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Hail to the Victors

Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Georgia's Jordan Davis

On Saturday, Michigan was able to win their first Big Ten championship in over 15 years. The Wolverines beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 42-3. After their dominant win on Saturday against Iowa, Michigan had clinched their way into the college football playoffs. They will be playing the Georgia Bulldogs in the college football semi-finals bowl December 31st in Miami. This game will definitely be Michigan's toughest challenge. Georgia was ranked number 1 in the nation until they shockingly lost to Alabama on Saturday. Georgia also has one of the best defenses in college football history. This game should be very close. Both Michigan and Georgia have great defenses and reliable offenses. 

- Thomas Ryder ‘22

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A Tragedy in Oxford

A photo taken from the vigil held by the Oxford community to honor those killed during the shooting last week

A Tragedy in Oxford

There was another school shooting. It was in a fairly small city in Michigan, about 40 minutes away from Detroit. The shooting took place on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021, at Oxford High School around 2 pm. The gunman, 15 year old Ethan Crumbley, a sophomore attending Oxford High School went into school on Tuesday with a bag that had a gun inside of it and with that gun, he killed four people and injured seven.

As more and more information has come out over the past week, the more unsettling the situation gets. According to multiple sources lots of students, teachers, and parents notified the school about some of Ethan’s actions and expressed a sense of fear for their safety, but the school didn’t do much to stop his attack which has many people calling for charges against the school. "You can't even in an airport mention anything that even remotely indicates that there might be some sort of violence on a plane. You'll be immediately extracted. And yet we have a kid who is...saying some pretty concerning things and he was allowed to go back to school, and neither parent mentions that he had access to a weapon," said the prosecutor Karen McDonald when asked about the school board’s role in the fatal events that played out. Tate Myre 16, Madyson Baldwin 17, Hana St Juliana 14, and Justin Shilling 17, were the four students that were slain at school that day. There have been countless posts and messages flooding the internet over the last couple of days with sentiments of hope and strength. Another nice touch is that in all of the games that a team from Michigan has played since the tragedy, both teams have shown some sort of support, whether it be a shirt or a patch, to stand united with the community of Oxford. In fact, following Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell’s first win, he immediately opens with paying homage to the fallen and affected in the Oxford Community. “They’re in our hearts, in our prayers, and all the families, not to mention all those who were affected by this.”

One of the more beautiful outcomes of this ordeal has been how united many people in the State and even the country have become in the wake of this tragic event. A saying that’s starting to be circulated throughout social media is #Oxfordstrong, which has been tagged under a wide-ranging variety of different posts from sports media, to memoirs written by students who lost a loved one. Oakland County executive Dave Coulter said this in a remark he made on Friday, December 3rd addressed to the Oxford Community, “This community may be remembered for this tragedy, but it won't be defined by it, and your presence tonight, standing together is testament to that.”

Khalil-Lullah Ballentine '23

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The New Holy Trinity

Photo: Kanye (left) wishes to get back together with Kim (right) with his Holy Trinity of reasons.

Kim and Kanye broke up! Now, Kim Kardashian has moved on to dating Pete Davidson. However recently, Kanye has announced three reasons as to why Kim should leave Davidson and go back to Kanye. He calls them the “Holy Trinity.”

For the first reason, a source close to Kanye has said, “He isn't sure if any other woman is going to be able to put up with him.” In other words, he knows how much he can be. He also sees that Kim has almost a super power when it comes to handling Kanye. The second reason is to protect the four children they have together: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. Naturally, parents would want to stick together in order to make sure the children have a good and stable lifestyle, but will the kids be enough for Kim to stay? The last reason isn't so much about Kim or the kids, but about his religious views. “As a religious person he doesn't want to get a divorce.”

In addition to the Holy Trinity of reasons, Kanye also cares about his image. “He thinks [Kardashian] looks good next to him.” He clearly cares about the brand that he and Kim have built. He seems to still care about Kim even though his Holy Trinity may be selfish at times.

By John Campana '22

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Omicron- is It a Threat?

(A medical researcher holding up a blood sample housing the Omicron variant of COVID-19)

Over the past week (Nov. 29-Dec. 6), the new omicron variant of COVID-19 from South Africa with at least 29 cases have been confirmed across 11 states: California, New Jersey, Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Nebraska, Hawaii, New York, and Minnesota. Although there is very little information known about the new variant, it is believed to still affect adults the same way with the vast majority of the cases being relatively tame-- such as a common cold. However, in South Africa, the country of origin, officials are looking into a surge in children in the hospital; this variant is hitting kids harder than ever before. Another concerning factor is the byproduct of a study in Hong Kong: this variant is possibly the most contagious variant. Health officials across the world are concerned about the current vaccines’ effectiveness regarding new variants and many believe that soon enough, our vaccines will be outdated and we will be facing another COVID epidemic. Another COVID epidemic would be disastrous to the morale of every person on the globe. The thought of facing another lockdown would kill the spirit of everybody. Including how alcoholism, drug offenses, suicide, and depression all grew during last year’s stay-at-home mandate. We have to do our part in reducing the spread of this new variant while doing our best at keeping our social lives.

Source:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minnesota-omicron-variant-case-rcna6909

-Ian Hauser '22

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Eddie Hall Vs. Hafthor Björnsson fight by Chris Dimond

The world's strongest man competition is a competition to find out just that, who is the strongest man. Two past winners of this event, Eddie Hall, and Hafthor Björnsson have had a bitter rivalry. From dirty looks and conversations in person to blasts on social media these two strongmen have been in conflict. Now imagine how terrifying it would be to see two of the strongest men in the world angry at each other. The two finally decided to settle their disputes in the boxing ring. The two had been training for a fight in September, but fan favorite , Eddie Hall ended up tearing his bicep in his training. This meant the fight had to be postponed. At the moment there is no confirmed date for the match, but it is believed it will be held in March or April of 2021. Björnsson is continuing his training as Hall is in recovery and has said that he will be ready for the fight when it comes.

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Return to Normal...

Since the summer of ‘20 also known as the summer of the first covid-19 quarantine, one of the only two options to enter the downriver city of Grosse Ile, the Grosse Ile free bridge, was shut down. The closure of the bridge was ruled as construction due to poor inspection of the bridge leading to crumbling infrastructure. At first this does not seem like a big change to the community however the consequences of this were astronomical. Being one of only two ways on the island, the free bridge being closed for over a year and a half, means that the Grosse Ile toll bridge was the only option of entrance. This was a major and dramatic change due to the 5$ charge of the toll bridge, a small number at first, but once you account for the plethora of travels one makes, it starts to become more clear how much more difficult things become with this. Just over 10,000 citizen living on the island, thats nearly 10,000 bodies that need commutes, now say you half that number to 5,000 to account for all the people who are unable to drive. Then once again half that number to account for the people that don’t need to leave the island on a daily for their daily tasks. Now the number is 2,500 people leaving and entering the island every day, lets say that the charge is cut down to 3$ due to these people paying for the “bridge pass”, which allows you to not have to pay cash or card up front. So now, in total with all of the numbers that have now been accounted for, that is still 7,500$ every day being put towards the toll bridge. For reference that ratio counting for the fact that all of these people would use the free bridge if they could, is 7,500$:0. So now that small change, seems catastrophically large, not even counting for the fact that the bridge is on one of the most north parts of the island and changed entire commutes. So the re-opening of the Grosse Ile free bridge in december of 2021, might not seem like a big deal, in context, it is actually a very important change, that practically completely reverted the changes made to the island commute in the past year and a half.

-Nino Dioso'23

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Tigers: The Resurgence

(Javier Baez in a Tigers jersey)

The AJ Hinch-led Tigers are coming off an exciting couple of weeks in the free agency market. The Tigers went big game hunting and signed Javy Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez to long-term deals. These signings were not surprising from the Tigers as many expected them to spend big money this offseason after coming off a growth year. Yet that is rumored every year with teams and they can miss on free agents. The Tigers did not do that, they took big swings and connected. Both Baez and Rodriguez make the Tigers immediately better and should help the Tigers make a push for the playoffs next season. AJ Hinch and the Tigers executives believe this is the time for the Tigers to make the jump out of the basement and back into the limelight.

The Tigers started their big offseason with the signing of the hard-throwing leftie Eduardo Rodriguez. The Tigers signed him to a 5 year, 77 million dollar contract and immediately shored up their starting rotation. Rodriguez came from Boston where he played the first 6 seasons of his career. While he was in Boston he was very effective and accomplished. He finished 6th in Cy Young Voting in 2019 and won a world series with the Red Sox the year prior. Rodriguez is a hard-throwing leftie that can hit 96 on his fastball and can drop in a devastating slider. Rodriguez will certainly help the team on more occasions than just every 5th day. Rodriguez will help mentor the young pitchers in the rotation like Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal while also bringing the experience of postseason baseball and championship pedigree to the clubhouse. When asked about why Rodriguez choose to come to Detroit he said: “They are growing a championship team here and that’s why I chose to come here.” Eduardo Rodriguez will help the Tigers change their identity and bring the Tigers back to their championship-winning ways.

The other big move of the Tigers offseason came in the form of flashy shortstop Javier Baez. Baez is known as one of the most flashy players in baseball. He has made himself famous for his no-look tags and 450 foot home runs. The Tigers signed Baez to a 6 year 140 million dollar contract this past week. Baez spent his first seven seasons with the Cubs before he was traded to the Mets where he played the 2021 season. While Baez was with the Cubs he became one of the best players in baseball. Baez played a big role in the Cubs ending their 108 year World Series drought in 2016 and he came 2nd in MVP voting in 2018. Similar to Rodriguez, Baez brings the experience of postseason baseball with him. Baez will help this young and exciting Tigers team through their grueling 162 game schedule and hopefully will lead them to the playoffs. As Baez said, “We will make a champion in Detroit.” Baez does come with some flaws though. He strikes out a ton, like a ton. Over his career, Baez has averaged a whopping 180 strikeouts a year to only 28 walks. These strikeout numbers need to go down and the walk numbers must go up. Ideally, AJ Hinch and his staff will be able to help him with this and allow Baez to return to that MVP material. Javier Baez is a crucial signing for the Tigers and their resurgence.

The Tigers offseason has gone well so far as they look to continue to improve the team to potentially make a push for the division this year. This will have to wait however due to the MLB’s labor lockout between the owners and the players. There will be no player transactions until the lockout is resolved in the spring. The Tigers will not be done adding to their team once the spring comes around as they will be looking to add another starter to their rotation. Overall, the offseason is showing the MLB that the Tigers are back and will be a team to feared for years to come. The Tigers rebuild is finally complete.

-Matt Whipple '23

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Escalating Tensions in Ukraine Threaten War

Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will hold a call over escalating tension in Ukraine “behind closed doors” on December 7th, 2021. The two leaders will discuss a large range of topics including strategic stability, cyber, and regional issues. The meeting will not be broadcasted live, and it is reported that the meeting will be very lengthy. The last meeting that took place between the two leaders was at a summit in Geneva last July. The cause of the meeting is due to the “added military capability” that was placed on the Ukrainian border by Russians. Russian has erected supply lines and has medical units and food that could support a large Russian invasion reports U.S intelligence. To combat this, America has considered placing heavier sanctions on Russia due to this amassing threat at the Ukrainian border. Biden recently had a call with the heads of major countries in Europe who called on Russian to deescalate tensions and are all in support of Ukraine’s existence as a separate and independent nation. To ensure that Ukraine's interest is accurately represented President Biden will be held a meeting with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky.

President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin during their last meeting in July.

John Watha '22

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The Michigan Wolverines are Finally Victors

The Michigan Wolverines after winning the Big 10 Championship against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The University of Michigan football team hadn’t been to the Big 10 Championship since 2003 or beaten Ohio State since 2011. When the Wolverines hired Jim Harbuagh in 2015, they expected a turn around for the program. To their surprise, Harbaugh had gone 0-6 against the Buckeyes and hadn’t made the Big 10 Championship in 17 years. 2021 seemed to be a turning point for the Wolverines, saying at the start of the season that “this is our year.”

After going 7-0, Michigan had all eyes on them leading up to the notorious Michigan vs. Michigan State game. The Wolverines lost after having an 18 point lead, and everybody believed that Michigan was out of the running for the Big 10 Championship. On November 27, Michigan shocked the world beating the Buckeyes 42-27. This victory secured them a spot in the Big 10 Championship. The win against the Buckeyes is believed to be the start of something new with head coach, Jim Harbuagh, saying, “It feels like the beginning.” Heisman front runner and senior at U of M, Aidan Hutchinson, couldn’t leave Michigan without fulfilling his legacy of beating Ohio State and winning the Big 10 Championship. After four years of blood, sweat, and tears, Hutchinson can finally say that he has fulfilled his legacy. One of Michigan’s most famous head coaches, Bo Schembeckler has a famous quote stating, “Those who stay will be champions.” Hutchinson’s dad played under Schembeckler and has heard that quote all throughout his life. By staying his four years, Aidan Hutchinson can finally say that he is a champion.

Although Michigan has done what many said they weren’t capable of doing, “the job’s not done.” Michigan is now ranked 2nd in the College Football Playoffs, with a big game against Georgia on New Years Eve. If Michigan were to win this game, it would send them to the National Championship for the first time since 1997. Many have said Michigan should get rid of Jim Harbaugh after this season, but Harbaugh proved all the doubters wrong. The Wolverines are “having fun” and “finally coming together as a team.” The pieces have finally come together for the Wolverines. Cade McNamara, Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum, David Ojabo, and Donovan Edwards are among a few of the stars Michigan has on this year's team.

All eyes are on Michigan as the first round of the College Football Playoffs draw near. Michigan has one of the most well-rounded teams this season, and has a very good chance of beating the Georgia Bulldogs on December 31st at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. They will need to continue playing like they have been: as a team and having fun while doing so. Michigan has all the key pieces to become a National Champion and by playing smart, and having fun, Michigan will “be the victors.”

Christian Bouchillon '22

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1-10-1 reason to celebrate

St.Brown celebrating his game-winning touchdown

It happened. We all knew it would eventually but thank goodness it actually happened. The Detroit Lions won a single football game and it only took until December 5. They got their win at home but the home-field advantage was not a driving force for the Loins as Ford Field was barely over half capacity. That is part of the problem that the lions are facing. The fans are giving up on them, but why should the fans believe in the loins?

Even during this game, it was hard to believe that the lions weren't going to let the fans down. The Lions got out to an early deficit letting the Vikings into their red zone 3 times in a row without scoring anything themselves. Defensively they were able to hold the Vikings to two field goals and forced a fumble. The Lions were able to capitalize on this to take the momentum and get the score to 20-6 at halftime. Then the lions started to do what they do best and lose the lead. The Vikings got a field goal and then convert on 4th down for a touchdown, putting the score at 20-15. The Lions then respond with a field goal, which the Viking counter with another touchdown. Putting the score at 23-21. Then on their own 30-yard line while up 2 with 4 minutes to go they go for a pass play on 4th and 1. This leads to a fumble and a loss of ten yards setting up the Vikings at the 20 with 4 minutes to go. The Vikings score a touchdown and leave the lions with 1:50 on the clock and no time-outs. At this point, all the fans are upset and mad at the play calling. This looked like a game the lion could easily win and they seemingly choked it away. But not all hope is lost as the loins make great drives down the field making good passes and getting out of bounds to stop the clock. After 13 plays the Lions are on the 11-yard line with 2 seconds to go. St.Brown a Loins receive runs a route that goes out toward the side line then cuts back in leaving him with a clean separation from the defender and Goff makes the pass giving the Lions touchdown and their first win of the season. While it may not have been a pretty win, the lions finally did it and Detroit can put the fear of going winless behind them and focus on celebrating their win.

Charlie Bruce 22'

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The Miracle

Lions shocked at win against the Vikings!

Everybody knows of the Detroit Lions and the horrendous season they are having, but there would be a change in morale at Ford Field, on Sunday. The 21-22 football season for the Lions had a terrible start, leading to their 0-10-1 record. Last Sunday, they competed against the 5-6 Minnesota Vikings. The entirety of Detroit saw this as another loss in the books, but the Lions had other plans. From the opening kick, the team looked as if they were tired of losing, causing them to be up by 23 points at one point in the game. The fans were in shock by the way their Detroit Lions played, until the 4th quarter where they allowed the Vikings to make a comeback. Late in the 4th quarter, the Vikings had a 4 point lead, and everyone believed the Lions choked once again, but the offense still had hope. They drive down the field with as little as 1 minute and 30 seconds, and get within the Vikings 30 yardline. With hardly any time left, Jared Goff, the starting quarterback, delivers an absolute missile into Amon-Ra St. Brown catches the game winning touchdown, and the game clock hits zero. The city of Detroit erupted as this play unfolded, which gave the Lions their first win. Speaking to the wide receiver who caught the game winning pass,“I was really shocked, actually. The corner . . . I think he went like four or five yards deep into the end zone. It was perfect. I was running at him, and he actually just stayed there. He didn’t even come up. In my head I was like, ‘This is the perfect situation.’ As I broke in, there was no one in front of me. It just worked out perfect for us”, says Amon-Ra St. Brown. Even though the Lions still have a losing record, that win changed the mood and showed that no matter what, the Lions can win a football game.

Ethan Hunter '21

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Wolverines Win Big

JJ McCarthy wants his Big Ten Champions ring.

At the start of the 2021 College Football season, the Michigan Wolverines only had a two percent chance of winning the Big Ten. Well, overcoming all the odds, the Wolverines defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 42-3 last Saturday to win the Big Ten. When asked about overcoming the odds this season, team captain Aidan Hutchinson responded,” Man, we defied all expectations. Nobody thought we could do this. Nobody thought we could ever do this, especially not this season. And, man, we did it. And we did it in a very dominant fashion.” Besides winning the Big Ten, the Wolverines also clinched a berth in the college football playoffs, having a zero percent chance to do so at the start of the season. Furthermore, the Wolverines also become the first team to start the season unranked and make it into the playoffs. After the game, when Jim Harbaugh was asked what this team meant to him, he responded with,” I love this team. There’s no team I love more than this team.” After a solid win, the Wolverines remained #2 overall in the nation, and are now looking forward to their Orange Bowl matchup against #3 Georgia in the CFP semi-finals.

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The Road to Glory

Drew Collins dive off the block at Catholic League Meet

The team climbing to the top from nothing. Referring to the University of Detroit Jesuit (U of D) swim team. This team has been historically known as an average or less than average team. This was until 2017 when they acquired a new coach, Drew Edson, ever since then the team has just been getting better and better, getting second place in the catholic league and third place in Division 2 (D2) State meet for the first time in history. Edson’s coaching ability has been recognized by members of the swimming community, winning the boys swimming coach of the year award in 2021. “We got a fast team, but the skill isn’t what makes us fast it is the time and effort we put in and out of the pool” says captain, state champion, and All-American swimmer Charlie Bruce. U of D losing a minimal amount of seniors last year are placed number to in the power ranking for D2 swimming, behind Grosse Pointe South (GPS) who placed second in the D2 State meet last year. They have also acquired a number of talented freshmen who are tracking to join their state team this year. Hearing all this only time will show if they have what it takes to take down GPS and bring home a state championship.

Andrés Borrego '22

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College Football: Championship Week Roundup

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young winds up a deep ball

The past weekend of college football brought a lineup of conference championship games which all held massive implications for the upcoming bowl games. The two playoff semifinals, the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl, are among the New Year Six bowl games, also including the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and prestigious Rose Bowl. The conference championships across the Power 5 conferences, ACC, SEC, Pac-12, Big-12, and Big-10, decided the matchups for these games.

However, for the first time in the College Football Playoff era, a non-Power 5 team was able to make the top 4. Looking to the AAC, the #4 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats capped off an undefeated season in a 35-20 victory over the #21 ranked Houston Cougars. The win highlighted an explosive Cincy offense led by three Desmond Ritter touchdown passes and a 187 yard, 2 touchdown performance from running back Jerome Ford. The win helped them finish fourth in the country with a place in the semifinal.

Now moving into the Power 5 conferences, the ACC Championship had a couple of unfamiliar members. A game usually dominated by the Clemson Tigers was played between the #15 ranked Pittsburgh Panthers and the #16 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In a high-scoring affair, Pitt rounded out an impressive season with a 45-21 win led by outstanding quarterback Kenny Pickett. He threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns alongside a combined 141 yards and three touchdowns from a combined 5 different running backs. The Pac-12 Championship also featured a rare matchup, as the #17 ranked Utah Utes won their first title in school history, destroying the #10 ranked Oregon Ducks 38-10. A committee of 5 running backs combined for 191 yards and three touchdowns alongside 170 yards and a touchdown from quarterback Cameron Rising.

The final three conference championships were the biggest games. Starting in the Big-12, the #5 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys faced the #9 ranked Baylor Bears in a game with playoff implications. Going in with just one loss, Oklahoma State looked to put pressure on the top 4 with a win. However, they failed to do so in a game shaped by defense and turnovers. The highlight of the game was a goal-line stop by the Bears defense on 4th down to seal the victory. In the SEC, the #1 Georgia Bulldogs faced the #3 Alabama Crimson Tide in a clash of the titans. For the Tide, what would be their second loss of the season was not an option and they played like it. Dominating the team considered the best in the nation, Alabama pulled out a resounding 41-24 win on the back of Bryce Young’s 421 passing yards and 3 total touchdowns. Star wide receiver Jamison Williams also shined, going for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. The final game of the weekend, the Big-10 Championship, featured the #2 ranked Michigan Wolverines and #13 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. The game was dedicated to the victims of the Oxford High School shooting, and the Michigan players wore TM 42 on their jerseys in honor of Tate Meyer, one of the victims who wore number 42 playing football. The beautiful gesture was followed by a poetic victory for the Wolverines, who scored 42 points to Iowa’s 3. Their 461 yards of total yards were spread quite evenly across the wide receivers and running backs, who all performed impressively in such a big game. Quarterback Cade MacNamara also threw for 169 yards and a touchdown while being the vocal leader of the offense.

At the conclusion of the final game, fans began the countdown to Selection Sunday, when the Playoff Selection Committee would name the bowl game matchups. The semifinal matchups include Alabama vs. Cincinnati, and Michigan vs. Georgia. The Fiesta Bowl features a Notre Dame Fighting Irish team which despite not playing in a conference, finished 5th in the country at the end of the weekend. They will face Big-12 runner-ups in Oklahoma State. The Rose Bowl is between the Pac-12 champs Utah, and the Ohio State Buckeyes, who finished the second-highest ranked Big-10 team in the country. The Peach Bowl features another competitive Big-10 team in the Michigan State Spartans, who handed the Wolverines their only loss of the season. They play the ACC champions, Pittsburgh. The last of the New Year Six bowls is the Sugar Bowl between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Big-12 winning Baylor.

-Noah Cahill '23

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Are Picky Eaters in Danger?

Image of chicken tenders provided by USA Today.

This past year has been a reminder that while an entire year has gone by, the worldwide pandemic is not going away any time soon. Global supply shortages due to the pandemic have created many product shortages, the most recent being the ingredients for the very popular American food item: chicken tenders.

The global pandemic that has engulfed countless victims, and struck fear into the hearts of the population has caused more damage than just to individuals. Government mandates paired with less people willing to work, has caused severe damage to the global economic infrastructure. Products that average citizens rely on almost daily, such as household necessities and ingredients for common foods, have ended up in short supply as a result of products not being able to make it from one country to another. An article written by USA Today recites a report by NBC News, “Chicken tenders require more processing and packaging to sell, making them harder to find and more costly, NBC News reported.” This shortage has become common knowledge due to reports that popular American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has stopped advertising their chicken tenders, which happen to be one of their most popular items.

The global supply chain shortages have not made the biggest headlines this past year, but may potentially have arguably some of the most serious repercussions if handled carelessly. The future of our economy and well-being as a whole has been in question for a while now, and the idea of one of the most popular fast food chains running out of their one product does not give people hope. Many are uncomfortable with leaving their futures up to governments and politicians, but like all issues, there is no one size fits all solution, and we will just have to wait and see.

Jack Sisco '22

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The Finale: Formula One 2021 Wrap-up Races

Checo Perez spinning out after being sandwiched on the restart.

During this past weekend on December 5, 2021, the second to last Formula One race of the 2021 season happened. The race took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Going into the race, two teams and two drivers from those teams were the main events of the night. Red Bull went into the race with an overall 541.5 points, and Mercedes went into the race with 546.5 points, a very close matchup. Max Verstappen, a Red Bull driver, went into the race with 351.5 points, and Lewis Hamilton driving for Mercedes with 343.5 points.

The race in Saudi Arabia was the newest addition to the schedule and has never been raced before for Formula One. The track has 27 separate turns and was supposed to be the fastest track of the year as a result of its long skinny shape and multiple straightaways. The skinniness was a recipe for disaster though. The number of crashes resulting in red flags (complete race stops) was the highest this year, and in addition to the yellow flags (slow pace behind a pace car) made it one of the slowest. A casualty of one of these crashes was Verstappen’s teammate Checo Perez, whose unfortunate crash by no fault of his own and disqualification from the race caused the two teams to grow extremely apart in the points with almost no chance for redemption apart from if a Mercedes driver does not finish the last race. Verstappen was also setback by crashes and collisions on the track. In an attempt to give back a position he illegally stole (by cutting a corner), he was rear-ended by Hamilton who was not told that he was giving the place back, which the race stewards deemed Verstappen’s fault and allotted him a 10-second penalty. On top of this, he was also given a 5-second penalty for another mistake. An avid Formula One fan, Stephen Cibulas, when asked about what happened this weekend said, “There were so many incidents happening because of the tight track layout, that not all messages were relayed to all teams, causing a gap in team knowledge and an overall confusion on the track.” This caused mixups in the driving order, giving Hamilton the win. Hamilton’s win this weekend ties him with Verstappen in the overall runnings, which means whichever driver wins next weekend will be the World Champion. The next race will take place in Abu Dhabi, and favors Verstappen as his car is more geared towards the tight precise turns of the track. Verstappen won this race last year, and if he can pull it off again he will get his first World Championship title.

With the final race of the 2021 Formula One season coming up fast, fans are on the edge of their seats to see who will win both the race and sequentially the Drivers Cup making them the World Champion.

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Vanessa Bryant ‘Sick’ after Kobe and Gianna Crash Pictures were Shared by LA County Officials

Vanessa Bryant speaking at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

According to Vanessa Bryant's testimony in her lawsuit against LA County, she felt "sick" and "extremely sadness and anger" when she found out that LAPD officers had photographed her husband and daughter's helicopter accident scene.

Bryant wrote, "It infuriates me that the people I trusted to protect the dignity of my husband and daughter abused their positions to obtain souvenirs of their deaths, as though possessing pictures of their remains somehow makes them special, I imagine Kobe watching over what occurred at that crash scene, and I am overcome with anger and emotion."

She also goes on to say, “I also feel extreme sadness and anger knowing that photos of my husband's and daughter's bodies were laughed about while shown at a bar and an awards banquet.”

Vanessa Bryant sued Los Angeles County, its fire department, its sheriff's department, and eight individual sheriff's officers in September of last year after reports that first responders had taken and shared images of the horrific scene of the crash where Kobe and her daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others perished in January of 2020.

After an independent forensic expert inspected over 20 LASD and LACFD devices and purportedly discovered no crash scene images, the case was quickly dropped.

Bryant does not believe in the County’s reasoning for dropping the case and fears that "One day, such as when my girls are assigned to research their family tree for a school project, I do not want them searching my husband's and daughter's names to discover photos of their remains," Bryant added. "For the rest of my life, one of two things will happen: either close-up photos of my husband's and daughter's bodies will go viral online, or I will continue to live in fear of that happening."

Gabe Sikora '23