CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
D49er
During Associated Student Inc.’s “Evening With” series, actor and activist Diane Guerrero took the center stage Tuesday night in the USU Ballroom. For coverage, check out daily49er.com.
VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 45 | FEBRUARY 7, 2018
We have to save money on something and we don’t want to raise student fees. If it’s a disaster, that will be a story for those students to tell. They’ll say we were the class of 2018 and it was a disaster.”
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Jane Close Conoley GRADUATION
The day the music died Budget cuts have resulted in significant changes to the 2018 commencement ceremony. By Lauren Martinez Staff Writer
Graduating seniors will be walking the commencement stage without the real-time bravado of graduation classic, “Pomp and Circumstance,” as live music has been cut from the budget this year, in addition to a slight venue change. During a routine Academic Senate meeting Thursday, talks of changes to the College of Liberal Arts commencement ceremony were revealed. An email released to select faculty was disseminated on Jan. 25 announcing the planned changes. The proposed modifications include cutting live music, altering the location from the Quad to the Athletic Soccer Field and reducing the time of the ceremony. Multiple Academic Senate
John Fajardo | LBSU Atheltics
The commencement ceremonies for 2018 will be moved to George Allen Field as a result of budget cuts.
members questioned President Jane Close Conoley regarding the cuts. “The plan, as it’s been presented to me, would save us $100,000
a year,” Conoley said. “It also would reduce some of the liability we experience with the people walking across campus.” According to Conoley, live
music costs approximately $13,000 and it is unclear at this time what the remaining $87,000 savings would be. Due to Governor Jerry Brown’s
proposed budget plan, many public universities like Cal State see BUDGET, page 2
SUSTAINABILITY
Campus makes room for electric parking spaces New parking spaces made for electric vehicle users. By Jessica Jacobs Staff Writer
Hunter Lee | Daily 49er
A vehicle makes use of the electric charging station in lot G7. The stations were installed in an attempt to neautralize greenhouse gas emmissions.
Students who drive electric vehicles now have a brand-new resource to save the environment and the ability to charge their cars on campus. Monday, 40 new electric vehicle
charging stations were planted in Lots G7 and E8 on Cal State Long Beach’s campus to offer students the opportunity to save money while reducing air pollution. Additionally, four single-unit charging stations located in the Palo Verde South and Walter Pyramid Parking Structures were replaced Feb. 5, according to the university’s parking and transportation services website. see PARKING, page 3
2 NEWS
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CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Drop into wellness like it’s hot Beach Balance’s new program aims to teach students healthy habits. By Samantha Diaz Arts & Life Editor
While balancing academics, a job and other various stress factors, it can be easy for college students to lose track of their health. Associated Students Inc. and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center hope to change that with their new educational outreach, “Drop into wellness.” The program is put on by Beach Balance, a branch of the Wellness Center that focuses on healthy choices and mental well-being. “Drop into wellness” consists of two 30-minute seminars with activities a month, which aim to educate students on a variety of healthy issues ranging from illnesses and sexual health to eating healthy on a college budget. “Living a healthy and balanced lifestyle is extremely important for quality of life,” said Christopher Huebner, ASI outdoor adventure & wellness coordinator. “College students develop habits that stick with them for the rest of their lives and it’s important for those habits to be healthy ones.” The programs chosen were
Daily 49er File Photo
The “Drop into wellness” program hosted by the Student Recreation and Wellness Center will offer two seminars once a month. The 30 minute sessions will educate students on physical health and eating healthy on a budget.
based off an Education Benchmarking Institute survey given to students in 2016. The survey asked what topics they would like to see hosted by the recreational center and featured options consisting of stress management, pre and post-workout nutrition and mindful eating. Programs such as Beach Balance and “Drop into wellness” fit
BUDGET
continued from page 1
Long Beach will likely be in the red for the 2018-19 school term. “We have to save money on something and we don’t want to raise student fees,” Conoley said. “If it’s a disaster, that will be a story for those students to tell. They’ll say we were the class of 2018 and it was a disaster.” The senate responded with mixed emotions. Some chuckled while others voiced their criticisms, especially with the decision to replace a live band with recorded music. “The state’s not coming back to give us more money. So we have to figure out other strategies,” Conoley said. “[We’re] trying to prepare for the worst, but will certainly celebrate the best. If we are awarded more than the current proposed amount... live music [at the commencement] would be the first thing to come back.” Alexis Soto, a junior sociology major, shared her disappointment with the recent changes. “I feel the music is a special moment for students graduating,” Soto said. “It would be kind of sad to take it away.” Norbert Schürer, chair of the academic senate expressed his disappointment in a phone interview regarding the changes to commencement . “It’s a little ridiculous to me, because the salary of one high level administrator at
right into Cal State Long Beach’s reputation of being a healthy campus for students. The school was named the winner of the Active Minds Healthy Campus award in 2016, which recognizes campuses that “take a comprehensive approach to promoting and protecting both the physical and mental health of students” according to award website.
Brotman Hall is significantly more than $100,000,” Schürer said. “It’s okay if you want to save money. That’s great. Then let’s talk about it, rather than just deciding this is where we are going to save money and you’re going to have absolutely no say in what commencement now looks like.” Schürer also highlighted the emotional connection associated with the ceremony. In re-assigning the location, commencement goers will forgo seeing many of the aesthetically pleasing elements the campus has to offer. The background has been altered from a nature-rich environment to a soccer field. “This is an event that means a lot to students, their families, to faculty — they’ve loved the way it has been,” Schürer said. “With live music, [located] up on the quad, with the trees and shade…it was an event that we really all loved.” Because an official announcement hasn’t been submitted to students or faculty not associated with the College of Liberal Arts, a shock is reverberating around campus. A range of emotions have been expressed as more students and faculty discover the pending changes. Some students express indifference, while others may alter their choice on walking the stage altogether. “Removing something from a nice celebration for students that symbolizes their achievements, taking that away is wrong,” said Raymond Hernandez, a junior majoring in sociology. While additional funding may change things, for now Long Beach students will have to plan for a quiet commencement.
A Feb. 1 seminar kicked off the series teaching students how to stay active during college. Beach Balance worked with the Student Health Center to develop the curriculum and will provide a few peer health educators to co-teach those lessons. The Latino Community Health Center also worked to develop the sexual health and substance abuse courses. The goal is to
make the lessons reach the student community as a whole, not just those who attend the classes. “Ultimately these topics are chosen to serve the needs of our student population,” Huebner said. “We also see these needs and educational topics to be a trend across college campuses.” The lessons brought to students were developed with the wellness wheel, a concept created by the various health groups on campus that breaks down the aspects of a well-rounded life. The wheel includes categories such as spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual wellness. The website emphasizes the need for a balanced life stating: “To attain and maintain harmony and balance in our lives, we must pay attention to each of the seven dimensions of wellness. To neglect or over-emphasize any of the seven dimensions will result in an out-of-balance wellness wheel.” Along with the “Drop into wellness” program, Beach Balance also offers free snacks on schedule “Food for thought” days, massages and art therapy for students to unwind and take time to focus on their mental health. The next class will be on HIV/ AIDs prevention from 4 to 4:30 on Feb. 8 at the Beach Balance Center on the second floor of the rec center.
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NEWS 3
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NATIONAL
Money out the bank The internet has given consumers different ways to buy, but with some strings attached. By Mac Walby
Managing Editor
While Soulja Boy may say life is “all about the paper,” a new trend has taken many online marketplaces to use a less tangible form of currency. Bitcoin and other “cryptocurrencies” have become a popular alternative for many, offering users more anonymity and privacy compared to the way most currencies work today. And with bitcoin eclipsing $100 billion in value last year, the financial world has taken notice. “Bitcoin’s recent surge can be attributed to a multitude of factors,” Ryan Rabagalia, head trader for Octagon Strategy told Forbes. “None are quite as evident as the astounding amount of attention it’s getting in the media.” Bitcoin has become known for two things: wildly fluctuating prices and illegal drug use. The cryptocurrency has been a favorite for years among dark-
It’s very sensitive information, and in the blink of an eye it can be lost.”
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Adrian Morlett net communities, sites that exist off of google’s registry, as customers are able to almost completely anonymously purchase drugs, weapons, or just bootleg games and soundtracks without leaving a digital footprint. The air of mystery around bitcoin extends all the way to the still unknown creator, going by the name “Satoshi Nakamoto.” And just this week, the currency took a huge nose dive, dropping 14 percent in value in just a few days. Sites like silkroad and other “online bazaars” cashed in on the opportunity, driving demand for bitcoin in the first few years of its inception. But with rising demand for privacy in an ever-expanding surveillance state, bitcoin and others have seen new levels of interest and popularity. Some in the banking world aren’t as excited about this attention. Mexican economist Agustín Carstens has been a
harsh critic of the new trend. “If authorities do not act preemptively, cryptocurrencies could become more interconnected with the main financial system and become a threat to financial stability,” he warned in an interview with The Guardian. “There is a strong case for policy intervention. Appropriate authorities have a duty to educate and protect investors and consumers, and need to be prepared to act.” He went on to describe these forms of currency as a “Ponzi scheme.” The uncertainty surrounding these forms of currency is holding many Cal State Long Beach students back from taking the plunge. “I’m more on the safe side on things,” said Karen Gonzalez, a sophomore studying speech language pathology. “So once it’s been around, or if its the only way to invest money, then I think I would.” Others worry about the security of relying on an online system. “It’s very sensitive information, and in the blink of an eye it can be lost,” said Adrian Morlett, a sophomore industrial design major. “I would rather have a physical copy of my money rather than have it in the cloud.”
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What Your Teachers Never Taught You President Trump’s First Year Dr. George A. Kuck (galbertk@aol.com)
Yes, President Trump‘s State of the Union Address (SOTA) was an infomercial. All SOTA’s I have seen in the past 60 years were infomercials where the president presented the past year in the best possible light. However, this one was especially important for the information in it that has not been publicized by the major media such as the NY Times, ABC, NBC and CBS. In reading and listening to the major media, the speech was panned. Stone-faced Democrats sat on their hands during most of the speech while the Republicans applauded enthusiastically. Thus, take what is in this article and check the data out for yourself. Our country is finally coming out of the 2000 recession. Economists in President Obama’s economists said that the US would have to settle for a low 2% growth rate. This is the growth rate in Europe, the region the Democrats wish us to emulate. The rate was low because eight years of excessive business regulations stunted our growth. This idea can be tested. If the number of regulations decreases, then the growth rate ought to increase. In the past year, President Trump has had the regulators cancel at least two regulations for each one they implemented. The growth rate was over 3 percent for the second and third quarters last year and is projected to be over 3.5% this year. Unemployment has reached a 45 year low. Democrats sat on their hands while Republican applauded that the unemployment rate for black workers was 6%, the lowest since they start measuring it. The rate for Hispanics citizens is also at an all-time low. Why? President Trump has made efforts to bring manufacturing back to the country by lowering the corporate tax rate and reducing regulations. Since the election, 2.4 million new jobs have been created including 200,000 manufacturing jobs. There are more and better jobs for everyone on the economic ladder, including you when you graduate. This increase has been reflected by the stock market which rose by $8 Trillion. Much of this money has gone into the retirement accounts of your parents and teachers. You and your parents will be able to keep more of the money you earn because of lower tax rates. The corporate rates are also lower and at or below the international average. I realize the Democrats say lowering the corporate tax rate is discriminatory. Not true. Companies do not pay taxes but just pass taxes on to the consumer. The current pay raises and bonuses given by Apple and other companies are a direct result of lowering the tax rate.
PARKING
continued from page 1
These parking spots will be temporarily unavailable for use until replacements are made March 3. These charging spaces for electric cars are a product of influence from The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, an organization that connects colleges in an effort to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health and be climate neutral by 2030. These stations are expected to reduce ecological damage and are available for enrolled students, faculty on active payroll status and staff who have a parking permit. The stations also offer a reduced fee for the College of Continuing and Professional Education and faculty not on active payroll. All students must pay a $260 parking permit for the academic year. However, students with electric vehicles receive free charge for their car and deducted prices by using a ChargePoint account and CSULB Connection, according to Robyn Ames-Woodward, director of operations. According to the Department of Energy’s website, there has been an increase of gas prices in the past year because two-thirds of nine billion barrels of petroleum was used for U.S. transportation. The government website also stated, “EV’s help reduce this threat because almost all U.S. electricity is produced from domestic sources, including coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewable sources.” “I appreciate that the university is going green,” said Isaac Quinones, a sophomore majoring in kinesiology. “Although parking is an issue, helping the environment is as well.” However, not all students are satisfied with the new stations. “Due to the already limited parking I do not think it’s the best decision to have spaces specifically for electric vehicles,” said Kiana Trujillo, a junior majoring in information systems. “Most students do not have electric vehicles, nor are in the financial position to purchase one. It is already difficult to find parking and this may only add to the problem.”
4 ARTS & LIFE
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REVIEW
This movie’s existence is the real monster “The Cloverfield Paradox” is no show and tell-all. By Carlos Villicana Special Projects Editor
If “The Cloverfield Paradox” ends up becoming a part of film history, it’ll be because of its unique distribution, not because of its quality or innovation. Netflix acquired the movie from Paramount Pictures and aired a commercial for it during the Super Bowl, announcing to the world that the third “Cloverfield” movie would be available to stream immediately after the football game. It was a smart strategy, as it directed billions of eyes to a product which Netflix subscribers could easily access at no extra charge. But an intelligent and innovative release strategy does not equate an intelligent and innovative movie. In the film, the nations of Earth are on the brink of war over oil and the world’s energy resources are estimated to be fully exhausted in five years. It’s like real life, except here the U.S. government is actually trying to solve the problem. And giant monsters are present, barely. The name “Cloverfield” be-
Courtesy of Netflix
The third film in J.J. Abram’s Cloverfield universe, “Cloverfield Paradox,” comes 10 years after the release of the first installation back in 2008.
came famous for being a giant monster movie, so naturally a film which includes that in its title will lead viewers to expect colossal beasts who lay waste to humanity and all of their creations. In that respect, this film is a disappointment. A crew of seven astronauts from different countries board the Cloverfield Station with the goal of launching the Shepard, a particle accelerator meant to solve the Earth’s energy crisis. At the time of the film’s beginning they are in space and have been through 27 failed launches,
which has left them with enough fuel for three more tests. To say what happens during one of those remaining three tests is to spoil what appears to be intended as a plot twist, therefore I won’t be talking about that. “The Cloverfield Paradox” fails as a narrative and as a piece of visual art because it relies on expository dialogue to explain everything instead of visualizing it for the audience. It also fails to use film’s visual aspects to establish context or consequence. We are told that the Earth’s supply of energy is nearing exhaustion but,
outside of one scene which depicts a blackout, we have no idea what repercussions this would bring to civilization or even to the lives of the specific characters we are meant to follow. Without being able to visualize what those bad things would look like and how they would hurt people, it’s difficult to care. The film feels like five movies combined into one. Only one of the storylines truly gets resolved because at some point the filmmakers must have realized they needed to have a payoff which would allow them to get to the
money shot — the monster. Sticking to one of the potential storylines this film presents, rather than five separate ones, would have made it more interesting. Instead, it tries juggling five balls and drops four of them. One successfully landed in the juggler’s hand, but I didn’t care because the consequences of failure were never made clear. Nothing about the way the film is constructed is offensive. It’s competently shot and edited. The film has a diverse cast and its one Chinese character’s use of her native language is never treated as the butt of a joke. While these are details I appreciate, they do not make a great movie, merely pleasant additions. “The Cloverfield Paradox” is derivative; it has no new tricks. That isn’t what makes it awful, but it certainly sticks out when the movie is this bad — and that leads to an irritating experience. 2016’s “10 Cloverfield Lane” is roughly the same length and significantly better. That film has complex characters, establishes consequences for the protagonist and delivers on the promise of giant monsters. Seek it out instead.
RATING
ESPORTS
ESPN and ‘Madden’ strike broadcasting deal Sports network ink multi-year deal to air multiplayer championships. By Grant Hermanns Staff Writer
You turn your TV on and change the channel to ESPN just in time to catch your favorite teams facing off in the ultimate gridiron battle. Tom Brady and the Seahawks get to the line for the next play in the game, and it’s at this point you realize this is not your ordinary football broadcast. This is the “Madden NFL 18” Championship Series, which is now on your small screen thanks to a new television deal, as announced by ESPN in January. ESPN, Disney and the NFL have signed a multi-year contract to distribute and air competitive leagues surrounding the football video game franchise. While this isn’t the first instance of the esports community expanding to larger audiences, it is the first agreement of its kind for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, according to the ESPN website. The gaming franchise, which has been around since 1988, has been a famous source of compe-
tition between gamers of all types and even NFL players, with multiple championship leagues held from year to year in which players control their favorite teams with the roster they create to compete against other pros. However, with the release of “Madden NFL 10,” a new game mode was released in which the player can still control their team, but they have to purchase player cards with in-game currency to collect athletes from all across the league for their team. This mode, Madden Ultimate Team, has spawned numerous competitive leagues since its release. Two of which, The Madden NFL 18 Club Championship and the Madden NFL 18 Ultimate League, are included in the broadcasting deal, according to ESPN. The club’s championship began this past Friday during the Pro Bowl and ended Thursday with gamer GOS winning the finals. The game drew in nearly five million viewers on Twitch across the quarter, semifinals and finals. After the conclusion of the Club Championship, the Ul-
Courtesy of IGDB
In a new deal between Electronic Arts, The National Football League and ESPN, the Madden NFL 2018 Championship series will be broadcast on ESPN2.
timate League will begin their competition between the top 16 Madden players head-to-head, and the winner of the Ultimate League will take home an impressive purse of $1.153 million, the largest Madden prize pool to date, according to the Madden Championship Series website. “We’re thrilled to continue and expand our relationship with EA and the NFL,” John Lasker, VP of ESPN digital media programming, said in a statement. “In not only showcasing to our audiences these world class esports
competitions for multiple years, but using the myriad of ESPN and Disney global platforms to tell the incredible stories of these competitors.” Andrew Rudin, third year journalism major and team coordinator for the CSULB Esports Association, sees the deal as a great moment in gaming history. “A lot of the independent sites are dying out because this generation of internet users don’t want or watch ads, and that’s how websites make a lot of their money,” Rudin said, referencing the
closing of Yahoo esports, which is shutting down a year after its inception. “So these new websites don’t have anything to build off of besides those ads and die off after less than a decade.” The Madden Club Championship aired across various Internet streaming platforms, including Twitch, along with ESPNNEWS and ESPN2, while the Ultimate League Championship will be aired on ESPN2, ESPN Video on Demand and Disney XD, with reruns of the League regular season running across all platforms.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018
THERE’S A REASON THE BEACH IS ONE OF THE BEST
Melissa Cervantes-Anguas English Literature
5
OPINIONS 6
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COUNTERPOINT
Love them or hate them, we cannot ignore our heroes’ faults Celebrities should be held accountable for assault accusations, even the ones we love. By Nicole Fish Copy Editor
Sometimes, our heroes fall from grace. After all, they are only mortal. So we choose to either forgive or hold it against them; these days there is no neutral zone. This is how celebrities become symbols of our belief systems. The artists we like and the behavior we put up with reflect our own ideals. After all, the best artists are archetypes; they create something that speaks to people on a personal level because it comes from a genuine place. We express ourselves by appreciating their art and becoming connected or even attached to its creator. And when we hear that they’ve violated another person, it hurts like it was a friend. Often we are quick to deny it because we don’t know this other person, this accuser coming to dethrone our idol, and it’s easier to turn a blind eye than to admit that our heroes are capable of hurting others. But where do we draw the line? When I revisit an artists’ work after a sexual assault claim has come out against them, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I see their entire body of work in a new light; suddenly Louis C.K.’s jokes about masturbating in front of people aren’t as funny after I learn they’re based in reality. Knowing that I may have laughed about it feels traumatic. Kanye West is another artist who makes music based off his own life, even the dark sides. West’s person-
Illustration by Miranda Andrade-Ceja | Daily 49er
ality and his art go hand in hand a statement only when the allega— he’s boisterous and assertive, tions begin to threaten your career often coming off as arrogant. But and the release of your new movie. he backs it up by coming out with On the spectrum of bad things to platinum record after platinum redo, these two acts are on opposite cord, on which he ends. tells intimate stoLouis C.K. By giving preda- stepped over a ries about himtors your monself and those he boundary with loves. This is why young women ey, your energy he’s famous. This and your power, you continwho looked up is also why he has to him and tried ue to block out women, milived his life in to keep it under the public eye for norities and queer folk from wraps, according the past decade the spotlight that powerful to Marc Maron. and has a conten- white men have historically Kanye West estabtious relationship controlled.” lished a boundary with paparazzi. between paparazPunching a zi, himself and photographer, even to protect your his family. The latter is more visible family, is hard to defend — just ask because, conveniently, it is on vidBjork — but it is not comparable eo and it’s easy to point fingers at to exposing yourself and releasing a black man for being aggressive.
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The former is harder to see, leaving a mark that is both harder to prove and consequently harder to recover from psychologically. It isn’t as explicit as physically assaulting or raping someone, but it is still a violation that Louis C.K. frequently references in his comedic work. Art is inextricably linked to the people who make it. If your conscious allows you to consume their work and ignore the ways they take advantage of the power you give them, be my guest. But keep in mind, by giving predators your money, your energy and your power, you continue to block out women, minorities and queer folk from the spotlight that powerful white men have historically controlled. And by doing so you, like your fallen heroes’ legacies, will remain in the past.
This is a counterpoint response to the op-ed article published on Feb. 5 titled “Entertainment should be appreciated, despite the creators.”
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Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily 49er.
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SPORTS 7
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COMMENTARY
LBSU is historically bad, but not for long The 49ers are on route to their worst season in program history. By Kevin Colindres Assistant Sports Editor
Nobody knew how the Long Beach State’s women’s basketball season was going to look after a catastrophic offseason that saw head coach Jody Wynn leave. Things only got harder when replacement head coach Jeff Cammon was issued the responsibility to pick up recruits at the very last second. With only eight games left in the season, the team’s overall record stands at an abysmal 2-20. LBSU (2-20, 0-8 Big West) is currently three games away from tying its worst season in program history. With the team’s recent play there is no doubt that the 49ers will surpass their previous worst year in 2010-2011, where they finished with a record of 8-23. This will go down as the worst year in the program’s history, but things can only go up from here. The lack of experience on the floor has been the cornerstone of the team’s failure. Alongside looking completely out-skilled night in and night out, it was obvious from the start
Joseph Kling | Daily 49er
Long Beach State women’s basketball head coach Jeff Cammon talks to referees in Saturday’s game against UC Irvine at the Walter Pyramid.
that this would be a year of development. For senior guards Jessica Gertz and Cecily Wilson, this is a completely new challenge after being on top, winning the Big West championship last year. Cammon had the difficult task of bringing players in at the very
end of recruiting season, but was lucky enough to pick up talented freshmen center Emma Merriweather and guard Shanaijah Davison. Merriweather stands at 6 foot 5 and is the perfect player for the coaching staff to build the team around. She possesses the
strength to bully other players and with a little work on her skills she will become impossible to guard. Through an offseason of training, Merriweather’s presence could turn things around for the team, and give them a lethal force down low.
Davison has proven to be a natural scorer, but it is up to her to take on the traditional point guard role. She has Kobe-esque qualities in her game, where she feels the need to take over on the offensive side of things. Once she is able to get her teammates involved the game will come to her, and she will be able to play her best. Throughout the 22 games this season, the 49ers have been able to get points on the board, but their defense has been atrocious. This comes from miscommunication on the floor and overall lack of awareness. Defenders will let the person they are guarding blow by and there will be no help to protect the basket. Defense wins games, and it will be up to the coaching staff to prioritize it in the offseason. The upside to half of the team being freshmen is the ability to grow together. While the team may not win now, in two or three years it may be a different story. Once the chemistry finally kicks in, this 49ers team can become a powerhouse in the Big West. One of Cammon’s favorite expressions is “growing pains,” and that is exactly what they team is going through right now. Once the women’s basketball team gets past that, the Big West better be ready.
LBSU SPORTS SCHEDULE 2/8 - 2/9 Sport
Date
Opponent/Event
Location
Softball Men’s Volleyball Women’s Basketball Softball Softball Women’s Tennis
Feb. 8 Feb. 8 Feb. 8 Feb. 9 Feb. 9 Feb. 9
Louisiana Tech Harvard CSUN Nevada Jamer Madison BYU
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Cambridge, Mass. Northridge, Calif. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Long Beach
Schedule Key:
Home Event
Time 2 p.m. PT 4 p.m. PT 7 p.m. PT 9 a.m. PT 12 p.m. PT 2 p.m. PT
Away Event
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8 SPORTS
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BASEBALL
Dirtbags closer named preseason All-American Chris Rivera earns honors from the NCBWA after an exceptional 2017 season. By Luke Ramirez
Assistant Sports Editor
Dirtbags junior closer Chris Rivera was named a preseason third team All-American by the National College Baseball Writers Association, making it three consecutive seasons that the program has had at least one player recognized. “It’s obviously an honor just to be on a list with some of those guys,” Rivera said. “To follow up guys like Darren [McCaughan], Garrett [Hampson] and Chris [Mathewson] makes it even more special to me.” Hampson and Mathewson received the same honor prior to the 2016 season, when the Dirtbags fell one game short of a NCAA Super Regional. McCaughan got the call last February before his final act as the Long Beach ace
starting pitcher. All three players were drafted and continue to play professional baseball today. “There’s a lot of history of pitching here so we tried to recruit and develop guys that fit the mold and the system,” head coach Troy Buckley said. “Ultimately, you have to give a lot of credit to [Rivera], [McCaughan] and [pitching coach Dan] Ricabal.” In 26 appearances on the mound last season, Rivera had a 2.60 ERA and struck out 47 batters over 34 ⅔ innings. He closed down 13 of the teams 21 saves and was a constant out of the bullpen for Long Beach along with setup man Josh Advocate, who is now in the Texas Rangers organization. He now enters his third year as the Dirtbags closer, but perhaps more importantly as one of the veteran leaders among a team of young talent. “Now it’s about keeping the culture alive,” Rivera said. “We’re process driven and to get [the younger players] to understand how important the little things we do here are is definitely a big focus for me.”
Rivera was also an impact player as a freshman in 2016 when he nailed down 13 saves after assuming the closing role toward the end of the season. Being brought up around players and leaders such as Mathewson, Hampson and McCaughan were crucial in his growth as a stopper on the mound. “It’s all about the foundation they have laid and keeping that tradition alive,” Rivera said. With opening day just over one week away, Rivera sets his sights on being the cornerstone of another successful campaign. “I think I just have to continue what I’ve done; understanding who I am as a player and not trying to do too much and hopefully be a guy they continue to count on.” Joining Rivera as honorees of preseason accolades are senior starting pitcher John Sheaks and junior second baseman Jarren Duran, who were both named to the All Big West Conference team by PerfectGame.org. Long Beach will open its first weekend series, at 6 p.m. against St. Mary’s Feb. 16-18 at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
Daily 49er File Photo
Long Beach State junior closer Chris Rivera was named a preseason third team All-American by the NCBWA.
COLUMN
Philly, Philly wins Super Bowl and saves the NFL The Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles leads the franchise to first Lombardi Trophy. By Christian Gonzales Sports Editor
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oing into Super Bowl LII, the Philadelphia Eagles were considered underdogs against the New England Patriots. In fact, Philadelphia was expected to lose every one of its postseason games. However, the Eagles won all three games in the playoffs to ultimately win the big game, defeating the Patriots 41-33 Sunday. It was an entertaining game from start to finish. It was the the quality of the teams’ play calls and execution that led to the game going back and forth keeping viewers on edge. Nick Foles, a backup quarterback, exposed the Patriots defense threading the needle to his wide receiver’s hands. Many Super Bowl records were broken: most combined total yards, most passing yards in a postsea-
Jeff Wheeler | Minneapolis Star Tribune
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) holds his daughter and waves during the victory celebration after Super Bowl LII on Sunday.
son game (Tom Brady, 505), and most total passing yards. Players were rattled by the amount of pressure at certain drives. There were extra points missed and Tom Brady could not catch a ball when he was wide open. Nick Foles caught
a touchdown in a fourth down situation near the goal line to end the first half. Something New England was criticized for was not playing Malcolm Butler on the defensive snap. He played a total of 98 percent of the defensive snaps in
the regular season. There were big plays, trick plays and clutch plays all throughout the game from both teams. In Corey Clement’s 22-yard touchdown he juggled the ball after he caught it, making offi-
cials question whether it was a catch or not. Following that was Zach Ertz’s controversial touchdown, leaping over the goalline and fumbling the ball. The ball touched the ground but he was ruled as a runner, making it a touchdown. At the end of the day, the last game of the NFL season was a good one, and it comes at a time when the league desperately needed it. The NFL season was filled with injuries to some of the best players in the league, which led to a lack of stars in the playoffs. The game dismissed the question of safety of the sport. New England Brandin Cooks got a concussion in the game, but the excitement of the Super Bowl made viewers forget. The question of what is a catch and what is not played a big part in the Super Bowl. The Bowl covered everything that happened in the NFL due to the excitement it brought. There is no way that Sunday’s game will lower the viewership of the league. In the offseason the NFL will definitely have to answer the questions of player safety and make a clear rule on what a catch is.