Last week, San Francisco’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the infamous list of 100 Major League Baseball players believed to have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs was seized illegally.
The court ruled that the federal agents acted outside the limitations of the warrant, which listed only 10 names.
The decision came too late for players like Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, as their presence on the list was leaked in violation of federal law. This unfairly and unequally punished them for participating in what was promised to be a confidential list, and still is for the others named, at least for now. While MLB has taken major steps to correct the problem, the Feds still are wrongly trying to seek justice six years later.
There is no doubt the steroid era is a stain on the history of the game. It betrays the very premise by which professional sports are played, i.e. that the absurdly high salaries are justified because these athletes are at the absolute top of this planet’s talent pool.
The high level of competition should represent the very best of what humans can do athletically. But when the athletes are enhancing themselves pharmaceutically, the game is no longer a true test of skills, rather a test of chemistry.
In 2003, years after steroids ran rampant, MLB began efforts to curtail the problem by asking for confidential tests to find out what percentage of the players were using, with the promise that testing positive would not bring punishment. The Feds are fighting to break this promise between the players and their union, MLBPA.
A year later in ‘04, the list of names gathered from the confidential testing was seized by federal agents in a raid of labs linked to performance enhancing drugs. For the next five years, lawyers of baseballs players union fought to have the seizure ruled illegal and protect the leagues’ promise of confidentiality. This past week’s ruling validated their work.
There is no doubt that MLB deserves blame for the severity of steroid use in its sport. In 1986, when mandatory testing for performance enhancing drugs was introduced, baseball decided not to support it. Two years ago, MLB began handing out 50 game suspensions for a first-time failed test.
Baseball is finally on board. It has taken significant steps to protect the integrity of the sport. However, the Feds are now punishing baseball’s athletes for six-year-old issues that have since been corrected.
Professional sports are slowly transitioning away from this empty promise of an era and the Feds need to move forward too. Seeking justice for six-year-old issues that have since been resolved reeks of revenge and punishment.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
'Money' Mayweather cashes in again
The popularity of boxing and the sophistication of its fans are diminishing at a rapid rate. But don’t blame Floyd Mayweather Jr. He is the last remaining American icon in a sport that is far from its prime, fighting for an audience that understands less about the sport than ever before.
With the rise of mixed martial arts, offering skillful yet aggressive contests with often quick and brutal results, boxing is simmering on the back burner. The world’s best boxer, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr., dominated Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, increasing his unbeaten record to 40-0, 25 KOs.
It did seem somewhat quiet for boxing fans over the past two years while Mayweather was retired. Now back in the spotlight, Mayweather’s mouth made plenty of guarantees and proclamations of greatness with his typical godly confidence. And, as usual, he backed up every word. Mayweather’s artistic display once again proved that he is comparable to the best boxers ever, despite fighting for an unappreciative sports audience.
“I’ve been off for two years,” Mayweather said. “But I can get better.”
Mayweather picked apart Marquez from afar, utilizing superior speed and precision against a smaller and weaker opponent. Marquez is arguably one of the top two best pound for pound fighters in the world, and the best Mexico has to offer. But Mayweather toyed with him like he did his previous 39 opponents, never letting him get close enough to be effective by punishing him with a straight left jab and a brutal right hook.
Mayweather landed 59 percent of his punches to only 12 percent by Marquez.
In his last fight in December 2007, Mayweather faced Ricky Hatton, whom he dispatched with a brutal knock out. While his fight with Marquez was not for a title, Mayweather has earned world championships in an astonishing five different weight classes.
While his defensively dominant style takes much criticism for lacking excitement, Mayweather proves repeatedly that his skills around the ring are second to none. He is the best pound for pound fighter of this generation, and deserves credit despite his seemingly boring style.
Mayweather should not be faulted for his less exciting style just because the audience doesn’t watch enough to appreciate it. To those who follow the sport, Money Mayweather’s fights are a spectacle of precision and skill that compares with the best boxers ever.
Sure, the sport’s popularity is dying. And yes, Mayweather’s fights at times can be painfully boring. But his legacy should not be diminished because he fought during the sport’s decline in front of an unappreciative sporting audience.
With the rise of mixed martial arts, offering skillful yet aggressive contests with often quick and brutal results, boxing is simmering on the back burner. The world’s best boxer, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr., dominated Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, increasing his unbeaten record to 40-0, 25 KOs.
It did seem somewhat quiet for boxing fans over the past two years while Mayweather was retired. Now back in the spotlight, Mayweather’s mouth made plenty of guarantees and proclamations of greatness with his typical godly confidence. And, as usual, he backed up every word. Mayweather’s artistic display once again proved that he is comparable to the best boxers ever, despite fighting for an unappreciative sports audience.
“I’ve been off for two years,” Mayweather said. “But I can get better.”
Mayweather picked apart Marquez from afar, utilizing superior speed and precision against a smaller and weaker opponent. Marquez is arguably one of the top two best pound for pound fighters in the world, and the best Mexico has to offer. But Mayweather toyed with him like he did his previous 39 opponents, never letting him get close enough to be effective by punishing him with a straight left jab and a brutal right hook.
Mayweather landed 59 percent of his punches to only 12 percent by Marquez.
In his last fight in December 2007, Mayweather faced Ricky Hatton, whom he dispatched with a brutal knock out. While his fight with Marquez was not for a title, Mayweather has earned world championships in an astonishing five different weight classes.
While his defensively dominant style takes much criticism for lacking excitement, Mayweather proves repeatedly that his skills around the ring are second to none. He is the best pound for pound fighter of this generation, and deserves credit despite his seemingly boring style.
Mayweather should not be faulted for his less exciting style just because the audience doesn’t watch enough to appreciate it. To those who follow the sport, Money Mayweather’s fights are a spectacle of precision and skill that compares with the best boxers ever.
Sure, the sport’s popularity is dying. And yes, Mayweather’s fights at times can be painfully boring. But his legacy should not be diminished because he fought during the sport’s decline in front of an unappreciative sporting audience.
SGA Constitution Day - Multimedia Budget
Photo assignment: A photo of students interacting with the members of Student Government at the event. Possibly a student receiving a free constitution would be a good picture.
Interactive/Online graphic: Take a survey of students who received constitutions, inquiring how many actually knew before hand that this was the anniversary of the signing of the constitution. It could be some type of bar graph, with one bar showing the number of students who were aware of the historic day, one bar of students who had no idea, and one bar of students who only cared about the free pop ice, as that seemed to be a major draw.
Video/audio component: Get a short video clip of a student eating free pop ice and holding his newly acquired pocket constitution. Ask him or her what the main draw was to the event and what it means to them as a citizen of this country.
Interactive/Online graphic: Take a survey of students who received constitutions, inquiring how many actually knew before hand that this was the anniversary of the signing of the constitution. It could be some type of bar graph, with one bar showing the number of students who were aware of the historic day, one bar of students who had no idea, and one bar of students who only cared about the free pop ice, as that seemed to be a major draw.
Video/audio component: Get a short video clip of a student eating free pop ice and holding his newly acquired pocket constitution. Ask him or her what the main draw was to the event and what it means to them as a citizen of this country.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
In Class ledes: JII Impact ledes
Impact ledes
1.
Print: Homeowners whose roofs were damaged during the storm have five more days to apply for the free roof repair at any of the corps offices.
Web: You have five days remaining to sign up for free installation of plastic covering if your roof was damaged by the recent storm.
2.
Print: Homeowners with a gravel driveway will no longer be able to park on it if the Austin City Council approves a new ordinance.
Web: Homeowners with gravel driveways would be forced to park elsewhere by a proposed ordinance by the Austin City Council.
3.
Print: University of Missouri students' tuition is set to raise by 12 percent, an increase approved by the Missouri Board of Curators.
Web: Tuition for University of Missouri students will increase by 12 percent after the Missouri Board of Curators approved the new rate.
4.
Print: Your metal subway tokens will be replaced by "smart cards" at a cost of $120 million in Massachusetts subways, officials said.
Web: Subway riders must adopt an automated fare collection system, replacing metal subway tokens in Massachusetts, officials said.
5.
Print: A new drug cuts the duration of cold symptoms significantly, researchers said.
Web: A new prescription drug eases cold symptoms within a day, researchers said.
1.
Print: Homeowners whose roofs were damaged during the storm have five more days to apply for the free roof repair at any of the corps offices.
Web: You have five days remaining to sign up for free installation of plastic covering if your roof was damaged by the recent storm.
2.
Print: Homeowners with a gravel driveway will no longer be able to park on it if the Austin City Council approves a new ordinance.
Web: Homeowners with gravel driveways would be forced to park elsewhere by a proposed ordinance by the Austin City Council.
3.
Print: University of Missouri students' tuition is set to raise by 12 percent, an increase approved by the Missouri Board of Curators.
Web: Tuition for University of Missouri students will increase by 12 percent after the Missouri Board of Curators approved the new rate.
4.
Print: Your metal subway tokens will be replaced by "smart cards" at a cost of $120 million in Massachusetts subways, officials said.
Web: Subway riders must adopt an automated fare collection system, replacing metal subway tokens in Massachusetts, officials said.
5.
Print: A new drug cuts the duration of cold symptoms significantly, researchers said.
Web: A new prescription drug eases cold symptoms within a day, researchers said.
SGA Constitution Day Hits the Hilltop - Final Draft
Tommy Collins
Journalism II
Prof Heath
9/29/09
SGA Constitution Day - Final Draft
St. Edward’s University students, mainly brought by free popsicles, congregated at a Student Government Association event, celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on Thursday by handing out free pocket constitutions.
SGA members set up a booth in the Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center lobby from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and handed out miniature constitutions and free popsicles. All St. Edward’s students, faculty and staff members were welcomed to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
The goal of the event was to celebrate an important date in history, said Hannah Kurtzweil, vice president of legislative initiatives.
“We were handing out the pocket constitutions to help raise peoples awareness of what was in the constitution and so that people could have a copy of it themselves,” Kurtzweil said. “The pop ices were a way to help get people excited and do something nice other than to just say hey its constitution day…”
Congress passed a measure in 2004 requiring that every educational institution that receives any federal funding, private or public, host some type of constitution awareness event. For St. Edward’s University, SGA took on that responsibility.
SGA consists of student representatives who serve as mediators between the student body and the administration through work on various councils, boards and committees.
“I honestly didn’t realize today was the anniversary of when [the constitution] was signed,” senior Bernie Lancaster said. “I grew up in Australia, so it is cool to see how days like this are celebrated away from home.”
The free pop ice alone drew other students to the event.
“I’ll listen to what they have to say if they give me free popsicles,” junior Brett Powers said. “It’s cool that they are giving out mini constitutions and all, but I wouldn’t have stopped by if there weren’t free [popsicles].”
There was also a table set up providing information about future SGA events.
SGA will host an induction ceremony next week on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Mabee A & B. It will also host the State of the Campus address in which the Student Government President Meghan Kuentz will address the campus about where it is going this year and where the Student Government Association is planning to help.
Overall the SGA event went very well, Kurtzweil said.
“The constitutions were donated to Student Government to hand out on Constitution day so I think distributing a whole box of them was a great success,” Kurtzweil said.
Journalism II
Prof Heath
9/29/09
SGA Constitution Day - Final Draft
St. Edward’s University students, mainly brought by free popsicles, congregated at a Student Government Association event, celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on Thursday by handing out free pocket constitutions.
SGA members set up a booth in the Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center lobby from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and handed out miniature constitutions and free popsicles. All St. Edward’s students, faculty and staff members were welcomed to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
The goal of the event was to celebrate an important date in history, said Hannah Kurtzweil, vice president of legislative initiatives.
“We were handing out the pocket constitutions to help raise peoples awareness of what was in the constitution and so that people could have a copy of it themselves,” Kurtzweil said. “The pop ices were a way to help get people excited and do something nice other than to just say hey its constitution day…”
Congress passed a measure in 2004 requiring that every educational institution that receives any federal funding, private or public, host some type of constitution awareness event. For St. Edward’s University, SGA took on that responsibility.
SGA consists of student representatives who serve as mediators between the student body and the administration through work on various councils, boards and committees.
“I honestly didn’t realize today was the anniversary of when [the constitution] was signed,” senior Bernie Lancaster said. “I grew up in Australia, so it is cool to see how days like this are celebrated away from home.”
The free pop ice alone drew other students to the event.
“I’ll listen to what they have to say if they give me free popsicles,” junior Brett Powers said. “It’s cool that they are giving out mini constitutions and all, but I wouldn’t have stopped by if there weren’t free [popsicles].”
There was also a table set up providing information about future SGA events.
SGA will host an induction ceremony next week on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Mabee A & B. It will also host the State of the Campus address in which the Student Government President Meghan Kuentz will address the campus about where it is going this year and where the Student Government Association is planning to help.
Overall the SGA event went very well, Kurtzweil said.
“The constitutions were donated to Student Government to hand out on Constitution day so I think distributing a whole box of them was a great success,” Kurtzweil said.
Journalism II News Ledes
Tommy Collins
Journalism II
Heath
1.
PRINT: Three to four children die every day in the United States from child abuse or neglect, according to a survey by the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
WEB: Child abuse and neglect kills three to four children every day in the United States.
2.
PRINT: Anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday on disorderly conduct charges after blocking the entrance to a local clinic.
WEB: 150 anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday.
3.
PRINT: A food delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint yesterday at a local apartment complex, police said.
WEB: A man was robbed at gunpoint at a local apartment complex, police said.
4.
PRINT: A cigarette started a house fire in Austin yesterday, causing $45,000 in damages and minor injuries, fire officials said.
WEB: A local homeowner suffered minor burns after a cigarette set her sofa on fire.
5.
PRINT: Murders in Texas are up 53 percent for the first three months of the year, according to the Bureau of Investigation.
WEB: Texas murder rates are up 53 percent according to the Bureau of Investigation
6.
PRINT: A 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases over the next decade was part of the findings of A United Nations scientific panel released yesterday.
WEB: A predicted 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases was part of the findings of a recent scientific panel.
7.
Print: A California woman was charged with attempted murder after setting her husband on fire, police said.
Web: Police charged a woman with murder after setting her husband on fire after he ate her chocolate bunny, police said.
8.
Print: United States ranks low on a list of the highest Broadband using countries, surveys say.
Web: United States ranks near the bottom on a list of the highest broadband using countries, surveys say.
9.
Print: Princeton University professors are now limited to giving no more than 35 percent of its students grades of A minus or higher, according to the university.
Web: Princeton University initiated a cap on the percentage of A grades that can be issued by each department.
10.
Print: Not following common sense sleeping tips is costly for many Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Web: Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation issues cost Americans more than $100 billion annually and can be avoided with common sense sleeping tips, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Journalism II
Heath
1.
PRINT: Three to four children die every day in the United States from child abuse or neglect, according to a survey by the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
WEB: Child abuse and neglect kills three to four children every day in the United States.
2.
PRINT: Anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday on disorderly conduct charges after blocking the entrance to a local clinic.
WEB: 150 anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday.
3.
PRINT: A food delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint yesterday at a local apartment complex, police said.
WEB: A man was robbed at gunpoint at a local apartment complex, police said.
4.
PRINT: A cigarette started a house fire in Austin yesterday, causing $45,000 in damages and minor injuries, fire officials said.
WEB: A local homeowner suffered minor burns after a cigarette set her sofa on fire.
5.
PRINT: Murders in Texas are up 53 percent for the first three months of the year, according to the Bureau of Investigation.
WEB: Texas murder rates are up 53 percent according to the Bureau of Investigation
6.
PRINT: A 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases over the next decade was part of the findings of A United Nations scientific panel released yesterday.
WEB: A predicted 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases was part of the findings of a recent scientific panel.
7.
Print: A California woman was charged with attempted murder after setting her husband on fire, police said.
Web: Police charged a woman with murder after setting her husband on fire after he ate her chocolate bunny, police said.
8.
Print: United States ranks low on a list of the highest Broadband using countries, surveys say.
Web: United States ranks near the bottom on a list of the highest broadband using countries, surveys say.
9.
Print: Princeton University professors are now limited to giving no more than 35 percent of its students grades of A minus or higher, according to the university.
Web: Princeton University initiated a cap on the percentage of A grades that can be issued by each department.
10.
Print: Not following common sense sleeping tips is costly for many Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Web: Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation issues cost Americans more than $100 billion annually and can be avoided with common sense sleeping tips, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
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