With another semester almost wrapped up, the sports staff gets humping with a final send-off into winter break.
Christopher Drexel, Editor, Senior
In perhaps my favorite of my seven semesters on The State Press, I watched Weeco, Daddy, O-Face, SAHmuels and the Cluffer turn out to be great hires and brought Wax back from a two-year absence.
I also covered football for the third straight year, telling you how: a certain H-back would bring us 'Miller Time'; Kyle Caldwell didn't get to face his high school buddy; Dale 'Manimal' Robinson invaded Tempe; Drew Hodgdon returned from injury better than ever; Mark Carrier energized the secondary; Jimmy Verdon lived life off the field; and what exactly Andrew Walter was feeling most days -- among other things.
Now, there is only a week left but plenty more to come.
And the NHL lockout is the most horrible thing ever in sports -- not because it is bad for hockey, but because I can't watch my idol, Keith Tkachuk.
Alexis Huicochea, Assistant Editor, Senior
After an entire semester of working with a bunch of boys, one thing is for sure -- I never want any sons.
Really though, this was my first and last semester on the sports desk as assistant editor, and I wish I had more time.
I was lucky enough to witness one of the best Sun Devil football teams in a long while. Even though it was painful to watch the 34-27 loss to the Wildcats, I held my head high -- even when I found the outrageous parking ticket on my car, which just happens to have an ASU license plate.
All I can say is thank you to the boys on my staff. I leave here with six annoying little brothers and lots of useless trivia that you managed to cram in my head.
Matt Reinick, Senior
Things I've learned this semester:
I'll get kicked out of school if someone in my mass communication law class throws a Jamba Juice at me and I retaliate.
Underestimating an opponent can ruin a season ... ehh mmm ... UA.
Steve Nash is the most underrated player in the NBA.
Terrell Owens is the most entertaining athlete in all of sports.
We won't see the NHL for a long time, and nobody seems to care.
Tiger Woods is the luckiest man alive -- Elin Nordegren, need I say more.
If I could learn to eat 45 hot dogs in less than 12 minutes, I'd be $20,000 richer.
Kyle Odegard, Sophomore
Well, another semester has come and gone, and here are a few tidbits I learned at The State Press over the past few months.
No. 1: Sending a four-person media horde to Flagstaff for a volleyball match against NAU does not guarantee a victory for ASU.
No. 2: Andrew Walter is probably the most grounded superstar athlete with whom I've come in contact. Good luck in the NFL, Andrew.
No. 3: Although UA is still all that's wrong with the world, it serves some mean potato salad in the press box at football games.
No. 4: The Suns can't be stopped.
Brian Gomez, Fifth-Year Senior
Look ya'll, let's try to make sense of this mumbo jumbo.
The women's basketball team loses to Louisiana State, giving the football team a chance to get revenge next year in Baton Rouge. The football team loses to UA, giving the men's and women's basketball teams a chance to draw even this season. The men's basketball team beats Temple in back-to-back seasons, giving the mighty Owls a chance to make amends next September at Sun Devil Stadium.
What does all that mean?
In the words of former State Presser Paul Coro, "Hold onto your seat cushions" ... the baseball team will beat them all. Louisiana State, UA and Temple, too -- if ASU ever played Temple in baseball.
Jason Samuels, Sophomore
Eye-opening, to say the least, can describe my first semester buried here in the sports pages. While I have spent time writing opinion columns and news stories, sports has proven to be my favorite area of coverage at The State Press.
Though not the most glamorous of assignments, I had the privilege of following the women's soccer squad and the swim and dive team for the last few months, learning quite a bit along the way.
Most notably, I've learned football is not all ASU has to offer when it comes to nationally competitive programs.
The best part, however, is working with the great people who bring you top-notch sports coverage on a daily basis, sans any nipple shots.
Jeremy Cluff, Senior
The wild ride that has been my rookie semester at The State Press is almost complete. I entered this arena in August inexperienced, but with raw talent and tremendous determination to put up positive numbers for my team.
And after a rugged semester of learning from the seasoned veterans around me, I feel confident in my ever-improving abilities. The key, however, is to never lose the passion for the game that drives me.
Like any player, I might occassionally find myself on injured reserve or experience setbacks, but nothing will keep me off the journalism court. Listen up, world. The "Cluffer" is here to stay.
