Daily Archives: October 10, 2013

Wade Plays it Smart; Sits Out For Game 1 of Preseason

 

After ending the 2012-13 season strong by winning the NBA Championship against the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade sits out for the first game of the preseason as the Heat cruise by the Atlanta Hawks, with a 92-87 win. Since Wade struggled with impactful knee aches in the 2013 playoffs, he hopes to keep his knee safe this upcoming season, for his own health. “I feel like I’ve worked very hard these last couple of days, so I’m just going to take it a little easier, a little slower,” Wade commented, recently after he practiced in the Heat’s scrimmage the previous night and battling his way through last week’s brutal training camp, located in the Bahamas (Winderman 1). With Wade’s absence, Heat center Chris Bosh stepped up his game with an impressive 21 points and five boards in only 20 minutes, and LeBron James starts off the preseason with a 4-for-11 shooting night which includes 9 points, along with five assists and matching Bosh’s five rebounds, in an amount of 21 minutes. Although James Jones substituted for Wade’s spot in the starting lineup in Monday’s preseason opener, Wade hopes to be practicing on the court today.

I think that Dwyane Wade should do what he plans to do, which is to take his game a little slower because he has had a few leg injuries and severe pains in his legs (hamstring, knee), in the past few years, so he should take his game down a notch. I think that Dwayne Wade should also play a few minutes shorter (two or three minutes) per game this season than last season, because he can let his legs rest more and he is not risking an injury as much as playing nearly 35 minutes per game. Dwyane Wade also might not have to play as much because they (arguably) have the best 3-point shooter in NBA history, Ray Allen, and the Heat also have James Jones as a backup shooting guard. Now that Dwyane Wade, 31, is starting to get a little older, he is at a higher risk of a severe injury that can end his entire season, and possibly his career. Dwyane Wade should also tell head coach Erik Spoelstra if his leg is bothering or giving him pain, so that he can rest his leg. Since the 2010-11 season, when the Big-3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh began, Dwyane Wade has had a hamstring injury and a few knee injuries that impact his playing. I think that these injuries and severe pains should make Dwyane Wade take things slow this upcoming 2013-14 NBA season.

~Aaron

Government Shutdown Couldn’t Shut Down the President’s Cup

Just this past weekend, with the PGA Tour golf season soon coming to a close, the President’s Cup golf tournament took place at the Muirfield Village Golf Course in Columbus, Ohio. The President’s Cup is a golf tournament that is played every two years, showcasing a four day battle between the U.S. team and the International team. Naturally, the U.S team includes only players from America, while the International team has players from every other part of the world. Both teams have selected captains, who choose certain players to be on the team, while other players earn their spot on by achieving a certain goal. For the four day event, players play matches against the other team 2 on 2 or head to head. If one team gets a better score on a hole than the other, they win the hole, and go 1 up in the match. However, if the other team gets a point on another hole, the match goes back to all square. If both teams get the same score for the hole, neither team gets points. At the end of the 18 hole match, whichever team is up, whether they’re 1 up or 5 up, wins the match, and if a match is all square at the end, both teams receive .5 points. At the end of the four days, the team with the most total points from winning or tying matches wins the tournament. This year, as the rain came pouring down and delayed play many times, the U.S. prevailed, beating the International team 18.5 to 15.5. Tiger Woods sealed the deal for the U.S., securing his match down the stretch and earning the U.S. a very valuable last point.

Personally, I am a big golf fan and player, and I believe tournaments like this, and just the game of golf overall, are looked at by most as kind of a sissy and lame sport. But I don’t feel this way at all. Golf is a game against your mind: if you are completely calm, and focused on every shot, but not overly stressed, you can play great most times. But if you are doubting yourself, your swing, or you just have one bad thought as you’re playing, there is a very good chance you won’t play well. Plus, when you are playing well, it feels really good and can be very rewarding. However you are playing, though, it doesn’t matter: it is still a fun game. Also, as I have been to a PGA Tour golf tournament myself, I can freely say that it can be suspenseful and exciting to watch one live or on TV. Sitting by the 18th green with the best seat in the house, I’ve witnessed two tournaments that have been decided in the last few holes. I’ve witnessed Bubba Watson, now a star on the Tour, hit a miraculous shot to clinch to his 1st Tour victory, and be reduced to tears after the emotional win. Events like the President’s Cup and the Ryder Cup (a very similar tournament to the PC besides the fact that it is played every four years and instead of an International team, there is just a European team) are even more special, because it’s when most of the best players in the world come together and play against each other. Also, fans from all over the world attend, as ones from all countries and cultures come to cheer on the International squads. Lastly, the PGA Tour does one thing none of the other sports/leagues in our country do: raise the largest sums of money for charities around the world. And as we are in October, which is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we can appreciate of all the great work the PGA of America does for our country.

~Mark

Dancing for a Cause

Many of you have probably heard about the event Lights of Hope. Lights of Hope takes place every year in Cheshire and is usually held at beginning of November. This annual event raises money for local charities. To raise the money, families in Cheshire can buy paper bags and candles to put on the curb in front of their house. At night, the whole town is lit up. This year there will be a performance done by Rhythm Dance Academy, which is where I dance. This performance will be held at the high school before everyone lights their candles. The dancers from the competition team will be showcasing their dances for the new season! Even though theses dances are not yet finished, the audience will get a sneak peek of what they will be like when competition time rolls around. Speaking of the audience, anyone is welcome to come and watch on Saturday November 9!

Personally, I can’t wait to dance at Lights of Hope! My team has been working on our dances since the beginning of September and even though they may not be finished, it will be lots of fun! I’m so glad my team chose to support this cause because when we donate to local charities, we help our community grow and become better. I am excited because different teams will be performing different types of dances. If you go, you may see jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, or hip hop dances. I love watching jazz dances because they are usually upbeat and fun, but all the other dances will be amazing as well. I have never danced at Lights of Hope before so I wonder how it will be. I have danced for other causes before, but I have a feeling that this one will be different because it is for my own town! So, if you are free on November 9th, come see Rhythm Dance Academy Dance at Lights of Hope!

~Jillian