Blog #9

Super Bowl XV (1981)

First thing the video shows is Vince Lombardi's wife, Marie, come out onto the field for the coin toss. This is a similarity to what they do today. Last year if I recall, they brought out a celebrity, Joe Namath to flip the coin. The other similarity that I noticed was that the game was played in the Superdome. I had no idea that it was that old, but even recently it has held a Super Bowl.

Some differences that I noticed were quite evident. One, the style of play was much slower. The plays were almost always slow progressing. The other thing was some of the lingo. Bryan Gumbel was the only commentator I know that still works today and he still sounded the same. The lingo they used wasn't much different but it was sort of dumbed down. Like, if you have ever watched a game where John Gruden is the commentator, he goes way in depth, like a coach. In reality only football or madden players would get some of the stuff he is saying. Another difference was the halftime show was not a single singer, but instead a group preforming some Mardi-Gras parade thingy.

Oakland whoops the Philly Eagles and the game itself was kind of like the most recent Super Bowl. Where the Seahawks defense just obliterates the Broncos offense.

Blog #7

Superbowl IV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0wXfEY48pU&list=PLAawX5v8OXleJ027ZOw8slx2w-dui-Rng

Kansas City Chiefs v. Minnesota Vikings

American Football's style of play in the 1970s can be described in one word. Slow. All the plays seemed to be slow developing even if they were just handoffs. Thats the other thing, handoffs were taken differently and backfield steps were way different then what they are now. Defense didn't seem to pursue the football either.

The fans were primarily men. Although this can be said about sporting events nowadays too, it was even more so back in the 1970s. In several shots from the video, you see only men. When you do see women they seem to be from the upper class. This can be because they have better seats which would lead to the woman wanting to come more.

The cheerleaders were way different. The cheerleaders were more like college cheerleaders than the "cheerleaders" in the NFL now.

KC coach, Hank Stram, wore a sportscoat, dress shirt, and slacks to his coaching jobs. He looked like a business man. There is not a single coach I can think of now days that wears that kind of stuff. Maybe in basketball but besides that not a one.

Blog #6

Multiple Intelligence

Visual/Spatial: 9

Verbal/linguistic: 7

Musical/rhythm: 12

Logic/math: 11

Body: 12

Interpersonal: 15

Intrapersonal: 11

Naturalistic: 9

My top score of interpersonal works well with what I want to do. I need to find others who are an education major because there are not very many that are my friends.

My second highest scores were Music and Body. I don't know about making study raps but I listen to music to help me block out other distractions.

I find that when I teach someone the information I contain it better and get higher grades. 

Blog #5 Bias

-Operation Fill In the Blank: Pentagon Weighs What to Call War Against ISIS

-Justin Fishel

-Fox News

-Fox News

-October 6, 2014

• Preread Questions 
• Is this a War?
• Why is a name important?
• Any further escalation?
• Do both parties support the war?
• Does a name make it seem more like a war?
• The author most likely wrote the article to support a push for an answer in whether the military will escslate the "ISIS Situation" or not.
• Every US military operation has had a name since 1989. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, said it could be a 30-year "war."
• He is implying the US either stop the airstrikes or put more effort into stopping ISIS.
• The author proves that military officials are being very cautious and timid about escaltation and the "war" as a whole.
• The writer assumes that the military doesn't want an official for the operation because that would "Make them own it."
• Sources
• Wall Street Journal article
• Obama conferences
• He does a good job expressing both sides (the military and the people). He takes quotes from not only the commander and chief but also from Sec. of Defense and several military officials.
• I do trust the article. Although it isn't really a statement article it doesn't seem to use any bad journalism like pulling out only certain quotes. 
• This article seems credible and it could raise societies interest and opinions on the US' envolvement in oversea affairs.
• Questions
• It is a war, even if they won't name it.
• The name would make it seem even more like a war.
• There are talks of a escalation by using helicopter gunships.
• Article doesn't talk about political opinions on the war.
• The name would make it seem more like a war.

Blog #4- Glory Road

Glory Road

                Throughout the history of sports there have been several pivotal moments that helped create the sports culture we know now. Many of these moments have to do with civil rights and the issue of racism in sports, moments like Jackie Robinson becoming the first African American to play in the MLB or Jesse Owens’ victory over the Nazi Olympic sprinters. A less renowned, but equally important event in sports history, was when newly appointed Texas Western University head coach, Don Haskins, starting an all-black lineup (a first in NCAA History). This was during a time when the informal rule in college basketball was you “Only played one if at home, two if on the road, and three if your team was down.” This move pushed boundaries and sparked controversy. The film Glory Road follows the 1965-66 TWU Miners and their coach Don Haskins as they make one of the most memorable runs in college basketball history, all while facing harsh racism and brutal attacks.

                The events took place in the heat of the 1960s civil rights movement. The movie does a great job of portraying the tumultuous country by showing several scenes of harsh racism towards the team from whites. The movie also does a noble job at pointing out the differences between white and black basketball culture. Coach Haskins plays fundamental basketball, a style of basketball that successful, and primarily white teams like Kentucky, implicate. When he is told about how little resources he has to recruit, he has to branch out and find the best talent he can, regardless of race. This leads him to several players from cities like Detroit and New York City. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the recruiting of Harry Flournoy. The scene starts in a steel mill where Harry works and Coach is trying to talk to him. Fearing he’ll be jumped, Harry runs home only to find Coach sitting in his kitchen with his mother. This part of the movie illustrates a racial stereotype that blacks held against whites. It’s not often a white man would come around that part of town looking for a black kid, which is why Harry ran. The end of the scene shows Haskins, and much to Harry’s dismay, finally winning over Harry’s mother.

                The season starts off with the new African American players and current white players and students of WCU clashing several times in school and on the court. Eventually the players gain a mutual respect for one another and get off to a 23-0 record. As the season went on Coach Haskins backed off the fundamental style of basketball he was used to coaching and began to let the black players “Play their game.” Earlier when I talked about the differences between white and black basketball cultures I meant that many young African American players take the skills they’ve learned from playing around the neighborhood to the hardwood, and that white players tend to rely on the coaching. In the games they show during the regular season you can see this distinction and it pays off big time because no one has seen this kind of play before.

                As the regular season comes to an end, the threats aimed at the team from racists increase. Before their final game at Seattle, one of their players is badly beaten by white racists in a public restroom. This causes the team to be volatile and hostile towards their white coaches and teammates. Thus, the team plays with a lack of heart and loses their final regular season game, ending the season 23-1 and ranked 3^rd in the nation. The response these players had towards the jumping of their teammate would have been normal. They were not only scared that if they were to continue playing they would meet the same fate, but they were angry at whites in general. Eventually Coach is able to consul the players and they begin the NCAA Tournament.

                The Tournament goes TWU’s way, even with a close 81-80 victory over Kansas (which holds a special place in my heart). The movies’ climatic scene is Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland. This is the NCAA National Championship and TWU is playing Adolf Rupp’s all white, Kentucky Basketball team. When the team enters the Field House the Kentucky fans are shown waving confederate flags and singing the song “Dixie.” Although this is inaccurate, the movie does this to sum up the whole season and the type of resilience this team has. Like most sports movies, the Miners go down my a dozen points before a motivational speech by Haskins sparks them back to life. A montage of alley-oops and dunks leads way to a 72-65 victory and the extreme underdogs being crowned champions.

                The whole movie does a great job portraying the extreme difficulties that faced African American athletes and all those who supported them in the 1960s. The movie was less about the story of an underdog by talent, but more by an underdog by respect. If I were to rate this title, I wold give it a 8.5/10.

Blog #3 "Dream Job"

Connor Alexander

1) My major goal in my profession is not so much making a lot of money, but instead making a living and enjoying the work I am doing.
I have to choose a profession that I enjoy and that makes enough to support a family.

2) Personally I would not mind moving back to Kansas. In reality however, I will go where the jobs are. My preference of where I live can work out for me. Johnson County, KS has wonderful schools which would work out well with my aspirations of being a teacher/coach.

3) I have made it up in my mind that before my wife and I have any children we will travel. It doesn't matter to me where we travel but I have yet to see much of the world outside Kansas and Missouri. I have to be financially stable to be able to travel.

4) I value being respected. I am motivated by the respect I can earn from my peers and onlookers from my hard work. If I want to be respected I must be a very admirable person in my selected field.

5) I prefer variety over routine. Which is why teaching and coaching is a good choice. Sure you might teach the same thing 7 times a day, but you will change everyday.

Dream Job: My dream job would be taking a High School administration position while also coaching high school football/track. I would like the school to be located in a suburb and the school district to pay their teachers well enough so that My family and I could live comfortably.

Blog #2 (MOJO)

Friday Night Lights

The movie Friday Night Lights follows the football season of the 1988 Permian Panthers of Odessa HS in Texas. In Texas, where football reigns supreme (especially high school football), small town life revolves around how the area high school football team does. A scene in the movie that best illistrates this is when a few players including the quarterback, Mike, are eating at a local drive in and are approached by several men asking if "they'll bring the state title back to town." The pressure put on the players is also put on new coach, Gary Gaines, as he tries to restore the teams dominance.

The film also follows the sad tale of Boobie Miles. Boobie, who was the go to guy for the Panthers the previous season, was on his way to a full ride at his choice of school and a great season. Before the season started he suffers a knee injury keeps him sidelined the rest of the season.

Football back in the late 80s and ealry 90s was a brutal beast. Not to mention, football in Texas is just a different beast. The movie accuratly portrays how violent and the on field attitudes players have.

I am a little biased but I give the movie a 5/5. The ending of the movie is probably the saddest ending of any movie because I lived that.