DIVA BOWL PREVIEW 2008

Wednesday will brings flocks of SK students to the Curtis Corner playing fields for the epic battle known as Diva Bowl. The event pits class against class in the ultimate test of heart and desire, in an all-out, no-holds-barred, estrogen-charged, match-up of SKHS girls in flag football.

 

Last year’s champions, the class of 2010, will face some tough competition. The following is a short preview of each class and their respective chances for this year’s Diva Bowl title.

 

The Freshmen

Very little is known about the freshmen class other than the fact that they will face a strong welcome-to-the-big-leagues challenge in their first round opponents, the senior class. One thing that is recognized about the freshmen class is that they can run their mouths faster than Usain Bolt, and we all know this can go a long way in influencing the officiating crew.

 

The Sophomores

The class of 2011 pulled together a strong campaign last year as they ended up as Diva Bowl runner-ups. The violet-clad sophomores defeated the senior class before bowing out to the junior class in the finals.

Basketball star Annie Lawler looks to carry the underclassmen at quarterback with Michael Mulroy and his shaggy mop adding speed on the ground (pending gender approval by administration).

The question is: Will the ‘11ers (awkward abbreviation) continue the trend of dominant sophomore teams?

 

The Juniors

The reigning Diva Bowl champions return to the gridiron amid held-over resentment from last year’s controversial victory over the Class of 2009.

Alyssa Neil returns as the cunning quarterback with the healthy half of the Graham sisters controlling the ground.

The junior class playbook is sure to yield a creative yet corrupt trick or two. It is known that the class of 2010 has already spent a considerable amount of money in “preparation”, coincidently around the same time that the entire gym staff/refereeing crew has received a fresh set of stylish jumpsuits.

 

The Seniors

The senior class looks to erase the stinging memory of last years opening round loss and to return to the former glory achieved in 2006 as champions. Anchoring the ‘09ers is work horse Candace Hazard, the Peyton Manning-esque Ashley Fry, and Dominique Stromley as a receiver.

As always, the most important factor of the senior class performance will be their strong fan base headed by the notorious Robbie Straight.

 

The competition kicks off at 4:00.

 

Sam Gross

Girls’ Volleyball Bows Out to Classical

The girls’ volleyball team fell in straight sets to a strong Classical team that posted a 16-3 season record.

The loss knocked the Lady Rebels out of contention for the state title.

Scores:http://www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/schoolinfo.htm?infoType=boxScore&schoolId=0&sportId=103&propertyId=4&y=2008&m=11&eventId=107455

Slides:

http://www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/slideshow/2009/1106_volleyball/images/cover.jpg

Rebel Football advances to semifinals

The Rebel football team defeated Warwick Vets, 21-19, to advance in the Division II playoffs.

Pat Franco led the Rebel attack with an 83 yard touchdown run to give the Rebels the early lead.

Ty Stromley caught a 37 yard touchdown toss from Ben Hamill to give the Rebels the go ahead score. The ensuing Tim Hazard two-point conversion run proved to be the difference in the game.

Kane Noka also scored for the Rebels on a 12 yard run.  The touchdown was setup by a 30 yard pass form Hamill to Pat Gee.

The Rebels will face Toll Gate in the semifinals.

The Rebels next play Thanksgiving Day at Meade Stadium (URI) vs. North Kingstown.

Check out photos, video, and more at the links below:

Slideshow: http://www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/slideshow/2009/1114_football/

Video: http://www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/videopage.html?nvid=303930

Game report: http://www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/highschool/content/sp_hs_john_gillooly15_11-15-08_86C9OTD_v10.39e5da8.html

Rebel Football Battles Toll Gate to 7-0 Victory

The Rebels converted the only touchdown of the game on a Ben Hamill to Ty Stromley touchdown pass late in the first half.

The bruising Rebel defense pummeled Toll Gate’s all-state running back Doug Johnson en route to the squad’s third shutout of the year.

The Rebels head to the playoffs with a Division II record of 8-1.

Check out  live footage at WPRI:  www.wpri.com/subindex/sports/high_school

Toll Gate vs. South Kingstown: 0-7

Girls Fall to La Salle in State Title Game

After tying the game 1-1 on a Bryce McGillvray goal, the Lady Rebels soccer team fell to La Salle, 2-1, in the state championship game.

Read Mike Szostak’s piece and view live game footage at: HighSchoolGameTime.com

www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/highschool/content/sp_hs_divisionI_09_11-09-08_OBC7CKP_v11.3828c38.html

www.hsgametime.com/rhodeisland/videopage.html?nvid=301591

Lady Rebels Head to State Finals

Amanda Graham led the way for the girls’ soccer team Monday night as the Lady Rebels defeated Warwick, 4-0 in the Division I state semi-final match.

Graham netted three goals to pace the Lady Rebels to the victory.

The win gives the Rebels a berth in the state finals against rival La Salle Academy.  La Salle defeated East Greenwich, 1-0, in the opposing semi-final contest.

Goalie Libby Lazar recorded 5 saves in the match while senior Lauren Casey added the fourth goal for the Rebels.

Katie Dufficy and Bryce McGillvary were credited with assists.

The State Championship takes places at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Pierce field in East Providence.

Obama’s Policies vs. McCain’s Policies

McCain

Economy and Taxes

·        John McCain’s economic plan includes six factors, which include workplace flexibility, relief for families, government reform, supporting small businesses, tax reform and lowering trade barriers.

·        His will support programs like flexible scheduling options and telework (a system in which employees work via telecommunication rather than commuting each day to a work place).

·        He hopes to reduce the cost of food and oil and strengthen the worth of the dollar.

·        He proposes that the government suspend federal taxes on gasoline each summer (from Memorial Day to Labor Day) and to create a “new home” plan to help people involved in the housing crisis.

 

Education

·        McCain’s education plan proposes that parents should be able to choose which school is best for their children.

·        He also suggests there be an emphasis on creating education plans around standards and accountability.

·        He will dedicate 5% of the Title II Funds to states that hire teachers from the top 25% of their graduating classes. This is to ensure the highest quality teachers.

·        He will set aside 500 million dollars for a grant program that provides money to states that expand their online education opportunities and for a scholarship program that helps students pay for online tutors.

 

Iraq

·        John McCain does not believe we should leave Iraq right now. He believes that before we can with draw troops, we must first defeat Al-Qaeda and a trained and capable Iraqi security force must be put in place.

·        When Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country, American troops can return home.” (John McCain’s official Website)

 

Abortion

·        McCain believes that the “abortion question” should be left up to each individual state.

·        He supports the idea that organizations (state or otherwise affiliated) should provide critical services to pregnant women in need.

·        McCain would like to promote adoption of children whose mothers feel they cannot raise the child themselves.

 

Gay Marriage

·        McCain himself does not support gay marriage; he believes that the act of marriage should remain between a man and woman.

·        Despite his personal belief, he thinks that the issue should not be decided by the federal government but rather by each individual state.

 

Gun Control

·        The McCain stance on gun control is that law abiding citizen should be able to bear arms and also that there should be no restrictions on what types of guns people can own.

·        He does not support holding gun manufacturers responsible for the actions of people who committed crimes with guns.

·        He supports the idea that gun owners have the responsibility to learn how to safely use and store their weapons.

 

Immigration

·        The McCain administration would favor strengthening our borders through both physical and virtual barriers.

·        He would also like to provide sufficient number of appropriately trained staff. In order to do this, McCain believes that there needs to be sound policies for the Department of Homeland Security and adequate funding.

·        After securing our borders, McCain believes that it is necessary to “secure the nation”. To do this he will implement programs like the electronic employment verification system that will basically ensure that employers can no longer hire illegal immigrants as workers.

·        He will also address the problem of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S by creating programs to resolve their status. These programs will also help to identify stolen social security numbers and resolve identity theft cases.

 

Energy

·        McCain proposes that we expand domestic oil and natural gas production by drilling on the outer continental shelf.

·        He will also implement a clean car incentive for auto producers to produce zero emission vehicles and also a tax bonus for consumers who purchase these clean cars.

·        He also proposes that a $300 million dollar prize be given to the first person/group that develops a battery with the size, capacity, cost and power to power a fully electric or hybrid plug-in vehicle.

·        He will commit $2 million a year in order to advance clean coal technology.

·        He also has a goal of constructing 45 new nuclear plants by 2030.

 

Health Care

·        People will be able to receive a health care plan “as good as a member of congress” which is about a 12,000 plan.

·        Restore control of care to patients

·        Eliminate Medicare fraud and abuse by implementing a security-like program

·        Reward prevention and awareness programs and increase treatment models to better deal with chronic care

·        “No American should be denied access to quality and affordable coverage simply because of a pre-existing condition.”- John McCain

 

Obama

Economy and Taxes

Obama wants to:

-Cut taxes for 95% of American workers. No one making under $250,000 a year will pay higher taxes than they already do.

-Raise the minimum wage to match inflation.

-Give $50 billion to create job growth and prevent states from cutting programs. 

-Establish a “Credit Card Bill of Rights” and create legislation that would monitor mortgages.

 

Education

Obama wants to:

-Reform No Child Left Behind by “supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.”

-Double funding for the national charter school program.

-Recruit teachers and train them by pairing them up with more experienced teachers in a mentorship program.

 

Iraq

Obama wants to:

-Initiate a “phased withdrawal” of troops in Iraq that would be completed in the summer of 2010, about 16 months after Obama would take office. As an original critic of the war in Iraq, Obama believes the war needs to end relatively soon.

-Begin talking to Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran and Syria, about what to do for Iraq’s future.

-Keep a “residual force” in Iraq to carry out anti-terrorism missions.

-Shift peacekeeping responsibility to the Iraqi military and police force.

 

Abortion

Obama wants to:

-keep the decision made in Roe v. Wade, that is, keep abortion legal.

-expand the availability of contraception.

 

Immigration

Obama wants to:

-Improve infrastructure, staff and technology on our border and points of entry

-Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants and get rid of other incentives to illegally immigrate

-Promote economic development in Mexico

 

Energy

Obama wants to:

Put 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015

Make 10% of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025

Weatherize 1 million homes annually

Develop and implement clean coal technology

 

 

Corporate Networks Censor 3rd Party Candidates

Ron Paul, the man who has campaigned the hardest for enforcement of the 1st Amendment (which includes free speech and freedom of the press), has ironically met a great deal of resistance from the self proclaimed “fair and balanced” media outlet FOX News. This opposition is due to Paul’s outspoken criticisms of corporate America. He has openly criticized these businesses for their greed, laziness, and manipulation of the truth.

In order to silence Paul, FOX News and other major media corporations have attempted to marginalize him by refusing the Congressman any airtime.

On January 6th, 2008 a Republican Party debate sponsored by FOX News was held in New Hampshire. Paul had just come off a fairly successful Iowa caucus in which he received 10 percent of the vote. However, Paul was not invited to attend the debate; while candidates such as Rudy Giuliani, whom Paul clearly had outperformed in Iowa, were invited (Giuliani received 3 percent of the Iowa vote).

FOX News’ decision to ignore Paul was harshly criticized by the political community. The New Hampshire Republican Party responded by dropping its affiliation with FOX News, while Paul’s New Hampshire supporters protested the debate.

Meanwhile, FOX News attempted to justify its decision. A spokesperson for the corporation stated that they chose to invite candidates “who had received high standing in national polls, despite the fact small primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire will often back underdogs.”

Paul himself lashed out against FOX News. In the aftermath of the debate, Paul was quoted in the Boston Globe stating the corporation was a “propagandist for the Iraq war.”

Does anybody else see the irony here? It is the SOLE RESPONSIBILITY of the media to provide the public with honest, unadulterated information. Yet these pompous so-called journalists blatantly disregard their duties to the American people in order to bring their own biased agendas into the limelight.

American citizens can not afford to remain in this state of ignorance. As long as these corporations are allowed to marginalize those who offer differing beliefs and values, the democratic process will be at a standstill. As Americans it is our duty to vote responsibly and intelligently, and in order to do so we can no longer rely on the “information” supplied by these massive media corporations.

It is the responsibility of each and every American to sculpt their own opinions by perusing a wide range of publications in order to create an accurate portrayal of the complete political spectrum.

It may be too late for Ron Paul in 2008, who withdrew his bid for the White House on June 12th, but the American people must continue to insist on accurate, honest, unbiased information from its media.

Our future may depend on it.