Atlanta Falcons Downfall

Atlanta Falcons Downfall
Zane West-Derby
12-17-2013  1:02 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-As you may know, the Atlanta Falcons have had a terrible season so far. They are 3-10 through the first 13 games of the season. Their season of disappointment  has consisted of injuries and stars not living up to their potential.

So far this year, Roddy White, Julio Jones, Sean Weatherspoon, and Tony Gonzalez have sustained key injuries. On the defensive side of the ball, they possess plenty of talent; enough to be a top notch defence in the NFL. With Osi Umenyiora, Sean Weatherspoon, Asante Samuel, William Moore and William Worrlilow as their top defensive players, only Moore and Worrilow have came out and played at a high level. On the offensive side of the ball, they are able to pass at a high level, but they can not run the ball very well. They thought signing Steven Jackson in the offsmason, they would give then a chance to run the ball,too. That could not happen because of the injuries to Julio Jones (out for season), Roddy White playing injured, and Tony Gonzalez (toe) in the passing game.

They are 30th in the league in rushing yards per game and opponent rushing yards a game. There defense is not good enough to win games when their offense does not produce teams at the level of like the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks.

Next year for the Falcons could be special. If Tony Gonzalez does not retire, they could potentially win plenty of games and possibly even go to the Super Bowl. They will have all of their players back from injuries and most likely a top five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. With their Stars on Offense and play-makers on defense, Atlanta Falcons could become one of the greatest teams in the NFL.

Baseball Winter Meetings

Baseball Winter Meetings
Cody Goggin
12-17-2013  1:01 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-If you are a fan of roster moves in Major League Baseball then you must love the Winter Meetings. The Winter Meetings are the annual event where representatives from every baseball team meet and shake up the rosters. Having this many representatives for teams in one hotel can make for an interesting week. This is often the week in which the most offseason trades and free agent deals happen. The 2013 Winter Meetings were held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

            The Winter Meetings started off with a bang as on the first day Roy Halladay announced his Halladay was a two-time Cy Young award winner who spent his last season battling injuries and decided that he could no longer compete at the level he once did. The Toronto Blue Jays signed Halladay to a one-day contract so that he could retire as a Blue Jay. The only othe major news on the first day was that the Marlins had signed the former catcher for the Boston Red Sox, Jerrod Saltalamacchia.

            Day two saw one really big moves as the Diamondbacks, White Sox, and Angels agreed on a three-team deal. This deal would send Adam Eaton to the White Sox, Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs to the Angels, and slugger Mark Trumbo to Arizona.  

            On the third day, Seattle made two moves to try to improve their club further by adding Logan Morrison and Corey Hart to protect Cano in their lineup. Pitchers seem to be hot on the market as Bartolo Colon landed with the Mets and Edinson Volquez inked a one-year deal with Pittsburgh.

            The winter meetings have come to an end, but they were as eventful as promised. In the upcoming weeks look for the Yankees to make some major splashes while trying to fill a middle infield void and solidify their bullpen. The best remaining free-agent is former Reds and Indians outfielder Shin Soo Choo. Choo was second in the league in on-base percentage last season and could really help a team needing a leadoff hitter. If Tanaka, the coveted pitcher from Japan becomes available, then expect the Yankees to be in the market for him, as well as multiple others. This has been one of the craziest off seasons in recent memory and it shows no-signs of slowing down soon.

MLB Rule Changes

MLB Rule Changes
Cody Goggin
12-17-2013  12:59 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-Baseball has been a part of this country for years, but sometimes the game must change with our ever-changing society. The 2014 MLB season will likely see two major rule changes: Instant-replay and the elimination of home-plate collisions. Some people may be in favor of these things, but I have my own opinions.

            The one rule change that will for sure be in effect for next season is the expanded use of instant replay. For the first time ever managers will be able to “challenge” the calls the umpires make on the field and have them reviewed. Major League Baseball is switching to try to be more like football. I think this rule change is a poor decision. Sure, with cameras everywhere now there is more of an emphasis on umpire’s missed calls, but the way I see it is that it is just part of the game. Umpires are supposed to control the game and be able to do their jobs, but you cannot expect them to get every call right. People make mistakes sometimes, but doesn’t that define what baseball is? This rule will most likely also eliminate the epic fights between managers and umpires. Ejections will be lower because of this rule. Earl Weaver is probably rolling over in his grave and still yelling at Bill Haller.  In the game of baseball, umpires should have control of the game, not a camera crew.

            The other rule change is pending, but could likely be put into place next season. This rule change would be to eliminate home-plate collisions. This all started whenever Scott Cousins ran over MLB poster-boy Buster Posey on a clean play in which he was just going hard. Everybody freaked out about this play. I think collisions at the plate represent another thing that baseball is all about: playing hard. This new rule would literally discourage players from giving their all. People in this country are getting too soft and the addition of this rule would just be adding insult to our political injury. This rule is one of the worst things that has happened to baseball in the past decade and should forever be known as the “Buster Posey Rule.”

            I think that the game of baseball should be left how it is. There is nothing wrong with the way the game is played now. Too many people trying to be safe and always make sure that they are right are ruining the nation’s pastime. Baseball is about mistakes and going hard and that should never be changed. 

OHS Basketball

OHS Basketball
Sam Grus
12-17-2013 12:57 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-Looking ahead at 2014 basketball season, the Owensville Dutchmen appear young and looking for the upsets. Led by seniors Nathan Smith and Ben Angell, this team could get somewhere if they work hard and do not give up.

“You cannot win on talent alone. You don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone.” - Herb Brooks.

That was said to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team at the beginning of the season. That quote applies to the Owensville Dutchmen in 2014. This team is going to have to gel and work together if they are wanting to achieve something great this season. The team leaders are going to have to work hard at getting this team together to achieve one common goal. Nathan Smith and Ben Angell are trying to do as much as they can whether it be team bonding, or just getting players to practice.

In two of the first three games, the team played well, they just need to work on a few things to get to the next level. Against the Fatima Comets, the passes needed to be sharper, since the Comets run a press defense. Meanwhile, against the Belle Tigers the team got into foul trouble early on and two key players fouled out in the second half. So those are the little things that the team can work on to improve for later on in the season.

Overall, this team has the potential to do something and shock the Four Rivers Conference. Expect the seniors to have big seasons, and look for freshman Logan Moritz to have an impact on the offensive side of the ball. Also look for the crazy Dutchmen fans to play an intricate role for intimidating the opposing teams during home games. My prediction is that we will finish .500, they will pick it up down the stretch, sending the Dutchmen into the District Tournament hot.

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Yes, They are Overpaid

Yes, They are Overpaid
Sam Grus
12-17-2013  12:56 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-On December 6th, the baseball world was flipped upside down, as top free agent second baseman Robinson Cano signed the dotted line with the Seattle Mariners. Cano is a premier player who has one of the prettiest swings in all of baseball and debatedly has the best arm of any infielder in the game. Seattle signed Cano to a 10-year deal worth $240 million. It was a surprise that the New York Yankees, who were Cano’s former team, did not sign him for equal or a little more than that. Maybe the Yankees are smart, maybe they are catching on to something, or maybe they knew something the Seattle did not. It could also be because 10-year deals are not the best thing.

Only eight players in MLB history have ever signed a 10-year contract, and none of them worked out. The most recent 10-year deal was Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels. After winning a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pujols left his hometown for more money. He signed on for $254 million for 10 years, which is a pretty steep deal for any team, but the Angels did it anyways. Pujols is going into his third year with the Angels and has totaled 253 games and only batted .272. Those numbers are not where they need to be for the Angels to get what they need in order to pay off his deal.

Possibly the most famous long-term contract is the one between the New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Alex Rodriguez is one of those players that comes once in a lifetime. When he first came to New York he was a star, but he needed a little push. After having an outstanding first couple of seasons, the “Bronx Bombers” decided to renew his contract, and renew they did. From 2008-2017 he is the property of the New York Yankees for $275 million. But what makes this the most famous is that Rodriguez’s stats have tailed off in the past couple of seasons, and he is under investigation for steroid use. Since 2008 he is batting .275 and has been averaging 111 games per season. He just does not produce the same as he used to. Going into 2014 he will be 39 years old and his age and numbers prove that for $27.5 million a year, he just is not worth it for four more sub-par seasons.

So maybe the Yankees learned from their recent mistake of Alex Rodriguez, and they did not want to be burdened with a heavy contract again. These deals are not something that should stay in major league baseball, because they are money pits and they do not help the player or the team. Almost all of the 10-year contracts were to aging ballplayers at the end of their prime years. So yes, Robinson Cano is the third most overpaid player in baseball right now. If his numbers are not where they are supposed to be do not expect him to stay in Seattle to long.

Wiggins vs. Parker

Wiggins vs. Parker
Zane West-Derby
12-17-2013  12:54 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-Sports fans all across the world are always looking for the next big thing and basketball is no different. In 2003, when Lebron James was in High School, he was being compared to Michael Jordan. Now, 10 years later you have two young prospects in Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker that are being compared to some NBA stars in the league right now. Andrew Wiggins is already being compared to Lebron James and Jabari Parker being compared to Carmelo Anthony or Kobe Bryant.

Wiggins definitely has a more NBA ready body. He is six foot eight and 205 pounds with a wingspan like, Kawhi Leonard, reaching up to seven feet. His incredible size would lead you to think he is not very athletic but, that is definitely not the case. He has a 44 inch vertical leap and his athletic ability is comparable to James. Wiggins at times, lacks a killer instinct and passion for the game.

            Parker is also an incredible athlete, but nowhere near Wiggins. Right now, Parker does have a better offensive game. He is more mature and has a killer instinct to want to score the ball. NBA scouts do not want to hear is a talented basketball player in Parker has been injured while playing basketball. He suffered a foot injury during a FIBA U-17 Tournament.

If I had the 1st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, I would pick Wiggins because of all the potential he has just because of the athletic ability he has. Although, Parker is probably be a better bet to become what everybody is expecting from him. A scorer and leader of a NBA team trying to win a NBA Championship. Wiggins is not a hit-or-miss at all though. The worst case scenario by drafting Wiggins, an NBA team will have a freakish athlete that could play an important role on a team.

Both of these players have the potential to be big time stars, but they need to put in the hard work it takes to become an elite NBA basketball player. Let’s just hope Parker can develop into a scoring machine in the NBA and Wiggins into this athletic beast on a mission to become the best so, we might just have another rivalry just like Jordan vs. Bird.

Gun Control: You Don’t Actually Need an Assault Weapon

Gun Control: You Don't Actually Need an Assault Weapon
Anna Nicks
12-17-2013  12:49 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-Bring up gun control, and everyone is going to have an opinion, whether for it, or against it.  I see very few people who fall in the middle.  I tend to fall on the side of more control.  Now hold on.  Before you stop reading, or before you start sending me angry letters, let me explain.  I am not saying that no one should be allowed to have any firearms.  That is not my opinion.  I am simply stating that – “hey, it might be a good idea to have some restrictions on the deadly weapons that people own and shoot.” 

            Allow me to ask a rhetorical question.  Why do you need an assault rifle that holds fifty bullets?  Not “why do you want,” but “why do you need” I have heard many answers.  One of them (that I see as the most ridiculous) is “to protect my rights.”  To protect your rights?  Really?  What rights do you have to protect with an assault weapon?  As I see it, none of them. 

            Is it a good idea to allow anybody to buy a silencer?  Again, I ask: why do you need a silencer?  If your activities are legal, you do not.  I understand that sometimes people just want to own something, but if that something could be misused to kill someone and get away with it, perhaps it is not a good idea to let everyone have them. 

            It is my opinion that there should be some restrictions on what firearms and firearm paraphernalia people can own and fire.  I believe that you should have as many weapons as you want.  I believe that you should not be able to own fully automatic guns.  I do not believe that you should own anything that makes the mass slaughter of human beings incredibly easy to get away with.  Restriction on guns is not to squash your rights, they are to help protect you and your loved ones.