Editors Joe Coyne ’19 Alex Yoon ’19 Everett Zelson ’19
OVERTIME Writers Knute Broady ’19 Selden Griffen ’20 Charlie Schoninger ’20
OVERTIME
The UEFA Champions League is well underway, with the group stage having started in September. The tournament will continue through June 1, with the 32 qualifiers in the main draw competing to become the top club in Europe. Many clubs are optimistic about their chances, but only one can be champion. Here are the eight teams to keep an eye on this season and the reasons why they will (or won’t) win the title.
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PREDICTIONS FOR
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SELDEN GRIFFEN ’20
Liverpool
Why Liverpool has a chance to win the UEFA Champions League: Liverpool has an attack that can compete with any top club in Europe. The front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino are a lethal trio that scored a combined 91 goals in all competitions last season. When you pair the presence of top scorers with the high press that Liverpool utilizes to create more frequent scoring chances, the result is plenty of goals, leading to plenty of wins. Why Liverpool won’t win the UEFA Champions League: Liverpool is too dependent on scoring from its front three. Liverpool’s trio has been inconsistent this season. Salah, Mane, and Firmino have created the chances but have often failed to capitalize. After winning its first match of the season by a score of 4-0 against West Ham, Liverpool failed to score more than two goals in eight of its next ten matches, while being held scoreless
Why Manchester City won’t win the Champions League: Manchester City has always struggled in the Champions League. Every year, the club fields a strong team. It gets results domestically, but the club has never been able to take the next step and achieve continental glory. While many fans were hoping that last season would finally be the year that City got it done, they were left disappointed as Liverpool eliminated City in the Quarterfinals of the competition. Manchester City This year’s Champions League Why Manchester City has a chance to campaign started poorly for the win the UEFA Champions League: club with a shock defeat to Lyon, Manchester City has the players which, given the club’s history in and cohesion to be the best. Man- the competition, could be a sign of chester City has some of the greatest struggles to come. individual talents in football, with players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Atlético Madrid Gabriel Jesus, and Leroy Sane, all Why Atlético Madrid has a chance to win top European players. The club has the UEFA Champions League: earned the wins to back this up, The club has proven it can compete only losing 2 of 38 league match- with Spain’s elite clubs. Real Maes last season against top English drid has won the UEFA Champicompetition. Manchester City may ons League three times in a row, very well be the strongest side in and Barcelona has also seen great Europe when healthy. success in the competition. Atlétitwice and to one goal three times. Mohamed Salah has struggled to find last season’s form, as last year’s 44 goals are proving difficult to match. Firmino has dealt with injuries, and Mane has looked lost at times, meaning that Liverpool’s lethal front three has, occasionally, lost some of its deadliness. At these times, Liverpool’s lack of offensive depth was exposed, and the team failed to get the results that a champion would.
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co play both clubs twice in the domestic campaign every season, and every year the club has proven that it can play against the Champions League’s best. With players such as Diego Godín and Antoine Griezmann, Atlético believes it can win against anyone, even its Spanish rivals. Why Atlético won’t win the UEFA Champions League: It does not have the talent of other contenders. While Atlético can defeat Barcelona and Real Madrid in lone games, it remains unlikely that the club would succeed in doing so across two legs of a Champions League tie. Soccer Power Index, which ranks teams based on strength and is decided by many factors, ranks Atlético as only the eighth strongest club in the competition. There is a difference between being able and being likely to defeat top clubs, and Atlético will be reminded of this in this year’s campaign.
FC Barcelona
Why Barcelona has a chance to win the UEFA Champions League: Barcelona is the strongest team in the most difficult domestic league to win. It also has Lionel Messi. Every season, Barcelona or Real Madrid vie for the Spanish La Liga title with little competition, with the exception of Atlético Madrid. This demonstrates just how great these two clubs are, as they brush away elite Spanish competition with ease. Both sides also tend to dominate competition in the Champions League, excluding Barça’s stunning loss to Roma early in last year’s Champions’ League. Now that Ronaldo has left Real Madrid, Barcelona feels confident
that it is the team to beat in Spain, and even in Europe. Why Barcelona won’t win the UEFA Champions League: The defense is still raising questions. After self-destructing in a two-leg match with Roma that saw Barcelona lose on away goals scored after taking a lead of 4-1 in the first leg, the club’s defensive weaknesses were exposed. While Barcelona’s defensive back line is far from poor, it needs to improve for the club to contend in Europe. Summer transfer window signings have improved the club, but moves will have to be made in the winter transfer window if Barcelona is serious about strengthening its defense.
FC Bayern Munich
has been a problem for Bayern for many seasons, as countless efforts to bring in players and change playing styles have yielded similar results. Bayern has a strong team on paper, but it needs to concede fewer goals in important matches. This will become even more difficult with the loss of star player Arturo Vidal.
Real Madrid
Why Real Madrid will win the UEFA Champions League: Real has won the title three years in a row, and they have the talent to keep the streak going. In the competition of Europe’s best clubs, Real Madrid has come out on top three times in a row. This alone makes it hard to argue against the club. Real Madrid has proven its dominance and shown it has enough talent across the field to compete with anyone. It must be among the favorites to win Europe this year as well. Why Real Madrid won’t win the UEFA Champions League: The simple answer is that Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club. It is difficult to replace one of the best players in the world, especially when you do not buy another top player to fill his role. Real Madrid has a well-rounded side with one of the best groups of reserves and substitutes on the bench of any team in the world, but it remains to be seen if it has the pieces to cover for this tremendous loss.
Why FC Bayern Munich has a chance to win the UEFA Champions League: Bayern is a dominant force in Europe. The perennial powerhouse seems a sure bet to win the German Bundesliga once again, as no club appears set to provide a challenge anytime in the near future. Plenty of the top German players play for Bayern, as seven of the club’s men were selected to represent Germany at the 2018 World Cup. With a side littered with talent and a trophy cabinet full of hardware, Bayern is ready for a deep Champions League run. Why F.C. Bayern Munich won’t win the UEFA Champions League: Bayern struggles to contain other elite sides. Because Bayern is rarely tested against opposition in Germany, it shines defensively. However, when playing against top teams in Paris Saint-Germain Europe, the club concedes more Why PSG will win the UEFA Champigoals than usual, and more goals ons League: than the other contenders do. This Paris has two of the best players in
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the world, and both are primed for success. Neymar and Kylian Mbappé are already superstars, and the future looks bright for both of them. Neymar is 26 years old, and Mbappé is still a teenager. With such young talents that are remarkably consistent for their age, Paris looks ready to dominate this season and beyond. Why PSG won’t win the UEFA Champions League: Paris hasn’t had enough recent success in Europe for me to be confident in them yet. Expectations were high in last season’s campaign, but the club left fans feeling disappointed when it crashed out of the competition in the Round of 16. One season prior, Paris suffered a humiliating defeat when it lost to Barcelona in the Round of 16 after surrendering a four-goal advantage.
Once PSG makes it to the Quarterfinals, it may become the favorite to win the Champions League. First, however, it needs to find a way to survive the Round of 16 and prove it has left its past disappointments behind it.
Juventus
Why Juventus will win the UEFA Champions League: Juventus has Ronaldo! This summer, the club made a historic transfer purchase when it added Cristiano Ronaldo to the side. Ronaldo, of course, was previously the star of three-time defending European champions Real Madrid. Widely considered one of the top two players in the world, adding him to a side with the quality of Juventus makes that side a contender in any competition in which it plays.
Why Juventus won’t win the UEFA Champions League: Ronaldo disturbs team chemistry because of how much he changes the side. Juventus is the champion of Italy’s top tier, and the club is very strong. Players such as Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandžukić are widely considered to be worldclass stars. However, incorporating Ronaldo into this side could have unanticipated results. Ronaldo has already brought legal issues and controversy to Italy, making it more difficult for him to focus on his performance on the field as he continues to adapt to a new style of soccer. Ronaldo will definitely strengthen Juventus’s team, but the disruption that his addition creates could distract the team from its main focus — bringing home the trophy.
NEW FACE:
In 2018, Italian club Juventus made a historic transfer payment to add soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to its team, hoping he will net the team a championsip.
RISING STAR:
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC established himself as a new superstar during last year’s Champions League play, increasing Liverpool’s chapionship hopes this year.
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THE NEW YORK KNICKS:
WHAT’S IN STORE?
CHARLIE SCHONINGER ’20
The New York Knicks, one of the NBA’s most storied franchises, have had far from a successful past decade. Their record over the last horrific ten years is a dismal 339 wins and 465 losses. As a New York Knicks fan, I have seen fans give up and accept the team’s fate before the last few seasons have even started. There have been countless ups and downs throughout the decade, but each season still seemed to end at a low point. There was moderate success for a few years after 2010, with Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith on the team, but they never really reached their collective potential, leaving all Knicks fans in disarray. Then there was the hype over the signings of Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose, and everyone knows how that turned out. This year, there is not a feeling of excitement for a championship appearance, but without a doubt there is an inkling of hope for the future. The Knicks came into the 2018-2019 season after a putrid 29-53 season. Since then, they fired Coach Jeff Hornacek and hired a basketball mastermind in David Fizdale. They drafted Kevin Knox, a lanky scorer with the ability to find space on the perimeter and Mitchell Robinson, a tall, athletic big man with a three-point shot, as well as Allonzo Trier, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona who many believe could be a big-time scorer. They also added key bench pieces in Mario Hezonja and Noah Vonleh. This year for the Knicks is a trial run to see which of their young stars will be able to fit and mold with their star player, Kristaps Porzingis. The entire lineup will revolve around Porzingis, and Fizdale will certainly test countless different combinations to make the perfect match. The Knicks are looking to add major players such as Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, or Kyrie Irving in free agency, and they have the cap space to make it happen. All they need to do is show a free agent what the future can hold. This might be the year that it can happen, as most analysts and players are very impressed with the core group of young guys the Knicks have put together. Although one of the goals this year is to show the talents of their players to future free agents, I believe there is a chance the Knicks also find some success in the 2018-2019 season. With a relatively good starting lineup, the Knicks could put up a fight in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The bottom half of the conference is a complete tossup, and one could see almost any team in the East making the playoffs. That said, there will be some struggles and growing pains that will consistently hurt the Knicks.
Team and Player Predictions: Team Record: 42-40 Eastern Conference Seed: 7 Player Stats: Tim Hardaway Jr.: 20.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1 apg Trey Burke: 12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.1 apg Frank Ntilikina: 7.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg Enes Kanter: 18.4 ppg, 11 rpg, 1.8 apg Kevin Knox: 12.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.2apg Allonzo Trier: 8.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.1 apg Mario Hezonja: 9.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .9 apg Team Awards: Team Defensive Player of the Year: Frank Ntilikina Team MVP: Tim Hardaway Jr.
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NFL OPINIONS 2018-19
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The NFL’s New Rules: Soft or Protective? EVERETT ZELSON ’19 The National Football League, long seen by many fans as becoming—in a word—softer, has continued that trend this season with a flood of calls that have taken the violence out of football. Football is inherently violent, and not necessarily in a bad way. Hard, clean hits have always been an appealing aspect to players and fans alike. There are certain types of contact that have long been rightfully banned from the league: hitting the quarterback above the shoulders, spearing, and excessive helmet-to-helmet contact initiated by the defender. The addition of two particular rules this year, however, are unnecessary and undermine the basic principles of the game. A new rule stating that “it is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent” is far too broad to be interpreted correctly and has resulted in a complete overhaul in the way runners legally initiate contact. Lowering
a shoulder unintentionally lowers the head as well, resulting in weaker running styles and a shift in the game’s dynamics. Farewell, smashmouth football. The helmet rule seems too absurd for even the whistle-happy referees to call frequently, as it goes against the principles of the sport. More often called and just as disruptive to the game is the new roughing the passer penalty. In the rulebook it now says, “The defender is responsible for avoiding landing on the quarterback when taking him to the ground.” Think about that. How rare is it for a defensive player to not land on the quarterback when sacking him? The NFL’s decision to value the quarterback over all else has gone too far. Early in the season, Dolphins defender William Hayes tore his ACL trying to awkwardly roll off of Raiders QB Derek Carr. A quarterback, just like any other person who plays a contact sport for a living,
should be able to take a hit to his midsection. Previously, the rule stated that a quarterback could not be hit in the head or too long after he released the ball, both valid. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy has cast a shadow on the NFL, which had done little in previous decades to protects its players’ brains; however, contact in general should still be a central tenet of the sport. Earlier in the year, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was penalized in two games for textbook hits on the quarterback, prompting widespread backlash to the new “bodyweight rule.” I understand and appreciate the league’s efforts to protect its players, but the focus seems to be entirely on quarterbacks, with no regard for the playstyle of defensive players. The NFL has the choice to either severely limit hitting or allow hard, clean tackles. I think I speak for most people when I say I prefer the latter.
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SAM DARNOLD: THE BEST NEW QUARTERBACK
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SELDEN GRIFFEN ’20 Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, including topten picks Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen. All four of these quarterbacks have played this season, giving fans a possible look at their future. Each quarterback has great potential, but because of his mental and physical skill set and young supporting cast, Sam Darnold of the New York Jets will over time be the best quarterback from this year’s draft class. Sam Darnold has the
demeanor of a successful NFL quarterback. Despite being the youngest quarterback to ever start a season opener, Darnold already thinks like a seasoned veteran. He has great vision and rarely forces throws. His interception rate is high, but he has already made great strides in improving, and he looks nothing like the quarterback that threw 21 interceptions in two seasons for USC. Off the field, Darnold has the focus and maturity needed to succeed in a hostile New York market. He handles the media well and avoids the
off-the-field headlines that can be expected of more immature quarterbacks like Mayfield and Rosen. The Jets have struggled to find a franchise quarterback over the last decade, and the last thing the franchise needs is more trouble at the position. Sam Darnold provides the consistency and reliability that the Jets need from the position. Sam Darnold also has the physical skills to become an elite quarterback in the modern NFL. While having high football IQ is important for a player to be an effective quarterback, phys-
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OVERTIME ical skills are a necessity. Arm strength is a greatly desired trait, as the Bills demonstrated when the team selected Josh Allen early in the draft despite his rocky senior season at Wyoming, where he faced weaker competition than any of the other rookies. While Darnold’s arm isn’t quite on the level of Allen, he still has above average strength and a quicker release than Allen. Darnold is an accurate passer down the field which will help him gain a rapport with Jets’ deep threat receivers such as Robby Anderson. While
he does not run often, Darnold is also mobile enough to make plays with his feet and extend plays as needed. Sam Darnold has the physical skills to match his gifted football mind, which makes him a more complete quarterback than other players in the draft. Finally, Darnold will have the most successful career of any quarterback selected in the 2018 class because he has a young, promising team that will grow with him. The Jets are a youthful, energetic team with the potential to be-
come great as Darnold hits his prime. The team is has a core of players that it recently drafted, and with an average age of 25.6 years, it is the fifth youngest team in the league. To compare, Rosen’s Cardinals are the oldest team in the league, with star receiver Larry Fitzgerald ready to retire. Darnold’s core group of teammates will largely stay intact, which will help him form the connections he needs in order to be the next great quarterback in the AFC East and the league.
Prior to getting drafted by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold played for the USC Trojans, where he was praised for his professional demeanor and developed quarterback skills.
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J.R. SMITH’S TATTOOS: A SLIPPERY SLOPE KNUTE BROADY ’19 I don’t think that getting brand names tattooed on your body is a very good idea. Brands change; tattoos don’t. So when JR Smith got a huge Supreme tattoo on his leg, I chalked it up to another in a long line of questionable decisions made by professional atheltes. It was something I didn’t agree with but could accept. The NBA’s response, however, is something I cannot accept. The NBA ordered Smith to cover up his leg tattoo since it violated league policy on advertising. I understand why the NBA would do this, but it has dangerous implications. If the NBA considers Smith’s tattoo as improper
advertising, that means they have now classified a player’s skin as advertising space controlled by the NBA. This equates a player’s own body to something like a billboard or a team uniform. Once the NBA has taken this step, what is there to stop the league from regulating it even further. Why not force a player to get a tattoo with the NBA or team logo? What if the NBA decided to actually take profit from tattoo advertising and thus encourage players to sell their skin for ad revenue? Furthermore, if the NBA has the right to cover up a tattoo that violates advertising, what else could they cover up?
What if they decided to cover up things on players they just disagreed with? If a player had a controversial quote or message, it wouldn’t be that much of a jump for them to not allow that either. Maybe in the future the NBA would want to cover up parts of a player’s body that it found undesirable for some reason. By allowing the league to regulate tattoos, we are allowing that option to be considered. In conclusion, J.R. Smith’s tattoo doesn’t seem to be a good decision, but it is a decision that he should be allowed to make. The NBA should not be able to regulate a player’s body. Skin is not a billboard.
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NBA PREDICTIONS:
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
SELDEN GRIFFEN ’20
The 2018-19 NBA season is underway after an off-season loaded with blockbuster moves. With LeBron James having left Cleveland for the bright lights of Los Angeles, a new champion will likely emerge in the East, while the West will be up for grabs among the many superteams in that conference. The big question for the season though is who will come out of the East?
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TOP CONTENDORS: BOSTON, PHILLY, TORONTO
Boston has plenty to look forward to this season, as the Celtics will be at full strength after a season plagued by injuries. Gordon Hayward, who missed all but a few minutes of last season with a leg injury, will be returning to the court for his second season with the team. Kyrie Irving, the star point guard in the final year of his contract, looks healthy after knee problems kept him out of the playoffs last season. Young star players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have continued to develop and appear ready to contribute. Everything seems to be going well in Boston, but as the team saw last year, the NBA season is long and unpredictable.
Philadelphia’s young core is continuing to develop, and optimism about last year’s top draft pick Markelle Fultz has fans excited for the upcoming season. Fultz, who had a difficult rookie season in 2017/18 after early injuries threw off his jump shot, is heathy and ready to begin contributing as a valued shooter. Young point guard Ben Simmons and star center Joel Embiid, along with Fultz, will look to take the 76ers deep into the playoffs.
Toronto made arguably the biggest offseason splash with the exception of LeBron James joining the Lakers when they acquired Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs for a package of players including star DeMar DeRozan. Leonard was eager to leave San Antonio after a lot of tension arose last season surrounding his decision to sit out beyond when Spurs doctors thought he was ready to come back, but Toronto was not one of the teams he expressed interest in joining. It will be an interesting to see how interested Leonard will be this season: Will he really try to bring the Raptors to the top of the Eastern Conference, or will he just wait the season out before heading to Los Angeles next summer. It will also be a notable storyline to see how the team plays without DeRozan, who was considered to be the franchise player before the trade.
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DARK HORSES:
MIWAUKEE, MIAMI, INDIANA, WASHINGTON Milwaukee’s success this season will depend on one player in particular: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo, also known as the “Greek Freak” due to his incredible athleticism and size, is a blooming superstar nearly ready to truly carry this team to the top of the league. If he can make the leap this season, the Bucks could be a formidable foe. The Indiana Pacers surpassed all expectations last season, and they will look to build on this success. Victor Oladipo, the guard acquired from Oklahoma City in a package that sent Paul George to the Thunder, established himself as an elite player in his first season with the team, and he will need to continue this level of play for Indiana to have a chance to upset one of the top contenders. The Miami Heat are solid but not yet elite. The biggest story surrounding the team is Dwayne Wade’s return. After rough stretches with the Bulls and Cavaliers, Wade was sent back to Miami at the trade deadline last season and re-signed in the offseason. He will likely play out the final years of his career in Miami, which is exciting for fans who have seen him spend the majority of his career with the team. Another storyline to follow is the play of star center Hassan Whiteside, who has been a major contributor for the team but also, at times, a distraction because of his immaturity and off-court antics. The two players will combine with a number of high-level role players this year, and fans should expect to see the Heat earn a sixth or seventh seed in the playoffs. The Washington Wizards will look to bounce back from a disappointing season in 2017-18. With the Cleveland Cavaliers struggling for much of the season, many people expected Washington to compete for a top spot in the East. However, the team played poorly and wasted the opportunity to establish itself as the elite team many thought it was. Star guards John Wall and Bradley Beal will still be enough to bring the team to the postseason again, similarly to last season, but once again the team will fail to rise to the top of the conference.
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