Letter From The Editors Here at Driven, sports are more than just a passion. They are more than an obsession. For us, sports are life. We eat, sleep, think, dream, and live for the next big game or the next championship. In our little sports worlds, the only important section of the newspaper is the sports section, and our TVs’ are constantly set on Sportscenter and ESPN. That is why we made this magazine. We are fully committed to making sure that no one in the local Austin area is deprived of the most extreme sports experience possible, and we will stop at nothing to ensure our goals are reached. Watch out world. Driven is here.
The Driven Crew
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Table of Contents 5 9 11 13
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The NFL (Non-Affordable Football League) The exorbitant ticket prices of Cowboys Stadium and how they’re hurting the fans who keep the game alive.
Water Wars Why Jet Skis should be outlawed in all lakes.
The Great Mistake The case against Instant Replay in Major League Baseball, and how it could ruin the game forever.
Umpiring Over the Decades The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Umpiring events that have shaped the history of baseball.
Pinballz An interview with the owners of an Austin pinball arcade.
A Soccer Story Kids at LASA are getting active during lunch. Interviews with some of the players.
6.25 Miles of Smiles The story of one of Austin’s most celebrated traditions: The Capitol 10k.
The Cap 10K in Pictures 5 Things to Do While You Can’t Watch Sports With the lockout in the NFL and threats of a lockout in the NBA, we offer advice on what to do with your life while you can’t watch your favoirite team.
Sports At Lasa During Lunch Ways LASA students are choosing to spend their free time during lunch.
The Quiz A quiz that truly tests your sports trivia potential
Jump Page and Answers to The Quiz
Meet the Crew Jamie
On the run from the long arm of the law due to allegations that he cheated multiple times on the TAKS test, Jameie has become a part of the Driven Crew by relentlessly emailing and mailing us his stories, as well as sending disturbing threat messages to our offices. Reports indicate that he was recently spotted somewhere around LASA high school, suggesting he may be connected with the school. A section of the Austin Police Force is currently on watch for any suspicious activity from him. If you know anything concerning his whereabouts, contact us at 512-234-5725.
Suspect 328365
Kathy
Driven by an obsession with jet skis and water, Kathy recently escaped the law after being arrested for burning boats on Lake LBJ while riding full speed on a jet ski in a 20 mph zone. Armed with a flamethrower, Kathy has been on a rampage of carnage across the Gulf of Mexico. When she is not busy bringing destruction upon any boats that cross her path, Kathy writes articles and sends them here. We warn our readers that she is extremely dangerous, and not to confront her under any circumstances. In a non-addressed note we received recently, she stated , “I hope everyone loves my articles!!!”
Matthew
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Suspect 127635
In recent interviews with parents and friends who knew Matthew, he is often described as “increasingly violent and pyschotic, often retreating into his room for days at a time in order to play more video games.” Last month, Matthew ran away from home, leaving a note reading “ Sea yoo guyz L8er” . He is now believed to be on the run somewhere in northern Mississippi, sending in articles and pictures to this magazine from time to time. We urge our readers to be on the lookout for anyone with glasses, brown hair, and a deep desire to get his hands on a copy of NBA 2K11.
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The NFL
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(Non-Affordable Football League)
How the NFL fans were affected by the high Super Bowl prices.
Photo by: Matthew M
Photo by: Scott Chou
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t Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, you could pay up to $440 just to use the restroom. This was just one instance of Cowboys stadium charging too much for the Super Bowl. Cowboys Stadium argued that they were just selling the tickets to supply the demand. There were people that were willing to buy the tickets for extremely high prices, so they sold them for those prices. In this most recent Super Bowl, Cowboys Stadium had a particularly strong desire to make money. On occasion, this desire was too great for some fans to be able to overcome, and the prices were just too high. The fans provide the major income for any sporting event, and should be treated generously. However, these fans are subjected to the Cowboys’ overpowering desire to make more money. The top quality seats to the game could have only been afforded by the richest of fans. According to JSOnline, a suite at Cowboys Stadium for the Super Bowl that was 20 rows above the field, and at the 20-yard line could be bought for $191,135. Suites like this one would include 23 leather seats, a private restroom, wine, soda, water, food, and two parking
Cowboys Stadium, as empty as the fans wallets. so expensive that it was impossible for most fans to be able to even think about buying one. Even some of the average tickets to the game were unaffordable. According to USA Today.com, it would have cost $412 to take a family of four to go see an average regular season NFL game; this price is an example of the family cost index (FCI). The Cowboys have the highest FCI in the NFL, $340 ahead of the average $412, at $759. Even during the regular season, tickets to Cowboys Stadium are expensive, and they managed to rise even more during the Super Bowl.
“Fans could pay $200 dollars to stand outside of Cowboys Stadium” passes. Even if the price had been split up between the people in the suite, it would still be about $10,000 per person. Mybudget360.com reports that the average household income is about $45,000. That means that to pay for that suite, an average person would have to pay almost one fourth of all of the money that they make in a year. Other ticket sellers claimed to be selling a suite only two suites away from Jerry Jones himself, JSOnline reports. The suite was on the 50-yard line, and could hold 25 people. The price for that suite? $599,000. Most of the suites at the Super Bowl were
According to Shutdown Corner, an official Yahoo blog that covers the NFL, tickets started at $600. These tickets were at the very top of the stadium, where a fan would definitely not be able to see the field, and could have limited view of the Jumbotron. However, those tickets were sold out right away, and by the end of January a ticket to the Super Bowl through Cowboys Stadium was anywhere between $2,500 and $15,000. For a person to go see the Super Bowl, he would’ve had to pay over ten times the $759 it took to take a family of four to a regular season game.
The strong desire for money spreads much farther than just regular indoor tickets. According to Shutdown Corner, fans could pay $200 dollars to stand outside of Cowboys Stadium so they could say they went to the Super Bowl. Tickets were first given to season ticket holders, who were required to buy at least four tickets. The fans would still have to go through security, and pay for concessions, but they would be sitting on grass watching the game. Surprisingly, the tickets did, in fact, sell out. These same fans could have simply be watching the game from their house and saved a lot of money. However, they didn’t, and they were subjected to the greed of others for money. At the game, parking was available for $990. The $990 parking was only one tenth of a mile away from the stadium, had access to tailgating, on-site security, and a restroom. For $550 a fan could have the exact same parking, minus the restroom. Not many people will put a price on a restroom, but the Dallas Cowboys managed to do so, and that price was extremely high. This most recent Super Bowl illustrated that Cowboys Stadium wanted more money than some fans were able to dish out. It is not fair to the fans to have to pay ridiculous amounts of money for tickets, when they are the ones who keep the game alive. Hopefully, prices like this do not get as expensive in future Super Bowls. After all, $440 is a lot of money to pay for a restroom, no matter where it is. -Matthew M.
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A graph showing ticket prices to every Super Bowl. These tickets would have been a less than an average ticket, but not the absolute cheapest ticket available. The prices on the graph begin at $10 for the very first Super Bowl, and go up to $1,200 for Super Bowl XLV.
Photo by Herbythyme
water wars
THE FIGHT TO KEEP OUR WATER SYSTEMS SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL
It’s a warm day at the lake. Maybe you’re snoozing on a beach towel or lounging in a chair. Relaxation is the main priority on your list. All of a sudden an
annoying buzzing sound fills the air and the rank smell of gasoline wafts past you. A group of rambunctious people zoom past on their jet skis, disturbing the water and the peace... eight
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s this form of personal watercraft is becoming more popular, the issue of environmental and noise pollution is becoming more prevalent. Others may argue that there is no high impact to the environment, and that jet ski accident rates are comparatively lower than boats and other types personal watercraft. However, Jet Skis are dangerous and harmful to the environment and the people riding them, and should be banned. Jet skis are harmful to the environment. Both the gasoline and noise pollution have a huge impact on wildlife. Because of their two-
do not warn surfacing birds or mammals of approaching danger until they are almost on top of them, causing panic and disturbance. The facts alone show the harmful impact that jet skis have on the environment. Jet skis are dangerous to the people around you. In 1998 the National Transportation Safety Board criticized the basic design of all jet skis: “Personal watercraft have no braking mechanism. They coast to a stop, and while coasting, there is no turning ability.” This makes them especially dangerous to people who are swimming in places where there is high watercraft traffic. Tom Ebro, president of Aquatic Risk Management in Florida, agrees.
record in boating. In 1999 jet skis were only 18 percent of all registered boats in use, but were involved in 44 percent of injuries in California. In 2000 they were 19 percent of registered boats, but were involved in 45 percent of injuries. That’s almost half of the total number of accidents, out of all of the different types of boats. Since jet skis were introduced in public parks in the 1980s, there is not a single year where they were not involved in disproportionate numbers of accidents. California consistently ranks second after Florida in the number of boating accidents. The jet ski is the only vessel where
When the throttle is off, a speeding jet ski is like a car on ice. It can’t stop, it can’t turn, the driver has no control. stroke engines, jet skis leak millions of gallons of unburned gasoline into the water each year. It is estimated that between 20 and 25 percent of the fuel put into a jet ski is flushed out into the water before it can combust. The leaked fuel is absorbed by tiny organisms in the water and increases their phototoxicity, and they become extremely sensitive to sunlight. The sunlight easily kills them, which causes a collapse of the food chain as food sources slowly become eliminated. Marine enthusiasts, as well as hikers and campers, complain that the high pitched noise of Jet Skis ruin their wilderness experience by destroying the peace and quiet. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute performed a controlled study of jet skis on the San Juan Islands of Washington state. They described how jet skis, which lack low-frequency long distance sounds,
“What makes [ jet skis] so ultradangerous is the fact that they will not steer when you suddenly have a surprise and let off the throttle. ”Unlike traditional boats, jet skis don’t have a rudder. When the throttle is off, a speeding jet ski is like a car on ice. It can’t stop, it can’t turn, and the driver has no control. This makes jet skis very dangerous to operate. Tom Ebro says that jet ski instruction manuals are confusing. They tell operators to stay on the gas when a collision is imminent. “But it’s difficult,” says Ebro, “sometimes impossible, to act against instinct and habit. In a near collision, the natural instinct is to try to slow down and steer out of harm’s way. Jet ski steering is counter-intuitive.” When you are about to hit something you want to brake hard and get out of the way. Neither can be accomplished on a jet ski. Jet skis have the worst safety
the leading cause of fatality is not drowning. Most drownings can be prevented by simply wearing a lifevest. In contrast to boating accidents, most fatal jet ski accident victims die from blunt-force trauma. Seventyfive percent of jet ski accidents are collisions. Out of all of the different types of watercraft, jet skis are statistically the most dangerous. Thousands of lives could be saved all over the world if people would just do the right thing. Banning jet skis would not only help preserve our fragile waterfront ecosystems, but would make swimming and water recreation areas a lot safer, not just for the swimmers, but the jet ski drivers themselves. By getting rid of jet skis, people everywhere will be saved from the noise and gasoline pollution of jet skis, and would be left in peace to enjoy their vacation at the lake. -Kathy Hutton
This chart, found on Well.com, shows the insane statistics for jet skis in 2002. As you can see, the amount of accidents involving PWCs (Personal Watercraft) or jet skis are almost triple the amount of accidents of the next highest thing;
open motorboats...
Don’t become one of the statistics. Stop jet skis today! ten
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The
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Mistake
Why Instant Replay is the Wrong Decision for Major League Baseball
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henever I make a call, it’s always met with a chorus of boos and cheers. That’s part of the game. I’m a baseball umpire, and the league that I work for on my spare Saturdays and Sundays is full of over-protective
Gallaraga would have joined the ranks of the elite by pitching a perfect game, or a game in which no players of the opposing teams are able to get on base. Many fans were outraged, claiming that changes needed to be made. Like many of these people, you may be thinking that it’s time for baseball
“Professional umpiring is in danger of submitting to increasing demands for instant replay” parents and rowdy fans. I’ve had to call the police, kick people out of games, and argue with men to whom I would normally show only respect. Whenever I watch an MLB game, I’m able to sympathize with the umpires. I know how they feel, and can see the reasoning behind their calls. However, it seems that other fans are not so sympathetic. Professional baseball umpiring is in danger of submitting to the increasing demands for instant replay during games. These arguments peaked almost one year ago, when umpire Jim Joyce blew a call that completely changed one young pitcher’s life forever. If the call had been made correctly, pitcher Armando
to catch up with the 21st century and make instant replay in the MLB a reality. I say that’s the worst mistake Major League Baseball could possibly make. Baseball is a game of imperfection, and the umpires play an enormous role in this. Who can say whether a pitch is a ball or a strike, other than the umpire? In the realm of baseball, umpires are given absolute power, and no amount of screaming, stomping, arguing, or cursing can change their minds. No one else can take the role of these officials. Not cameras, motion sensors, or high tech computers. The original baseball rules from 1845
clearlyy “A All l state “All tes e and disputes ences en differences ve to the th he relative game,, to be mined e by determined mpire, from the Umpire, h there th her e e is no which al.” Look at the appeal.” ause: there is no last clause: al from an umappeal pire. These words have d the way people shaped have played baseball for over a century. Umpires’ ments have become judgements eplaceable part of an irreplaceable ame As I also play the game. baseball, I know how umpires can affect how players aproach certain aspects of the game. Whenever I’m waiting to hit, I not only study the pitcher but also the umpire. The presence of an umpire adds an element of difficulty to the game that makes it much more
interesting for the players, and should not be altered in any way. Although baseball may be a game of imperfection, blown calls cal are not as common as the they seem. In this age, especially with the popularity of football f and the abundant abund use of instant replay re in these gam games, I can see why it might be ma maddening for a baseball fan to t watch a game ga in w which an u umpire may miss a call. H However, u umpires have a unique, ideal position to watch and call g the game. m No matter how it may fr look from the camera angle camera’s scr on the screen, the se the umpires see wa that play in a way allows them to make p the best call possible. From persona personal experience umpiring, I realize a that many fans and be coaches often believe that they had the best angle to see the play. The truth is, um during the play umpires are the only ones out on o the field and the only ones close enough to the base to see exactly what was happening. Unlike the fans or the coaches, whenever I umpire I’m not worried about a child wandering off or a kid in the dugout misbehaving. I’m fully concentrated and able to make the call. For an example of two umpires who were known only photo by jamie R.
for their one blown call, try this: Google the names Jim Joyce or Don Denkinger. Both were professional, well-respected umpires who had relatively long careers. However, the majority of the results concern the missed calls they made that came to define their careers. At the end of their career these umpires are remembered for their one greatest mistake, despite their countless other correct calls and years of training. Throughout the years, umpiring has become a sport in and of itself. In order to become a professional, many of the umpires you see in Major League games endured countless years of low pay, grueling cross-country treks to get jobs, and even travels to Mexico to get extra practice during the off season. Much like any other sport, umpires train, practice, have uniforms and work on their skill. Even if instant replay is added to the majors , lower levels of umpiring will remain the same. My job certainly won’t change no matter what happens in the major leagues. However, if instant replay becomes a reality in the Major Leagues, umpires such as myself will have lost what professional baseball players are to kids playing in little league. By changing the game, Major League Baseball will have deeply affected not one but two sports. I cannot sit and watch while people are actually considering ruining a sport and activity that I have come to appreciate.
baseball. I find that the common opinion is that baseball is a slow and boring sport. Now imagine adding actionless minutes in which an umpire watches a screen trying to decide the call. Baseball is full of close calls and quick plays, and the number of instances in which umpires would be pressured into reviewing the play would be simply ridiculous. By choosing instant replay over an umpire’s good judgement, Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig is making a decision that could possibly end up in the loss of more fans, as well as money. Isn’t the point of adding instant replay to not only correct the game but also to make fans happier? Content fans means higher ratings and attendance records, and based on the current data the future for baseball ratings is bleak. Instant replay would only worsen the situation. For most baseball fans, umpires represent only frustration and human error in an age where computers and cameras show most officials the correct call. Even with instant replay, umpires will still be there, in their same positions with their same blue shirts and gray slacks. However, they will have lost a sense of being human. Why should they even be out there if a computer could do their job just as well? The fact is, all the computers and cameras in the world cannot truly replace a human. And even if they could, where’s the fun in that? - Jamie R.
If Major League Baseball chooses to institute instant replay to aid umpires, they risk losing even more of their already declining number of fans. Last year, the 2010 World Series tied for the lowest rated series ever. We are now living in a world where a regular season NFL game between the Saints and the Steelers received higher ratings The message is clear: more people care about football than
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Umpiring September 23, 1845
Alexander Cartwright pens the first rules of baseball, establishing the presence of an umpire on the field to call the game.
Over the Decades Across the years, umpires have had their fair share of grief, whether it be from booing fans or screaming managers. Here’s a look at some of the most important events in umpiring history, and how they’ve changed the game today.
1912 The four man system of umpiring is instituted for the first time, and still stands today.
1985
Don Denkinger blows a call in the World Series, outraging countless fans.
August 2008 Professional Baseball makes a move towards instant replay by adding this policy for home runs only. This comes after a number of missed home run calls across several weeks
June 2010 Umpire Jim Joyce blows the call that would have ended a perfect game for pitcher Armando Galarraga. This call once again sparks arguments about instant replay
“I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes.” -Leo Durocher
THE ULTIMATE ARCADE EXPERIENCE
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he overwhelming noise of hundreds of different sounds all playing at once, and the flashing, pulsing, blinding lights; only the craziest of people would dare to face this madness. But for the fearless crew at the Pinballz Arcade, this is all in a day’s work. The new Pinballz arcade just opened in November 2010. With over 90 different types of pinball machines and almost every other arcade game imaginable, this arcade is the only one of its kind in Texas. Owners Mikki and Darren recall the days before the arcade was opened. “Well, it started like a little over a year ago, [Darren] wanted to buy a pinball
that they get their machines from all over. “We get them from individuals, from businesses, Craig’s List, Ebay, other auctions.” Darren explained. “There are big auctions every month for stuff like this. We’ve gotten some from the U.S, outside the U.S, even Germany. We got a whole shipment from Germany, and so they come from all over the place.” Marty, the floor manager at Pinballz, helps bring in the machines when they come. He manages the workers and sets prices on the machines, as well as arranges them whenever they add another one to the floor. He admits that there’s no real order to the way they have the machines set up. “It’s haphazard,” he says. “Some of the older [games] are on the outside row
notice a definite change right around dinner time. Usually when we open until 5 or 6 it’s kind of slow because there are kids, families, everyone is happy and they’re all having a good time. And then 8:00 there is a different crowd in here, everyone is bringing their own beer.” The arcade is working on getting a liquor license, but for now they allow people to bring in beer and wine. However, Darren believes that this should not be a big issue for families looking for a fun night out. “At night, about 7 to 12 we have the adult birthday parties,” Darren explains. “The people bring beer and wine. But you know we keep it down, even when they’re in here we only allow them to bring a few drinks, and they can’t bring
machine, he said, ‘I always wanted a Star Trek ‘78 pinball machine. I used to play that as a kid,” Mikki explained. “So I said, ‘OK, if you can find it.’ So he found it, got it, and then he ordered a couple.” Mikki and Darren started the pinball arcade after collecting several different pinball machines without having a place to put them. They wanted to start a business and try to make some money off of the machines. “We started doing that; started collecting more and decided that Austin needed some kind of a cool arcade,” Mikki said. “We didn’t have an arcade in Austin then; all of the arcades went out of business, so we decided to open up our own.” Mikki and Darren get their games from a variety of different places. Currently the only company making pinball machines is called Stern. Other than
and in the back, and the more popular ones are in the middle row. They have some kid’s games, plus the Redemption area. There’s no real rhyme or reason. We try to keep a variety of games; we don’t want to put all of one type of game in one area, we want people kind of walking around and exploring.” The Pinballz arcade is relatively new. It just opened in November 2010, but is already gaining popularity, particularly among younger children and older adults. The younger crowd goes there for birthday parties in the earlier part of the day, but around 7 pm the children go home and make way for the adult crowd. TJ, one of the floor workers at Pinballz, notices a definite change in the arcade’s ambiance. “We’ve got a couple of kids’ parties now, but about 7:00 it’ll switch over from kids to adults who are bringing their own beer,” TJ explains. “So you
hard alcohol and can’t bring 6 packs and coolers and stuff like that, so even when it’s late we still maintain a family environment.” Darren is convinced that in the midst of America’s financial trouble, places like Pinballz will actually do better. “One trend we’ve seen so far is that people want more for their money,” he said. “If you look at our machines compared to a Main Event or Dave and Busters, our machines are about half the price of their machines to play,” Darren explains. “Your money goes twice as far, and we have games, like pinball, that last longer, so when you come here and spend $20 you spend two hours, not one hour like you would anywhere else.” Darren believes that people need that right now because it’s too expensive to go to a Main Event and blow $30 in 30 minutes. People can’t afford it. He thinks that people are looking for places like
the Pinballz arcade where money spends a little slower and it’s just asenjoyable. He thinks that the down economy has helped them. “It’s good when its down, and I think it’ll be good when it goes back up.” The arcade games at Pinballz range anywhere from 25 cents to $1 per play. The machines themselves vary in cost. “New [machines] are about $4,000, used machines range anywhere from $500 to over $10,000 depending on how popular the machine is, and how many were produced,” Marty explains. “We have a Medieval Madness game that typically sells for over $10,000. It’s one of Williams’; one of the last pinball manufacturing companies before Stern, and it was one of their last machines. It’s really popular and a great collector’s piece.” There is a huge variety of different machines, some more complicated than others. TJ encourages a new pinball player to not freak out. “Don’t be intimidated,” he says. “That’s the main thing. You look at these machines and you see people playing and they’re getting super into it and they’re shaking the machines. We have some games that are a lot simpler to understand. Just come in here, drop a few quarters in and just get used to the idea of how to build up some skill with the games. The main idea is to just have fun.” Darren says that the best way to get good at pinball is to just do it over and over and “practice, practice, practice”. He says that coming to one of their many gaming clinics would really help you get better. “We’re here to teach people,” he says. “We have clinics, we have leagues where you can play beside people and learn their techniques. Really once you get into it, it’s hard to come in and just put a lot of money down and practice on the machines because it can get expensive if you’re new to it, so just join a league, participate in tournaments, go to our clinics, and very quickly you’ll improve your game 100%. I know it’s much more enjoyable once you do that.” Pinballz currently sponsors a league that
meets every Thursday night to practice. The Pinballz arcade also has special deals on parties and events. Darren says they are looking for a more teen crowd. They have a lot of younger kids that come and a lot of older paople, but not many teens. “This is a great place for [teens] to meet. Think about date night, this would be a great place to come, and a safe environment.” Emily H. of Yelp.com says, “ [The Pinballz Arcade] is a blast to go to even if you think you’re not into pinball and such! If you are looking to kill some time, or just love to play games then you will love this place!” -Kathy H.
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A Soccer Story
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he sun blazes down on a ninth-grade LASA student. There is nothing in front of him except for a small red ball. With his teammates eagerly awaiting the ball, he steps back to kick it away. He runs forward and swings his leg hard, and all that is heard, is the loud sound,
How a group of high school students are choosing to spend their free time staying active.
of his foot hitting the ground. He missed. This is not a rare event on the soccer field during lunch at LASA High School. There is a large range of soccer skills within the students who play during lunch, from people who have played soccer their entire lives to others who only have experience playing during lunch.
However, all of the students know that they could be using their lunch time to do more school related things, chat with friends, or play games, yet they choose to spend their time staying active. “I like getting away from all of the LASA work.� freshman Christian said.
There are many different reasons that people choose to play soccer during lunch. Most like to just take a break and have fun staying active. “Nobody really takes it seriously, but it’s a way to pass time”, ninth grader Adam said. The majority of the students are playing solely for the fun of it, and are often seen “chasing the ball like idiots”, Christian laughed. Just about anyone can go outside and play soccer, even if they have not had any experience. At times, too many people becomes a hassle, but it’s just a part of the game. “It’s still fun to play outside”, Christian added laughing. There are those who play soccer just to have fun, and then there are people that take it very seriously. “[Most] people playing during lunch play for the fun of it, and just want to touch the ball,” LASA student Carlos explained. “Then there are people that know how to play, and try to stand out from the others and make plays.”
“It was something I would love forever.” plays are the ones that have been playing soccer for their whole lives. It comes naturally to them. Adam, a student who was one of the first people to begin playing soccer at lunch, has been playing the sport both on a team and with family or friends since he was four.
away, and he manages to get around him. He can see the goal, and he gets ready to take a shot. He swings his leg, and everyone hears the sound, of the ball, sailing into the net. -Matthew M
“It was my first real sport. I got together with a lot of people, and made new friends. It was something I would love forever. My first year playing I learned a lot of the basics [of] soccer, and I have now built upon that greatly.” he said smiling. Adam has had a lot of time to build upon his young education in soccer. He still continues to try to learn more and get better at the sport he loves. He hopes that younger people will work towards his example and play soccer at a young age.
Adam throws the ball in to a waiting teammate.
“It may be hard at first, but once you get the hang of controlling the ball and playing the game in general, you’ll do really good.”
Christian is one of those students. He has played on a team, and enjoys using this knowledge while playing during lunch. “I really get into the game because I have played it almost all my life”, he said.” Students like Christian who make
Photos by: Matthew Martinez
Most of the students really enjoy playing soccer, and are willing to sacrifice other activities to play, including school work time. Sometimes they have projects to work on, but choose to go outside anyway. They are aware that they will have to end up working all day later, and that their classmates will not want to work with them in the future, but they are willing to suffer through the consequences. “[Playing soccer] cuts into my schoolwork time, but it’s definitely worth it.” Christian said.
Bikramjit L.. punts the ball away.
With sweat dripping down his face, and a journal in his hand, a freshman runs around the soccer field with the ball. Someone comes to take the ball
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Photos by Jamie R.
6.25 Miles of Smiles The story behind the Largest 10K in Texas, and the people who have made it one of Austin’s most celebrated traditions.
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ressed in dark green Gumby costumes, five young men and women dance their way down Congress Avenue towards the Capitol. Trotting alongside them, wearing short red shorts and a blue shirt, is Superman, his red cape trailing behind him in the wind. Joining the crowd are Thing 1 and Thing 2, skipping through the crowd with wide grins permanently fixed on their faces, just happy to be part of the spectacle. A hundred feet away, Mario and Luigi are busy racing cardboard go-carts down the avenue. The race has begun. Embodying the spirit irit of “Keep Keep Austin Weird”, Weird thousands of people turned tu d up p on a chillyy Sundayy mornm
ing to run the Capitol 10K, a 6.25 mile race winding through downtown Austin. Advertised as “The Largest 10K in Texas”, the Capitol 10K attracted nearly 24,000 people in its 34th year running, a new record for the event. The race is divided into two sections, the timed event and the fun run, which the race is most famous for. Many chose to dress in costumes, ranging from outlandish running suits to costumes straight out of a comic book. “I think anywhere where you can dress up as a superhero and run a race is awesome,” says Batman, aka Eric, an Austin resident who recently moved from Wisconsin. It’s his first time running the race, but already he is enjoying bearing the heat of a costume in order to bring a little more fun to the race. ce. It’s It s costume-wearers costume wearers such s as City Austin C A Limits
2 mile miles
Eric that have made the Capitol 10K an event that draws people from across Texas to it year after year. Max, from McAllen, Texas, is one of those people who couldn’t resist the hype. “I saw it on the internet,
zips up his neon green costume. “We don’t dress up quite like this for those though.” For runners and observers willing to tear their eyes away from the costumes, the Capitol 10K has even more to offer. “[My favorite part of
the people. “[My favorite part] is the camraderie. Pushing one another and motivating one another. Just getting people to do something they normally wouldn’t do,” he says.
“I think anywhere where you can dress up as a superhero and run a race is awesome” and I saw that it was the biggest one [in Texas]. I’m excited to come.” Standing before the starting line listening to his Mp3 player, Max is one of the thousands waiting in suspense before the start of the race. It’s a time for pictures and congregation, and for the people running in groups, it’s a time to assemble. The Austin Frontrunners Society, an organization that runs many local races in and around Austin, is busy taking last minute pictures before the race. Their uniform this year: Rainbow-colored spandex suits, ranging from purple to a bright green. “We run most of the big races. We do the Austin half-marathon, the marathon, etc. ” says p Halverson, the president p Joseph of the organization, organizati orrganiizatiion, just just beforee hee
the race] is the route,” says one woman, who decided to dress in a bride costume to celebrate her upcoming wedding. “ Going down Congress and seeing the Capitol is really awesome.” This is not an uncommon answer for many runners. Enjoying the Austin scenery while running is one of the many bonuses of the route. Other added attractions include live music along the way as well as signs bearing amusing messages such as “You’re almost halfway there! (Not).” Jim Braddock, who has run the race every single year since its inception, has a different idea of what his favorite part of the race is. “Finishing,” he says with a smile. Reggie Bigham, a local Austinite who runs a bo bootcamp three days d week just loves l es a week,
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Not everyone in the crowd is there simply for enjoyment. Some are there to spread a message. In the midst of the crowd, a poster stands above the countless heads with the words “Our Friend Carson” adorned on the front. Underneath the light blue letters is a picture of a handsome, smiling young man. The back of the sign gives information about alcohol poisoning. Behind this poster lies a heartbreaking story of one family whose lives were shattered by a death one December day. A death that has given one mother and her family a reason to run. “Our son died in 2008 of alcohol poisoning and hazing. This was his favorite race and he did it for 9 years. For the last 3 years we’ve had a group together and we’ve all walked and run the race.” Th se are words Julia These continued on page 28
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The Cap 10K
in Pictures 1. Runners line up for the start of the race. 2. Almost past the five mile mark. 3. Me and
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my mom after finishing the race. 4. Running down Congress Avenue 5. Even Spike, the Round Rock Express mascot, showed up to take pictures . 6. Running down a hill equals fun. Running back up the hill, not so much. 7. Still running after 30 years. 8. After their beloved friend and family member Shawn passed away last year while on vacation, team Coddington runs her favorite race wearing all purple. 9. Enthusiastic fans cheer on the runners. 10. Austin Police Department cadets run the race, chanting all along the way. A lot of fun to run next to.
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-Advice -
Five things to do
When you can’t watch sports
With the upcoming NFL lockout, and a possible NBA lockout, you may be wondering what you are going to do when you can’t watch your favorite team. However, there is no need to worry, because we here at Driven have come up with five different things you can do in your free time. These five tips also work during the offseason, or anytime that there is not a sport on. Prepare to never be bored again!
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Go out and play the sport yourself. Fans are always complaining when someone on their favorite team misses a shot or a pass. You can go out and play the sport, that way, the next time that they miss a shot, you can say with certainty “I could have made that!” Photo by: washjeff.edu
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Watch non-professionals play the sport. The players might not be as good, but it could still be an interesting game. Then again, it could be extremely boring to you, and you may never want to watch the sport again, but at least you saved money. Photo by: Navin Rajagopalan
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Play the video game for the sport. It can very upseting when your team loses a game, and you start to wonder if they are capable of even winning one. The easiest way to see your team win is to play the video game, where with just a little bit of practice, you will soon be winning by 100 points. Playing the game also helps you learn the players names, so you know who you’re yelling at.
Watch a different sport. There are many different sports in the world, and it wouldn’t hurt to expand your knowledge on some other ones. You could end up liking it, and playing it yourself. Also, when your friends are there talking about a sport you otherwise wouldn’t have known about, you’re not stuck alone in a corner.
Photo by: Matthew M
Photo by: Articularnos.com
Just give up. Face it, your sport will never be on ever again. Just ball yourself up in a corner crying, while desperately watching old games, and reading articles about them. Make yourself a nice fire, and burn pictures of anyone affiliated with your sport. Photo by: Matthew M
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-Opinions -Opinions -
sports @ lasa during lunch Sports to check out on a typical day of LASA in the lunch hour. Art and Story by Kathy H.
Cricket on the tennis courts
Pool and ping-pong in the back of the cafeteria
Volleyball in the courtyard
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-Quiz -
The Quiz As you may already know, we here at Driven are completely committed to excellence in sports knowlege, and we know that you, our reader, feel the same. That is why we have created this: a quiz to truly test your sports trivia potential. Since this is our very first quiz, we’ll start you out nice and easy with questions we believe are targeted towards our newer sports fanatics. For anyone who considers themselves a true sports fan, this should be as easy as making a 9 pointer in Cammag. Good Luck!
1. On September 23, 2009, who hit a home run to the man sitting in Section 255, Row 26, Seat D, in Yankee Stadium? (Hint: His name starts with one of the letters in the alphabet) a. Joba Chamberlain b. Mark Teixara c. Melky Cabrera d. Tokanasi Hitsuo e. Answer not here 2. In which sport do teams compete for the Camanachd Cup?
3. How many feathers are on Green Hills University mascot The Fighting Rooster? a. 87,029 b. 65,009 c. 20,682 d. 4 e. All of the above
a. b b. a c. e d. i e. Kobe Bryant 6. According to MLB Statistics, how many pounds of muscle were gained due to steroids during the 2005 season ? a. 2,000 pounds b. 1 ton c. 5,082 pounds d.
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a. Sepak Takraw b. Shinty c. Cricket d. Football e. Answer not here
5. What was the most common letter in the names of the 1973 Los Angeles Lakers basketball team?
7. In the sport Chananganah, what is the most common form of death during a game? a. Being impaled by one of the large elephants roaming throughout the arena. b. Being trampled by several of the large elephants roaming throughout the arena. c. Being assassinated by an angered fan. d. Failing to make the leap to the Danilkan in the fifth round of play.
4. On October 10, 2010, Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan argued with a referee during the fourth quarter of a game against the Packers at 10:37 ET. What were the first words out of his mouth?
8. What was the final score of the first football game ever played in which the temperature was an average of 37 degrees farenheit, the starting quarterback’s last name was Martin, one of the team mascots was a kangaroo, and there were exactly 73 fans watching the game?
a. You !@#$#ing $*#@%! b. What the $@8!?! c. Are you #@$*ing blind, @$#hole?!? d. Good call, but I wanna talk to you about something...
a. 34-23 b. 77-53 c. 17-21 d. 41-30
9. Name the rule that, when instituted, caused the death of 56 players during the 1675 season of Handball.
13. In the story “6.25 Miles of Smiles”, how many armadillos were running on the street below the article? article (No looking back!)
a. The “Ring of Fire” rule b. The infamous “Tigers Allowed” rule c. The ‘Bring Your Own Weapons Rule” d. The “Huxton Rule” e. Answer not here
a. 34 b. 35 c. 23 d. 6,002,234
10. In a poll taken during the 1963 season, what percentage of rugby fans believed that Charles Ripley cheated?
14. In the Rubik’s Cube World Championships, Duoang Vo Dang was named champion after completing the cube in a mere 12.7653 seconds. What was his favorite method of practice, as told in his memoir, “It’s Hard to Be This Good at Everything: The Story of Duoang Vo Dang”?
a. 100% b. 45% c. 0% d. 87% e. All of the above 11. In which sport do players compete by attempting to control the minds of their opponents? a. UNDW b. Croquet c. Golf d. That Ancient Chinese Mind Control Sport e. Answer not here 12. According to superstition, what will happen in a game of Sofobaball if a player fails to change their socks after the 14th point is scored? a. Mr. Spurgeon’s eyes will fall out of his head as he screams at the incompetence of the player. b. The player’s team will be cursed for all eternity c. In the next play, the player will unexplainedly trip upon a tree root, falling and breaking his/her fibula. d. Absolutely nothing.
a. Spending 4 hours every night solving each of his 300 practice cubes. b. Having sleepovers with friends in which all they did was solve Rubik’s cubes. c. Kidnapping famous Rubik’s cube champions and forcing them at gunpoint to reveal all their secrets. d. He never practiced. 15. In a game against the Cardinals, third base coach John Walsh of the Houston Astros signaled to a batter with a stroke across his chest and two fingers pointed to his left. If the batter was paying attention, what would he do on the next pitch? a. Not swing. b. Bunt down the third base line. c. Attempt to dive in front of the ball in order to awarded first base. d. It doesn’t matter. None of the Astros players ever pay attention.
Congratulations! You have just completed the first ever Driven Sports Trivia Quiz! On second thought, this may be a premature congratulations, seeing as it is quite possible that you did not answer a single question correctly. However, we must hold our readers to the same standard that we hold ourselves, and hopefully these results will help us separate the Charlie Sheens from the Tiger Woods, if you know what we mean. You can check your answers on page 28 to see which one you are.
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6.25 Miles of Smiles continued from page 20
Starkey has repeated hundreds of times, words she never thought she would have to speak only three years earlier. Her son, Carson Starkey, was a freshmen student at Cal Poly State University when he died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing on December 2, 2008. “He was very athletic and a good student,” says a friend of the family. That’s an understatement. Carson was the kind of kid who was good at everything and was liked by everybody. He was on the tennis team, the cross country team, and the lacrosse team. He volunteered, built hike and bike trails, and was in the top 10 % of his class at Austin High School. Surrounded by loving friends and family and with an acceptance to one of the top colleges in the country, Carson’s future was bright. And then things went horribly wrong. During a fraternity hazing, he drank enormous
amounts of alcohol and was left to sleep it off. He never woke up. This year, just like past years, Carson’s family and friends are running not only to remember his life but to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Wearing bright blue shirts with the words withcarson.org on the back, the website of the organization, the group jogs down the same street their beloved friend and family member ran for nine years straight. He will be remembered every step of the way. One and a half hours later, a short, tan man huffs and puffs his way towards the end of the race. Twenty feet from the finish line, he rips off his shirt and thrusts his fists in the air. As his foot crosses the finish line, a smile spreads across his face. It stays there for a long time. -Jamie R.
How to Rate yourself on The Quiz 1-4 Right- you do not deserve to be holding this magazine. We are completely and utterly disgusted. Your subscription will be cancelled shortly with no refund. 5-9 Correct- In some ways, this is even worse than getting four or less correct. You obviously have no heart or courage. We can sincerely say from the bottoms of our hearts that this was an extremely easy quiz. and the fact you could only do this well is ridiculous. You can never call yourself a sports fan again. 10-14 Correct- So close yet so far. Personally I cannot see how anyone did not receive a perfect score. I can only say that I am deeply disappointed. 15 Correct- Is that all you got?
Answers to The Quiz 1. a. Tokanasi Hitsuo. 2. e. All of the Above. Add up all those numbers and see what you get. 3. d. Football. Just think about it. You’ll see why this is the right answer. 4. d. Good call, but I wanna talk to you about something... No, just kidding. Mike Shanahan would never talk like that. Have you seen pictures of his face? The correct answer is a. 5. e. Kobe Bryant. 6. If we told you the correct answer, we would have to kill you. You were probably wrong anyway. 7. d. Failing to make the leap to the Danilkan in the fifth round of play. Possibly the worst mistake you can make in sports. 8. e. 99-100 Oh shoot. We just realized we forgot to put this option on the quiz. Somebody’s getting fired for this. It’s probably going to be Matthew. 9. d. The Huxton Rule. Terrible. 10. e. All of the Above. Do the math. 11. c. Golf. It may seem pretty boring, but once you have control of your opponent’s mind the enjoyment level goes way up. 12. c. In the next play, the player will unexplainedly trip upon a tree root, falling and breaking his/her fibula. We’ve seen it happen many, many, many times. 13. d. 6,002,234 A lot of the armadillos are actually stacked on top of each other.Gotcha! 14. e. Answer not here. 15. c. Attempt to dive in front of the ball in order to be awarded first base. Haven’t you ever seen them do this?
Thank You The Driven Mag Crew would like to thank you for reading our magazine. We hope you enjoyed the opinions, interviews, and random sports trivia. We would also like to thank The Illustrious Russell Toynes for his invaluable help in making our magazine what it is today. We would also like to thank Ms.Young for the oppertunity to channel our creative ideas into something awesome. Thank you all!
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