulls team to the Warriors team and who would win if both teams were in their prime. Since I was too young to see that Bulls team play, I do not have much of an opinion about it.

Now if you thought that was the highlight of the night, think again.

Kobe Bryant aka the Black Mamba had a major curtain call that was well deserved.  A five time NBA champion and third leading scorer in NBA history, Bryant received a video tribute where several well known players such as Lebron James and Kevin Durant thanked Bryant for his efforts over his 20 year career with the Lakers. Even Lakers legend Magic Johnson spoke in front of a sell-out crowd at the Staples Center on Bryant’s behalf.

Much like the farewell hype that New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter got at the end of the 2014 baseball season, appreciation for Bryant was well deserved. Just as Jeter delivered a walk off single for the Yankees to win their last home game of the season, Bryant did something that surpassed a bet Shaq made with Kobe.

This game had only one purpose and that was the Kobe Bryant show.  It was a mix of an all-star game and a playoff game put into one as Bryant scored an incredible 60 points. Even though he attempted 50 shots, Bryant was able to put on a show for the ages that wowed the crowd and everyone who was watching. The Lakers came from behind and defeated the Jazz 101-96.

It was a perfect ending to the season as you saw a significant record being broken along with a future hall of famer go out in style.

Now on to the playoffs.

California sports both loses and wins

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By JEAN-PAUL AGUIRRE

If you follow professional sports, chances are you heard about two major events in the NBA, which unfolded Wednesday night: Kobe Bryant’s last game before he retires and the Golden State Warrior’s pursuit to 73 wins within an NBA regular season.

The major sports channels, such as ESPN, spent more than a fair amount of time on Kobe and the Warriors. It was the highlight of the week, holding greater importance than practically every other sporting event.

Kobe Bryant has spent 20 years in the NBA and has won five championships with the same team—the LA Lakers— two Olympic-gold medals and an MVP award; these are feats few have accomplished.

He is considered by many as an icon, an NBA Hall-of-Famer, and the best player in the league since Michael Jordan retired.

On the other hand, the Warriors made history by breaking one of Jordan’s records. They won 73 games in a regular season, setting an NBA record; the last team to hold that record was the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls when they won 72 games with Jordan.

These two stories hold extreme weight in the sports world as the league has just lost one of its best players, while at the same time celebrating a historic accomplishment by one of its best teams. Thus, both are being covered non-stop by the news media in today’s news cycle.

I felt that the attention placed on the two stories was appropriate for their own reasons.

Kobe Bryant retiring can be made equivalent to when Jordan retired from the NBA in the 1990s. Generations have grown up watching him play and set standards for players just entering the league.

The Warriors are on pace to win the championship and become one of, if not the greatest team to have played the game.

We may never see two completely different stories occurring at the same time, carrying equal amounts of importance as these, ever again. That is why the media covered it so heavily and I feel they were justified in doing so.

Villanova was a surprise winner

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By WYATT GELLER

The most talented college basketball team will always seem to have an advantage over its opponents. That is what North Carolina had where it would outplay its opponents in the post led by senior Brice Johnson and play ferocious perimeter defense led by senior Marcus Paige.

However, on any given night, even the best team can be beaten by an underdog if it is in top form.

Villanova accomplished that Monday night on the biggest stage to capture its second national championship over UNC, 77-74, thanks to buzzer beater three-pointer by Kris Jenkins that will go down as one of the greatest shots in NCAA tournament history.

Many fans underestimated this team despite being ranked No. 1 in the country for part of the season.

Many teams such as Pitt, Syracuse, Norte Dame and Louisville left the Big East Conference over the past few years for the ACC that appeared to make the Big East only a mid-major conference with somewhat competitive teams. The games against Xavier, Seton Hall, Georgetown and Providence tested the Wildcats throughout the regular season and Big East Tournament play.

Senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono along with other underrated stars played together and cruised through their first three tournament games. They did shooting a high field goal percentage.

After a narrow victory over Kansas in the Elite Eight, the Wildcats dismantled superstar Buddy Hield and the Oklahoma Sooners using large scoring runs in the 2nd half to blow them out 95-51.

Despite being out rebounded 33-23 to UNC in the final, Villanova shot 58.3 percent from the field compared to Carolina’s 42.9 percent, according to NCAA.com.

Villanova came to play and it did not look back.

MLB’s Chief Wahoo logo under fire

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By VICTORIA DE CARDENAS

The Cleveland Indians are undergoing some changes this season. After 100 years of sporting Chief Wahoo, the red-faced Indian logo is going to be removed.

Native Americans have been protesting the caricature since the 1970s and every opening day for 20 years there has been a protest, but only now their voices are being heard.

Native American activist Sundance told Cleveland’s Newsradio WTAM 1100, that the character is a biased and harmful stereotype which is very humiliating to their culture. He said no one would consider calling the team the Jews, even though it’s owned by Paul Dolan.

For obvious reasons, this logo is offensive. But the news media seem to shrug it off. Very few news outlets have barely covered the fact that this is still happening. These protests are happening and need to be reported.

This country is facing racial turmoil again and every news outlets seem to cover protests when African Americans are fighting for equality. How about the Native Americans who were kicked out of there country and murdered all those years ago?

It’s not fair to selectively cover racism in the country, whether this protest happens every year or every week. News coverage does not and should not have a hidden agenda and ignore the problems that are happening in the country. Especially when a major league baseball team is profiting from the stereotyping of a race.

News outlets need to report things fairly, especially racial tensions.

Lakers upset at Russell for video

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By WYATT GELLER

The Los Angeles Lakers season faced more issues after rookie D’Angelo Russell filmed teammate Nick Young who admitted to cheating on his fiancée rapper Iggy Azalea.

The Lakers, who are in last place in the Western Conference with a 16-59 record, now face trust issues with Young.

“It’s bad,” one team source told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne.

“It’s about as bad as it can get. There were trust issues already. Now there’s no trust,” a team member said, according to Deadspin.com.

According to sources mentioned by ESPN, Young’s teammates have isolated themselves from him and when Young tried to sit down at a team breakfast, players got up and sat elsewhere.

This season, which is primarily a farewell tour for five time NBA champion and future hall of famer Kobe Bryant, continues to be a struggle for the Lakers both on and off the court.

Russell, who is just 20 years old, has played extremely well this season after being drafted 3rd overall by the Lakers.  It appears he has some maturity to improve on and trust to regain as the season concludes.

“It’s just unfortunate, man. It’s tough,” Bryant said in the Los Angeles Times. “I’m sure he’ll evolve. I’m sure he will grow and I’m sure he’ll be better from it.”

Custom bike goes against UCI standards

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By WYATT GELLER

Rules are rules when it comes to athletic competition and sometimes creativity does not help you win a race.

Bike maker Robert Egger had a vision to invent a new model, even though it would not be permitted in races such as the Tour de France because of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rules.

According to CNN, this bike is referred to as “Fuci,” which, if you sound it out, it does not ring a good bell.  The back wheel is larger than the front wheel, which is illegal for racing.

What also makes it a crazy creation is that Its headlights are inside the seat, so they beam out from the holes leading towards the back of the bike.

The bike also has a lithium battery that is also banned from competition, which reminded me that I can no longer store my hover board in my dorm.

I would love to buy one of these bikes, although I do not know the price of it.  Great work by Robert.

Journalist denounces Obama’s visit

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By KATIE HOVAN

This week, President Obama made a monumental trip to Havana, Cuba, a sign that the diplomatic relation between the U.S. and Cuba is gradually stabilizing.

Obama is the first sitting president to visit Cuba in almost 90 years, according to The Miami Herald. Officials have also said Obama plans to be very candid with Cuban president Raúl Castro about his hopes for the future of the Cuban people.

In a further effort to improve relations, the Tampa Bay Rays also took the field alongside Cuban baseball players in an exhibition game on Tuesday. Cuban baseball players will now have the opportunity to continue their careers with the MLB.

Unfortunately, many Cubans and Cuban-Americans have anything but positive feelings toward the baseball exhibition and Obama’s historic visit, especially within the Miami and South Florida area.

In a beautifully penned open column in The Miami Herald, sportswriter Dan Le Batard, who is of Cuban descent and a UM School of Communication alum, shed some light on the background of the political situation that is unfolding.

“Obama and Jeter and ESPN head toward communism like it is another cruise port, so many symbols of Americana descending on a rotting island stuck in the 1950s, and it doesn’t feel quite right back in Miami, like watching a funeral morph into a party,” he writes. “The history of my own people feels like it is either being ignored or trampled here, and I’m not quite sure which of those feels worse,” Le Batard wrote.

Le Batard speaks on behalf of countless Cubans with his article as he explains just how strange it feels to watch the U.S. praise small actions that are doing so little to compensate for Cuban injustice.

“Fidel Castro outlived my grandparents. His regime continues to haunt my old-exile parents. My pain might be borrowed. But, damn, as that sting returns to my eyes, I can assure you that it is real,” he continued.

While President Obama’s visit to Cuba is an historic one, I must side with Le Batard in this battle of responsible reporting.

Prior to reading Le Batard’s article, I had not understood the extent of the political turmoil that uprooted so many Cuban citizens. He provides his family history and the challenges they themselves experienced in the face of communism, an unlikely opinion with slim chances of survival amidst the conventional news stories.

With this new progress in the U.S.-Cuba relation, it’s even more important for the mainstream media to educate people on the history of the situation and the major changes that still need to be made in Cuba before any justified celebrations can take place.

Miami men earn No. 3 seed

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By WYATT GELLER

Players, coaches and fans gathered at The Rathskeller on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus for a celebration to watch Selection Sunday on CBS.

Selection Sunday

The Canes wait for the tournament bid to be extended (Photo by Wyatt Geller).

Before the show started, head coach Jim Larranaga stood up and told the crowd to cheer loudly when the team got announced on the big screen that can display up to four sporting events.

Even when a team knows that it will be in the tournament, it is always exciting to hear your name called while 67 other teams are waiting for their placement. In addition, the Canes were shown on screen getting fired up when they found out they were heading to Providence.

As projected by ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team  received a No. 3 seed for the NCAA tournament or what is most commonly referred to as “March Madness.”

The road ahead will not be easy for the Canes, as they were placed in the South Region that is arguably the most difficult section of the draw led at the top by Big 12 champions and the No. 1 overall seed in the entire tournament Kansas.

Miami will be up against the No. 14 seed Buffalo in the second round and fans can watch that game on Thursday at 6:50 p.m. on TNT.

I see an experienced Miami team that is capable of controlling this game and winning by low double digits.

If they win Thursday, the third round action on Saturday is where the Canes will face their first true test where they will play the winner of Arizona and Wichita State.

Arizona, who made the Elite 8 last season, battled top seeded Oregon in the PAC 12 semifinals but fell in overtime. Wichita State is led by seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet, as they made it to the Elite 8 in 2013 and finished the 2014 season 35-1 after losing to Kentucky in the third round.

The Canes should be able to overcome a tight matchup and advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in team history.

I predict they will square off with No. 2 seed Villanova in an instant classic and win this one in overtime.  The Canes will be able to withstand the pressure and reach the Elite Eight for the first time in team history.

Many people believe a championship run is possible for this team, and I do think the Canes have the tools to compete for the title.  However, Kansas has shown no weak point on their team for Miami to take advantage of.  Hopefully, my projection is wrong and the Canes can advance to the Final Four.

It is complicated to put together a formula for success in March.  Tenacity and determination is what drives many teams toward success during March Madness.  That is what builds so many upsets along the way.

The Canes will need to be prepared to play their best basketball every game now, because there is no tomorrow to improve after a loss until next season.

It is win or go home.

Soccer star donates brain for research

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By ROXANNE YU

Articles concerning topics on both sports and science tend to either be doping focused or either too scientifically written, exclusively catering to a selected few. Rarely are there sport science stories that appeal to a larger audience, and so when there happens to be one that catches public attention it’s always worth taking a look why articles like these draw so much attention.

Screen Shot 2016-03-03 at 2.48.24 PMBrandi Chastain, former U.S. national soccer team member, just announced that she will be donating her brain to Boston University for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) research.

Chastain rose to fame after scoring the shootout goal in the 1999 World Cup, ousting China in the final match.

Currently, in her late 40s, Chastain is assuming the role of a mother as well as that of a soccer coach in her community.

After the announcement, Chastain has become the second national soccer team member to donate her brain for research. Soccer players, similar to other athletes like boxers and football players are prone to concussions and minor impacts in mild traumatic brain injuries that result to CTE. With Chastain’s contribution to CTE research, it will be of significant value for the entire soccer community.

It was The New York Times that released this story on Chastain and I commend The Times for being able to present the article to its audience in such an empowering manner.

The article does not only shed light on how Chastain willingly wanted to contribute to her sport in her own little way, but also puts into context different issues relating to CTE risk, all by doing so in an educational way.

The article also included a question and answer response, which did enhance and strengthen the article content all the more.

The issue of woman empowerment was taken onto another step when it was linked onto how recent developments are made to benefit female sports icons like Chastain herself.

Andrews testifies in stalker, hotel lawsuit

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By KATIE HOVAN

Earlier this week, Fox sportscaster Erin Andrews finished testifying in a $75 million lawsuit against a stalker and the owner of a Nashville Marriott hotel.

Andrews claims that the hotel allowed a stalker to occupy the room next to hers in 2008. The stalker, Michael David Barrett, recorded nude footage of Andrews through a peephole and leaked the videos onto the Internet. Barrett has since served time in prison for his crime.

Andrews believes both the hotel and her stalker are responsible for emotional damage.

In her testimony, Andrews also alleged that ESPN, her employer at the time, refused to let her continue reporting on college football until she spoke publicly about the matter. Andrews said that the network wanted her to clarify whether or not the incident had been a publicity stunt.

In a field like journalism, where the “truth” is of the utmost importance, Andrews’ situation begs the question: when is human compassion more important than an accurate story?

If you ask me, ESPN undeniably overstepped its boundaries by asking a woman who was a victim of sexual exploitation to relive the incident on national television.

Whether or not it had been a publicity stunt, ESPN should have treated the statements of a fellow employee with the highest respect and consideration. Forcing any person, male or female, to speak about such a sensitive subject is a tasteless invasion of privacy.

I truly hope that Andrews is exaggerating the way ESPN addressed the situation. It would be a shame to learn that such a respected sports news network lacked the basic human compassion necessary in dealing with sexual exploitation.

As a note for other networks in the future: sometimes “getting the story” just isn’t worth the damage to a person’s mental and emotional health. Always be cautious.

ACC titles still up for grabs for Canes

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By WYATT GELLER

The ACC regular season title is at stake in the final week of regular season play for the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team.  The Canes enter this week with a 12-4 mark in ACC, which is a half game back from North Carolina and a half game up on Virginia.

In order to win the regular season outright, the Canes must win their last two games and UNC must lose in Durham on Saturday against Duke.  This is quite possible, if you ask me.

If Miami wins out and UNC beats Duke, then they share the ACC regular season title.

Packed in one of the best conferences in the country, the Canes have been able to come up with signature wins against Virginia, Duke and Louisville.  They have been virtually unstoppable at home going undefeated in the ACC at the Bank United Center.

Senior Day against Louisville brought out the loudest crowd of the year and a resume booster for the Canes, as they still have a chance to get a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Washington, D.C., will be a tough test for the Canes, as they look to win the ACC tournament.  They will likely receive a double bye into the quarterfinal round, as Louisville will not be competing.

The Canes have been flawless in neutral site games after dominating the Puerto Rico tournament where they beat ranked Utah and Butler.

I would like to see if the Canes can surpass their accomplishments from the 2012-13 season where they won both the regular season and ACC tournament and made it to the Sweet 16.  This years team has the tools for a March Madness run, and it will be their best chance yet.

Miami squeaks by Virginia

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By WYATT GELLER

They were on their heels for the entire game, but the Miami Hurricanes were able to stay in front most of the game as they held off the University of Virginia Cavaliers 64-61.

Virginia guard London Perrantes missed a game tying three pointer from half court as time expired to secure the victory.

Players wait for the refs to resume play in the first half.

Miami and Virginia players wait for the referees to resume play in the first half (Photo by Wyatt Geller).

The hero from the game was Junior forward Davon Reed who had a career high of 21 points on 5-6 shooting from the three point line.

He got the Canes going offensively early on with two 3s, and he hit two more at the beginning of the second half.  Reed also sank two free throws to safely put the Canes up by three late in the game.

After a slow offensive start for both teams, Miami led 30-25 at halftime thanks to a floater from three point range by Sheldon McClellan as time expired.  McClellan would finish with 11 points.

The story of the second half became a catch up game for Virginia when Miami would go up by more than two possessions.  After Miami went up 39-29, Senior guard Malcolm Brogdon helped Virginia cut the lead back down to a one possession game with 15 minutes to go.  Brogdon, who is a candidate with McClellan for ACC player of the year, finished with a game high 28 points.

At the final media timeout with under four minutes to play, Miami led 60-52 and seemed to be in control of the game.  Brogdon then hit two shots and Perrantes made a layup to make it a 60-59 game.

Miami could had put Virginia away a little sooner, but it only shot 60 percent from the foul line going 12-20. Free throw shooting along with poor rebounding allowed Virginia to continue to creep back into the ball game.

If I were Coach Jim Larranaga, I would work to formulate a plan for interior post defense when Tonye Jekiri goes to the bench. Kamari Murphy seems likes the best option to cover the other teams’ center’s, as he finished the game with 11 rebounds.

Monday night’s win was a statement victory for the Canes, as they moved within a half game of North Carolina in the ACC standings and continue to battle for the regular season title. We will see you Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the home finale against Louisville.

SI debuts plus-size swimsuit model

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By SIDNEY STERLING

Every year, males and females alike, anxiously await the release of the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit Issue. This year, the magazine is set to hit stands on Feb. 17. However, this year the aura surrounding the launch is different from the past.

In the 1990s, women craved to look and dress like Kate Moss. Her size zero physique and luscious blonde hair consumed the minds of women and men around the world. Girls wanted to be her, guys wanted to date her.

Flash forward to our digital society in the 21st century; out goes Kate Moss and her tiny frame and in comes Kim Kardashian taking up the entire lens with her behind.

Bottom line, with our constantly evolving society our idea of the ideal body type rapidly changes and with that, so does the Sports Illustrated magazine’s swimsuit edition.

Screen Shot 2016-02-12 at 12.11.55 AMThis year’s magazine will feature the first plus-sized model in all of Sports Illustrated swimsuit history. Ashley Graham, a 28-year-old Lincoln, Neb., native and seasoned plus-size model, will show her voluptuous curves inside the coveted yearly edition.

When she heard the news, she immediately declared her excitement and anticipation for her big break on Instagram.

However, others were not exactly “welcoming her with open arms.”

Screen Shot 2016-02-12 at 12.13.49 AM

Graham is no rookie when it comes to modeling. Her resume includes modeling for Screen Shot 2016-02-12 at 12.24.42 AMmagazines such as Vogue, Glamour and Latina. She has also appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “CBS News” with regards to her career in modeling and breaking social barriers.

Many news outlets like ABC and CNN speak positively about Sports Illustrated’s decision to revamp its image and stray away from the stereotypical skinny swimsuit models.

Sports Illustrated and Graham fans seem supportive of this progressive move.

Do you think society is headed in the right direction based on this move by Sports Illustrated? Do you think it was simply just a publicity stunt or will it continue to have plus-sized models in every yearly issue?

Giuliani criticizes halftime show

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By JEAN-PAUL AGUIRRE

This past Monday, Rudy Giuliani stirred up some controversy over the Super Bowl halftime performance by Coldplay, which featured Bruno Mars and Beyoncé.

The portion of the performance by Beyoncé referenced ongoing social issues being confronted in the U.S., such as the Black Lives Matter movement, while also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panthers.

The performance proved to be quite divisive as both proponents and opponents advocated their positions on the various platforms, from online-opinion articles to morning shows on national news networks.

The former mayor of New York, Giuliani, expressed his deep offense by Beyoncé’s performance on “Fox and Friends” on Monday morning. He said that it was “outrageous” and that it was an attack on law enforcement.

The story has not made major waves in the form of newsworthy topics on local or national news stations. I feel that it is appropriate that news stations have not blown the story up to extreme proportions, as they have been known to do recently. I feel that it may be worth mentioning as a tidbit during segments, but the nation should not concern itself with an insignificant feud.

The nation is immersed in the presidential campaign, especially now with the presidential primaries and caucuses in New Hampshire and other states. Following the campaign to try and figure out which of the candidates might take the lead in the race for the White House is more important.

This is one instance where I feel the media took the right approach with covering the Beyoncé-Giuliani story. It contains the news element of prominence, which would permit it to receive some attention, but not enough to allot more time than is necessary — like what we have seen lately with some stories, such as the woman who pulled over the police officer, or if you watch ESPN, the ongoing saga with the Cleveland Browns and Johnny Manziel.

Big boys don’t cry?

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By BREANA ROSS

When the final seconds on the clock ran out at Super Bowl 50, not everyone was smiling and celebrating. The CBS Sports camera switched from an excited, smiling Peyton Manning to a devastated Carolina Panthers player. This player was Cornerback Josh Norman and he was less than thrilled by the outcome of the game. The camera zoomed in for a close-up shot as Norman bawled into his hands, realizing his hope of winning the Super Bowl had now vanished.

As soon as the camera showed Josh Norman, devastated and in tears, everyone with whom I was watching the Super Bowl yelled, “Why are they showing him like this?” and “They should leave him alone!”

To an average viewer, it seems outrageous for the news media to show someone in such a state of distress, especially someone normally portrayed as tough. In many ways, it can appear disrespectful and even invasive for the news media to have a camera in the face of someone who is crying. After all, the news media could have shown other members of the football team who were, perhaps, not quite as upset as Josh Norman. However, as a journalist, I began to reflect on the other side of the argument.

The goal of the news media is to show a story from as many aspects and angles as possible. Only showing the excited and celebratory Denver Broncos players would only be showing half of the story. In any championship game, there are winners and losers. As much as people want to see the reactions of the winners, they also want to see the reactions of those who lost. Josh Norman’s reaction was a visual manifestation that summed up the emotions of most players on the Carolina Panthers team, thus golden for the news media’s coverage.

Cam Newton — Leave the man alone

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By WYATT GELLER

During the past few weeks, there has been much talk about the Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton as his team cruised to a 15-1 regular season record and is now squaring off against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Many people criticized Newton for his touchdown celebrations where he “dabs” in the end zone, which is his signature dance move, along with giving footballs to special fans that wear Panthers gear, mostly kids, after the team scores a touchdown.

The idea I cannot seem to understand is where all this criticism comes from.  Other than stealing a laptop back in college over six years ago, Newton has not had any off the field issues.

Langer Research Associates produced a survey for ESPN Wednesday to ask fans what the big deal is about Newton. More than 62 percent responded that it was due to his style of play on the field, 14 percent said it was a race issue as Newton is black and the other 24 percent were uncertain.

I definitely fall in that 24 percent category, as I do not even know the source of all the criticism.  Maybe they are not used to the recent success the Panthers have had since they became a recent playoff team.  Another suggestion would be the magnitude of the Super Bowl and that Newton is only the 6th black quarterback to play in the Super Bowl, but I do not see a race issue at all.

Michael Rosenberg, who writes for Sports Illustrated, stated that, “I’ve never met anybody who felt that way. I’ve never heard anybody talk about it. I hear people criticizing his critics, but I don’t see the critics themselves.”

This is what other notable people have mentioned including former quarterback Warren Moon and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.  Moon is an African-American and he had never faced such backlash as Newton is now.

The media has gotten players and fans opinions, but no exact answer has been given.  That is what bothers me the most, as they need to stop talking about the criticism against Newton, as he does not deserve it.

There is no best case scenario to why there is hate towards Newton, but he knows that none of the reports that the media put out about him will matter on Sunday.

Missouri students vs. President Wolfe

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By KATHERINE MOORE

Student and faculty protests have come to an end after University of Missouri’s President Timothy Wolfe resigned on Monday.

The school’s distress over how the president has responded to racist incidents on campus has caused Wolfe to step down. Protesters say there have been a series of bias events that the president did not take seriously.

For example, in early October, at the Homecoming Parade, Wolfe avoided the student group, Legion of Black Collegians. Activists say he was dismissive to them regarding the homecoming rehearsal, when a white man interrupted their meeting and used racial slurs. Later that month, another incident occurred, someone used human feces to create a swastika on a wall in one of the residence halls.

Recently, graduate student, Jonathan Butler, held a publicized hunger strike, saying that he would not eat until Wolfe was out of office. On Saturday the school’s football team, with the coach’s approval, announced that they refused to play until Jonathan Butler ended his hunger strike. The football boycott drew national attention, as forfeiting the team’s game would cost the university $1 million.

On Monday, amid escalating protests over the school’s racism and after the Missouri Students Association called for Wolfe’s removal, Wolfe resigned.

The Missouri athletic director, Mack Rhoades, and head football coach, Gary Pinkel, said that all football activities would resume Tuesday.

Click here for a timeline of University of Missouri’s protests.