8-30-2006

I have neglected my poor column, but that's ok nobody else really showed much love. After our first meet I decided I could write a column about our chances this year! A big test will come on Matterhorn, for the boys and girls. So, for our returning veterans on the boys side (varsity) we have Gorman, Mo, Nate, Flahn, Robert, and Lil Mark. Added men are Mubbarick and Vosberg. The race for 7th will be a good one. Now if you look at Sections last year, the 2005 team had an average of  16:43.3.  Now I predict the average this year will be 17:05. But that's only if the boys run these times at Sections

Gorman: 16:10 (Sections time was 16:22)
Mo: 16:45 (Conference time was 17:58)
Nate: 16:45 (Sections was 17:06)
Flahn: 17:00 (Conference time was 18:22)
Mubbarick: 17:00 (I have no clue how fast he's gonna run)
Vosberg: 17:45
Robert/Mark: 18:00 (Mark: 18:31) (Robert 18:38)

Go get em boys!

Now for the girls! We really can only go up from last year. Returning veterans for varsity are Sara/Hannah E, H-Dubs, Sarah Littlefield, myself and Laura Tarr. Gina Tonn will do a great job filling in that last spot. Anyone could step up this season and take that 7th spot unexpectedly too. Last year at Sections our girls team ran 16:51.8. Granted we lost 3 seniors and 1 sophomore, but Hannah also had a bad race. I think we can do well this year. The predicted average would be 16:53.4. That's if the girls run these times at Sections

Sara/Hannah E: 15:55 (Sara ran a 16:35 and Hannah ran 18:27 but can run 10x faster)
Sara/Hannah E: 16:00
Hannah W: 16:10 (Hannah ran a 16:49)
Littlefield/Annika: 16:55 (I ran a 17:59 and Littlefield ran a 18:25 at conference)
Littlefield/Annika: 17:15
Gina: 18:00 (rookie!)
Laura: 18:00 (Laura ran a 18:35 at Conference)

I am not sure, but really the bottom four girls could really get switched around. Ideally those would be some of the times we run at Sections. Something crazy could happen, but I know we can come close.

Now, some of these times might seem ambitious, but hey "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goals." (Thanks Bauer)

 

3-30-2006

The Soccer Conspiracy

The inspiration for this column came from Saturday's track/soccer practice. Now I will admit, those two should never be put together with a slash. About the only thing in common they share is the arena they are in. I am using this opportunity to set the record straight, the official rules for the game of soccer ("football") were set in the mid 1800s by English universities. NOT by housewives who were bored and made the game up. I have a few theories, please someone tell me if I am way off.

Reasons why CC Boys hate soccer
1. Early prejudices from watching a certain King of the Hill episode has lead their minds to believe soccer is well…gay.
2. They don't like the idea of kicking balls.
3. It isn't a popular American sport, therefore no enjoyment comes from watching it.
4. It takes up a lot of air time during the Summer Olympics

OK I'm desperate now, why do you guys hate soccer? Anyways, to my point. Since my joining of track, something has been brought to my attention. Now this applies to girls, as far as I know. But I've noticed that every girl who plays soccer, is very speedy. Don't believe me? Example one, Hannah  - top runner in CC, and she also used to play soccer.
Example two, Sarah Dahl - 3rd in sections last year, plays soccer. Number three, Rachel  - holds the record for the mile at BJ, oh yeah plays soccer too.
Lastly, Heather  - she is just plain fast! And plays soccer. Now that is not the conspiracy. I think these girls are a sign from above telling me to quit soccer. And what about moi? (That's French for "me." I figure since Littlefield and I are the only French speaking students in all of PC, I'd translate for you Spaniards.) The best thing I've ever done? 12th place at JV Sections race last year. Wooohooo!

So I leave you now to ponder this latest development, hopefully proving that soccer is actually good for something. Oh yeah, and can someone give me the reasons why soccer is despised?

2-6-2006

Hey! Annika here-longtime reader, first-time writer. The invitation of writing my own column was proposed to me a few days ago, and how could I refuse? :D I'll stick to webmaster Kenny's more recent themes-the Olympics! Those were the most entertaining 17 nights of my young life. My thumb is now programmed to hit 1 and then 1 again when the clock chimes seven times. But alas, not anymore. I'll recap of the good memories we all got to see. Here is a list of my fave gold medalist…

Joey Cheek, Julia Mancuso, Anna Carin Olfsson, Apollo Anton Ohno, Shaun White, Seth Wescott, and much more :D  (Note: Anna Carin was one of the women's biathlon gold medalists. How could I not like her? She's a Swede AND if you say her name fast enough it sounds like Annika :D)

Now second and third place ain't bad! You should be proud you silver/bronze people. Now for my list of those who achieved "poor-mans" gold.

Sasha Cohen, Lindsey Jacobellis (disgrace) MN's men curling team, MN women's hockey team, Ole Einar Bjoerdalen (not so great now, huh?) Hermann Meir, etc!

Now a lot of these people let us down because a lot of them were expected to win the gold no prob. Why are American athletes getting pushed around!? You want to know? Because cockiness is programmed into our systems. (Remember the "show-boating" antics of Jacobellis? They showed that replay a bazillion times) Now there are some exceptions (JOEY CHEEK!!) I now redirect my focus to the dark underbelly of Torino (Who called it Turin, honestly?) The epitome, the king, the vertex, the zenith, the worst of them all can be described in two words

Bode Miller.

(More in depth coverage refer to Kenny's column.)

Need I say more? Even if you wanted me to, I refuse. Miller-itis has even invaded our hometowns. (Miler? C'mon Kenny) Another dark side is the Chad Hedrick v. Shani Davis. Sure it was good television, but it gave everyone yet another reason to make fun of America. Stop whining Chad you have more medals than you need, is one more going to make the difference?
(Note: Is it just me, or did Chad Hedrick look a little too….groomed?)

Yet another dark side was the Austrian skiers. Ok, first of all, if you are gonna dope yourself, AT LEAST cover your needles and throw them somewhere FAR AWAY. Lastly my favorite thing to hate.  ICE DANCING. The question on everyone's mind was why do the skaters who don't jump or throw each other (they "twizzle") FALL MORE? I'll tell you, if it isn't already obvious. THEY SUCK. You know what would be more entertaining? Ice boxing :D Just think about that one.

Oh yeah, one more thing, you know the Russian male skater who killed the competition? Sure ya do. Well, let's just say I am disgraced with the Olympic committee. Plushenko defaced the beautiful face of figure skating…or made it better…you be the judge :D

http://www.dumpalink.com/media/1140611282/Sex_Bomb_Skater