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FEBRUARY 7, 2014
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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
GAME
OF CHANGE: Aldermen hire
new Starkville police chief
Library display honors sports legacy
BY PRANAAV JADHAV Staff Writer
BY MAKYLA SPENCER Contributing Writer
Mississippi State University commemorates the 50th anniversary of the “Game of Change” that occurred during the 1963 NCAA Mideast Regional Basketball Tournament. The exhibit on the second floor of the Mitchell Memorial Library shows the controversial events of the game and the
impact it had on the university. In 1963, Coach Babe McCarthy and the MSU men’s basketball team sneaked out of state to play against Loyola in the NCAA Tournament. The team defied the rule that Mississippi teams could not play against integrated schools. The game helped begin the process of integrating the sport of basketball at MSU.
Jana Hill, senior associate of the Mississippian Special Collections Committee, said the university hosted the anniversary game in December. However, there was not enough time to put the exhibit together, so Hill said the committee decided to wait until February in order to tie it into Black History Month. “You know, they had the
anniversary game for that event in December, so we felt like we couldn’t get it together in December because of Christmas and everything. So, we decided to do it in January and February, and that way we could display it during Black History Month,” Hill said. The 1963 MSU basketball team made history the night they decided to sneak off to the tournament. SEE CHANGE, 2 MAKYLA SPENCER | THE REFLECTOR
Jay Henry observes a display in the Mitchell Memorial Library commemorating the historic game in which Mississippi State University’s basketball team violated rules that prohibited it from playing interracial teams. The game proved to be a big step toward integration for MSU sports. The library exhibit will run through the end of February for Black History Month.
The Starkville Board of Aldermen named Captain R. Frank Nichols the new Starkville Police Department chief with a six to one vote in favor of the motion at Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting. Ward 3 Alderman David Little voted against the hire. Nichols has worked on the Starkville Police Department force since 1992 and recently became the administrative captain. Nichols said the appointment process went well and he feels very proud to serve Starkville. “I am extremely pleased and extremely thankful to the people of the City of Starkville for their support during this time of interviews and appointment. I am very grateful and humbled,” Nichols said. Former city administrator Lynn Spruill said Nichols has all the skills and experience to make an excellent chief of police for the City of Starkville. She said Nichols gave a superior interview and was by far the best candidate for the board to choose. “He has the background and the community support that
will serve him in good stead as he moves the department forward. In his interview, he spoke to the goals that he has for the department and those are all the things that will keep up on the path to excellence. In particular, his desire for additional manpower, appropriate compensation and to maintain the departmental accreditation is significant in having the department represent the city in a progressive manner. I look forward to his success in his new position as chief,” Spruill said. Mississippi State University police chief interim chief Kenneth Spencer said he has faith in Nichols abilities as chief. “We congratulate him on his position and he will do fine,” Spencer said. Nichols said his initial plan as the SPD chief is to re-build and enhance the relationship between the police department and the community. Nichols was appointed the SPD chief three months after David Lindley, the former SPD chief, was placed on an administrative leave by the Board of Aldermen. Nichols said he thinks about the positive aspects of the job. “My main concern is to be serving and protecting the citizens,” Nichols said.
MSU presents Darwin Week, explains scientist’s findings BY NIA WILSON
I care about the education of our young people. It is important for the community to be Mississippi State University scientifically literate,” she said. will host its second annual Dar- “That includes having a workwin Week, a week-long celebra- ing knowledge of how Charles tion that intertwines the teach- Darwin’s ideas contributed to ings of Charles Darwin with our understanding of many events, showing another side of things, including those that are relevant to human health, like science. The week begins Saturday bacterial resistance and vaccines, and food with a dodgelike ball tournaAs a parent production pesticide and herment and ends and an bicide resistance.” Feb. 14 with Baba Brinkeducator, I a roundtable man, biology and discussion on care about evolution raphumans and the education of per, will perform biodiversity. “The Rap Guide Darwin Week our young people. to Evolution” events, held It is important for on Saturday at 7 both on and the community to p.m. in McComas off campus, Theater. are open to all be scientifically Outlaw said a members of literate.” film crew workthe commu- -Diana Outlaw, nity. assistant professor ing with HBO is doing a fullDiana Outlength documenlaw, assistant of biology tary on Brinkman professor in the as he performs De p a r t m e n t of Biological Sciences, said she throughout the South. “Because we are featuring loves to teach biology and being able to share that with people is Baba as a kick-off to our Darrewarding. She said she consid- win Week program, the film’s ers Darwin Week a great plat- director became interested in form to reach a lot of different our program. They will be here Friday through Feb. 10 and will people in the community. “As a parent and an educator, be filming our opening events
on Saturday and Sunday as well as engaging with MSU students and faculty and members of the community,” she said. Luke Venable, sophomore biology major, said he thinks it is important to continue hosting events to inspire students to get involved in sciences. “I developed a love for the sciences in middle school. I had really good science teachers, and they showed me that science can be fun. That’s the effect that Darwin Week should have on students,” he said. “Not many people know much about science, but with events like Darwin Week, they can learn. Once you’re interested in science, it makes it much easier to study.” Amy Moe-Hoffman, geosciences instructor, said she has found the biggest concern of those in the scientific community is that they cannot properly relay ideas and information to those not involved in science. “I feel that it is important to foster open dialogue between scientists and non-scientists by creating a non-threatening atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions and where they will actively participate in a discussion about science,” she said.
Staff Writer
ZACH ROWLAND | COURTESY PHOTO
Children attending the 2013 Rotary Classic Rodeo play on the Horse Park arena floor before the bulls enter. This year’s rodeo will feature the Wright brothers, Jacob O’Mara, Elliot Jacoby and Zab Lanham. The event benefits a number of local organizations.
Rotary Rodeo visits Horse Park BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer
Back again with bull riding, roping and barrel racing, the Starkville Rotary Club will hosting its eighth annual Rotary Classic Rodeo at 7 p.m. Friday night at the Miss. Horse Park. Friday will be children’s night,
with free admission for children under the age of 12. From 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night, the rodeo will feature a petting zoo and pony rides on the arena floor with free admission for children under the age of three. Standard admission is $15 at the door and $12 in advance. John Forde, co-chair of the
classic rotary committee, said the Rotary Rodeo is one of the biggest events of the year and features an arena that holds about 3,500 people. “Some people fantasize about being a cowboy, and it just shows how much the rodeo is a big part of the lives of people,” Forde said.
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CHANGE
The team had been previously barred from the games by state officials because it was still a segregated team. At the time, state law prohibited Mississippi teams from playing against integrated athletic teams. According to “The Journal of Southern History,” this law was put in place because of the belief that it would not be a fair or equal playing ground. “In the early 1960s, Mississippi did not allow segregated and integrated establishments or public institutions to mix. This included clubs, social groups, sports teams and certain public services. These laws were implemented in an attempt to even the playing field,” the journal said. This was not the first time MSU was banned from competing according to “The Journal of Southern History.” Prior to the 1963 season, MSU’s basketball team had been prohibited from participation three times due to the possibility of facing African-American players. With the support of McCarthy and MSU President Dean W. Colvard, the game between
continued from 1 the Bulldogs and racially-integrated Loyola became a prominent moment for the state of Mississippi and the Civil Rights movement. Amanda Carlock, Mississippian Special Collections Committee member, said the committee believes it is important for students to know about this historic game because it is a part of what makes the university the establishment it is today. “It was history-making. It really changed the way that the university and the state looked at athletics as far as civil rights. It kind of helped push us into coming together,” Carlock said. “I think that’s why it is called the Game of Change, because it really did change our view of our teams and showed us the meaning of sportsmanship. This game helped move the focus from race to unity.” Included in the exhibit are letters from those who opposed and those who supported MSU’s participation. It also includes photos of the segregated MSU and integrated Loyola University Chicago players. The exhibit will be available for until Feb. 28.
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“I’ve been on the committee for Man in the Can for 2013,” Miller three to four years, and I’ve always said. enjoyed the rodeo as a spectator. Along with entertainment proIt’s a great event, and we encourage vided by bull riding, steer wrestling everyone to come out and enjoy,” and tie down roping, proceeds Forde said. from the annual rotary rodeo beneBricklee Miller, fit many Starkville director of the Misacross This assures programs sissippi Horse Park, the Golden Trianeveryone’s gle. said this weekend’s rodeo has 84 conProceeds from chance to testants in the barrel the rodeo benefit witness racing competition the Boy Scouts and will also feature pro-rodeo at its of America, world champions finest.” Starkville Parks and National Rodeo -Bricklee Miller, and Recreation finalists. Tee ball, Pilot Mississippi Horse “This assures evClub Music Trail, eryone’s chance to Park director Starkville Soccer witness pro-rodeo Association, Habat its finest,” Miller itat for Humanity, said. “We will witness true Nation- the Tuition Guarantee Program, al Rodeo finalists, and it’s going to Cotton District Arts Festival and be a great rodeo.” the Boys and Girls Club of the According to Miller, the Na- Golden Triangle. tional Rodeo finalists consist of all Corrine Jackson, sophomore three of the Wright brothers from accounting major, said she recalls Utah in the saddle bronco, bull loving rodeos since she was four riding will feature Jacob O’Mara years old and was the flag girl for from Los Angeles, Elliot Jacoby the Starkville Rotary Rodeo from from Texas and Zeb Lanham from 2010 until 2012. Idaho “I really look forward to the level “Our clown is John Harrison, of expertise featured in the rodeo,” and he is known as the king of Jackson said. “It is pro-level, so it comedy in the Rodeo World, win- features some of the best cowgirls ning specialty act of the year and and cowboys in the U.S. It’s a great
Monday, Feb. 4 • 9:31 a.m. An Aramark employee was arrested on Collegeview Street for improper passing and having a suspended driver’s license. • 11:32 a.m. A student was arrested on Collegeview Street for disregard of a traffic device and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 • 8:40 p.m. A residence hall director reported the smell of marijuana in Rice Hall. Nothing was found. • 9:41 p.m. A student reported receiving a suspicious phone call from an unknown person.
Wednesday, Feb. 6 • 11:27 a.m. A visitor was arrested on Stone Boulevard for speeding and having a suspended driver’s license.
Citations:
• 30 citations were issued for speeding. • 19 citations were issued for disregard of a traffic device.
place for family, but anyone would enjoy it because it provides such fun and entertainment.” Brent Fountain, president of the Starkville Rotary Club, said Rotary is a civic organization over 100 years old and has over 1.2 million members worldwide. “Our club is celebrating our 90th anniversary in Starkville this year,”
Fountain said. “We have great events all over Starkville thanks to MSU. This year’s rodeo is another opportunity for family to come together. It provides people with something that you don’t see every day. It also allows the professional bull riders to come and enjoy our hospitality, and that is something that we are really proud of.“
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AMY MOE-HOFFMAN | COURTESY PHOTO
MSU assistant professor of biology Brian Counterman talks about lactose intolerance during last year’s Darwin Week at Bin 612. This year’s week will include similar events. “We, as scientists, need to work on increasing scientific literacy of people of
all ages and all walks of life. My hope is that our Darwin Week programming will in-
crease people’s understanding of the importance of scientific research by making
it relevant to their personal lives,” Moe-Hoffman said. Moe-Hoffman said the events will appeal to many people because it included input from so many backgrounds. “We have programs set up for everyone from four years old all the way up to senior citizens. We have tried to include participants from as many colleges and departments as possible, which is what makes planning these events so much fun,” she said. “I have made planning Darwin Week events a priority to simply get people interested in science and, specifically, to help young people see the wide variety of career opportunities in the biological sciences. If our events get even one person more interested in science, then I feel like we have done a good job. ”
DARWIN WEEK Feb. 8, 2 p.m.
Survival of the Fittest Dodgeball Tournament, MSU Sanderson Center
Feb. 9, 2 p.m.
Sunday at the Bluff, Mississippi University for Women’s
Plymouth Bluff Center, 2200 Old West Point Road, Columbus
Feb. 10, 12:30 p.m.
Roundtable Luncheon, 314 Harned Hall
Feb. 11, 6 p.m.
Café Scientifique, The Veranda Restaurant, 208 Lincoln Green, Starkville
Feb. 12, 5 p.m.
Darwin's Birthday Reception, MSU Cobb Institute of Archaeology Room 100
Feb. 13, 3 p.m.
Tea Time Roundtable Discussion, 314 Harned Hall
Feb. 14, 2 p.m.
Tea Time Roundtable Discussion, 314 Harned Hall ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
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Emma Sweat — junior from Cumming, Ga. — elementary education major with concentrations in English and history What on your platform are you the most passionate about? “The most important thing to me on my platform, personally, is the meal plan. I really am working closely with Aramark and the Starkville Restaurant Association to combine your meal plan, both flex dollars and MoneyMate, and take it off campus so that you can use it at restaurants on Main Street, at drive-thru restaurants down Miss. Highway 12 and things like that. Because we always know how much of a hassle it is to wait in lines at the union or have to wait at the Perry, and for upperclassmen to have to come back on campus to use your meal plans, and I really just think this is something that could impact the students in a great way. It would be a lot easier on freshmen because everyone has to come in with a meal plan, and also for the students, for the upperclassmen that have meal plans that live off campus. You can never find parking, especially on the weekends when a lot of things aren’t open. It’s just a hassle to find food for yourself when you’re paying your college tuition and trying to afford living expenses, and you don’t want to spend an extra $9 because stuff in the union isn’t open.” What have Michael Hogan or other past Student Association presidents done that you would like to continue or build on? “It wasn’t a point on his platform, it’s not really something that he is doing that is tangible that you can feel and touch, but I just really want to work to be like him in the way that he is so personable with every organization on campus. I really think it’s great — his open-door policy—and how anyone can come to you. And I know a lot of times students feel that there’s this separation between the SA elected government and the actual students of campus, and I don’t want it to be like that. I’m a normal student who goes to class and does what she has to do, and I want other students to feel like they can come to me whether it’s, ‘Hey, I have a question about a class I’m taking,’ or ‘I want to work to do this program on campus.’ So I really want to work with his open door policy and let students know that I am there for them, and I am a normal student and that they should feel comfortable coming to me with anything.” Is there anything you would change? “I think the SA is going to a great place. I really like where we’re going with the programs and the events that we hold and things like that. I would like to work on working with the academic board to implement some new policies and things like that to help campus because I really think the SA, we do some great programs, and we also need to keep up our policy because we can get some great policies passed, like the textbook policy and things like that.”
What experiences have you had at Mississippi State University that motivated you to run for president? “Well, the thing that ultimately led me to run for president was my involvement in the SA. I knew Shelby Balius coming in as a freshman, and I saw her run for president and how that impacted her. She was the one that came to me and got me involved in the SA, and I just saw, between both her and Michael Hogan, how the SA president can have such an impact on campus and that you can get things done that you know the university needs, and by seeing the actions that they took and things like that, it really made me have a passion to better MSU, especially coming from a town that wasn’t all Mississippi State all the time. I want to make it where Mississippi State’s a household name, no matter where you’re from, that they know what we do and what we’re like, and that way we can bring students from all over the nation. So I really want to work to better our university to better it for the students and, ultimately, help us grow because I mean, I came here on a whim.” How do you plan to further the connection between the SA and the student body if elected president? “Like what Michael Hogan does, the open door policy. I also want to, this sounds so corny, just walk around the campus, get to know the students. I can talk to a brick wall if I wanted to, so I just really want to get to know people and know why they came to MSU, know what brought them here and know what they think will help better our campus. And one of the things on my platform is to increase student involvement on campus. The involvement that I’ve had on campus, whether it be through Maroon VIP or from Gamma Chi through the Greek system or through serving in the SA, it has taught me so much about this university that you don’t know unless you get involved. So I really think that by working to get to know the students and getting them involved and offering more opportunities to them that, ultimately, that would help me connect with the student body.” What are your thoughts on the “Vote Anything” campaign? “I really like the Vote Anything campaign — I think it is great. I think it is getting students educated on what’s going on, and I know from this position that I’m running for, I’ve looked back at how many students have voted and things like that in the SA elections, and I feel like the SA elections are targeted a lot toward certain groups of students on campus. And I want every student to vote because a lot of students don’t realize that the SA is them. It’s not the people they elect or the people that are appointed — it’s the 23,000
people that attend Mississippi State that create the SA, so I think the Vote Anything campaign really gets out Sweat to the students and says, ‘Hey, you can do this. You can make the difference. You need to vote.’ So, hopefully this year we’ll see the numbers increase and see more students turn out to vote and really students educating themselves more about what’s going on campus. So I really think it’s a great thing for the SA.” Where do you see the biggest potential for change on MSU’s campus? “One of the things that I think is a really big issue on campus is students getting lost in the day to day — students that feel homesick, that don’t feel like they know where they belong— they don’t know what to do. One of the main things on my platform is to increase student involvement, and some of the things that I want to do there is for transfer students that come and don’t have the send-off parties and don’t have the welcoming committee that the freshmen do. I really want to push that toward them and let them know that they can have the same experiences as freshmen do and that they’re not cut off because they transferred here. I also feel like the big things that I would like to do is for students with majors who have to have internships and for students that need to go to the job fairs, I want to create job fairs that coincide with involvement fairs so that these students, whether you’re a freshman or a fifth-year senior, can go to these job fairs and can kind of get an idea of what internship they want or what job they want in the long run and can go up to employers as freshmen or sophomores and say, ‘Hey, I really like what your business is doing. I would like to intern with you in a few years, what can help me with that?’ So that those students who don’t know where to get involved can find where this stuff is and can know when to get involved and how to get involved. I think that’ll create a better student atmosphere and get students excited about what’s going on campus.”
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Brett Harris — junior from Florence, Miss. — business management and marketing double major What on your platform are you the most passionate about? “I feel a lot of the time that people don’t necessarily realize what the president does. The president is actually the voice of the students, sometimes he is the only person in the meeting — whether it be about parking or what dining services are coming to campus or what new options are coming to campus — so the point that I’m most passionate about is actually being the voice of the students and actually doing what the students want.” What have Michael Hogan or other past Student Association presidents done that you would like to continue or build on? “With this past administration, and Michael, I’ve actually had the opportunity to meet with Michael and athletics about online ticket sales for football. So we have been working with them, and I’d love to see that continued. Also Shelby sort of started talks about a meal plan option where you can give back your extra meals at the end of each semester to students in financial need, and so I know my freshman year I had a lot of extra meals, and so I would have been able to give those to students in need for the nest semester. I’d love to see that continue as well.” Is there anything you would change? “I think Michael has done a great job this year working with administration and still representing students to the best of their needs. Anytime they need something they go to Michael or somebody on exec., and then we tell Michael and he’ll go out and fix it or try to fix it or argue on the students’ behalf. I think that’s something that re-
ally needs to be continued, and I think he’s done a great job at it and I’d love to see that continue.” What experiences have you had at Mississippi State University that motivated you to run for president? “I started off a freshman on Freshman Council where we planned the Big Event, and I was one of the students that got to help do that, and that helped me grow into being a cabinet member the next year. There, I started the Glow Run and Battle of the Bands with my co-director, and then that helped me grow to where Michael appointed me this year to be on exec., and so I’m chief programming officer, where I help plan all the programs that SA puts on. So, those experiences have helped me grow, and a lot of times Michael can’t go to a meeting and he’ll ask exec. to sit in. So sitting in through these meetings you actually realize how important it is to have a voice for the students in these meetings, and I think that is one of the most important things.” How do you plan to further the connection between the SA and the student body if elected president? “That is one of the points where SA, in my opinion, struggles the most. We have an executive assistant on exec. right now, and I think it would be very important to start more of like a delegate program to where each organization around campus sends a delegate from their organization to a meeting that the executive assistant would be over and it would be sort of a talk-to-all-the-students thing. Every organization is represented there, and it would be a talk to the students and see what they need, see what we’re working on, see what events they’re working on, if we can help them. And then you have a delegate from every organization there, so they can go back and tell their organization. I think that would be
a huge thing to get started here at MSU. And also little things like putting a dry erase board down on the Harris Drill Field and saying, ‘What can the SA do for you’” Because a lot of times students aren’t going to seek things out — a lot of times you have to go to the students because, I mean, I know I’m not going to come up to the third floor of the union and say this is my problem, I need it fixed. But if there’s a dry erase board on the Drill Field then you can write down what issues you’re dealing with whether it be pipes busting in your dorm or parking, and then we can go work with that and see what’s really needed.” What are your thoughts on the “Vote Anything” campaign? “I think it’s great. After going to the SEC exchange, you realize that most schools are around the 20 percent mark of students who vote. Voting is so important. It really determines the course of student life at MSU sometimes, and so the campaign that the SA is doing, along with several other organizations, is very important, and I think it’s reached out to a lot of students who wouldn’t have necessarily have voted before.” Where do you see the biggest potential for change on MSU’s campus? “I think informing students is going to be one of the biggest things, I know coming up, hopefully tickets going online will be a great thing that happens. But getting the information to students on how you’ll buy your tickets and things like that is really important. I know I get like four Maroon emails a day, and so it’s a lot to read, all four of those emails, so we have to find innovative ways to inform students about upcoming programs and new initiatives and things like that.”
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OPINION
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OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu WHO SPEAKS FOR EARTH?
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Nations renew their Is Mississippi the weakest state in the union? efforts in space race I
M
any of the Asian nations find themselves spiraling into a new space race. With the United States and Russia at a peaceful juncture, cooperating in technological endeavors and only seeking to maintain their positions, the door has opened for developing nations to assert their dominance. India, South Korea, Japan and China have all launched successful scientific and exploratory missions to places like low-earth-orbit (LEO), Mars and the moon in the last several years with many plans to continue and push for manned missions, even beyond what the U.S. has accomplished. Peace overshadows the space race currently, but the tensions of an arms race underlie all of these accomplishments, as each technical accomplishment serves to prove the technological capabilities of these new international powers. This new space race could become the next Cold War if left unchecked, so we should notice these tensions and developments are often more than scientific. This race involves just as much as it physically encompasses the whole world, so we cannot afford to ignore it. Over the course of the Cold War, the U.S. and the USSR were engaged in a so-called space race. The USSR was winning handily, as they were the first to have an orbiting satellite and a man in space, among many other achievements surpassing the U.S.’s capabilities. It was not until the joint efforts of several federal agencies and the backing of President John F. Kennedy and the American people that the second leg of that space race was won with the successful string of the Apollo-manned moon landings. According to History.com, the American-Soviet space race finally ended with a successful dock of two vessels. “In 1975, the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission sent three U.S. astronauts into space aboard an Apollo spacecraft that docked in orbit with a Soviet-made Soyuz vehicle. When the commanders of the two crafts officially greeted each other, their (handshake in space) served to symbolize the gradual improvement of U.S.-Soviet relations in the late Cold War-era,” the website said. Extremetech.com reports on the most recent mission in this new space race, undertaken by the Chinese, who put a roving robot called Jade Rabbit or “Yutu” on the Moon. The mission succeeded, as it was the first soft landing on the moon in 37 years, and China is only the third nation to successfully do so, but Sebastian Anthony of extremetech.com said the mission is also on the verge of catastrophe. “Yutu has a primary threemonth mission. Because the rover is solar powered, it can only drive
CAMERON CLARKE Cameron Clarke is a junior majoring in mathematics and physics. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.
during the lunar day — during the 14-Earth-day lunar nights, it simply sits there, sleeping,” Anthony said. According to CNN, the rover encountered technical difficulties last week in achieving the hibernation necessary to survive the two-weeklong lunar night. Consequently, the rover may have its mission cut in half, dying an early death on the dark side of the moon. Even with this premature failure, the Chinese will not lose heart. The mission was primarily a success, and according to Graham Templeton of extremetech.com, China is likely to use this hurdle as a stepping stone to its eventual dominance in the modern space race. “Make no mistake: all of this is a training exercise for the real event. China has set its sights on Mars, and, more than any other nation, views the distinction of putting the first human being on an alien planet as a consuming national goal,” Templeton said in his article. “The Chinese people seem to be mostly in favor of that goal, as well; like the Americans of decades past, they are eager to show the world their capabilities, and the tantalizing idea of being the world’s top dog is still new enough to be exciting.” Should we worry? Maybe not yet, but this space race has the potential to become militarized. Previously, inter-continental ballistic missiles, weaponized spy-satellites and plans for missile defense systems were the name of the game in the space race. This time, with these rising Asian nations all in such close proximity and still cooling off the tensions from previous wars, we should seek to promote diplomatic solutions to any problems that may arise. One way of easing tensions may be to promote cooperation in space race endeavors rather than letting them snowball into a catastrophe. U.S. and Russia, though they disagree on many things, rely on each other to accomplish even the easiest tasks in space. Hopefully, the rising powers can learn from our mistakes and use our example to prevent what could turn into a harmful cold war or worse.
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CORRECTIONS
EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
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t depends who you ask. A recent story in “Politico Magazine” ranked all 50 states “from fabulous to failed” based on 14 different state rankings, such as wealth per captia, unemployment rate, high school graduation rate and crime statistics among others. Mississippi kept with the stereotype and pulled up the rear, ranking 51st overall — behind all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It also finished last in four of the individual lists. In response to the “Politico Magazine” story, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant wrote a piece titled “It’s Time to End the Mississippi Bashing.” While briefly acknowledging the challenges facing Mississippi, he argued Mississippi is unique and continues to grow and “(defy) expectations.” While the “Politico Magazine” piece concedes its approach isn’t scientific or comprehensive, it was still the culmination of examining 14 important gauges of the social and economic health of a state. Mississippi wasn’t bullied or bashed — as the governor con-
tends. We finished last. we spoke the truth? Why shy away from this reality? The oft-spoken platitude that Dancing around to solve a probthe facts doesn’t lem one must make them any first admit there Roseless true and ceris a problem is tainly doesn’t lead a platitude for a colored us to a path that reason. It’s true. glasses sees Mississippi Whether stemmust raised from the ming from emcome with the job bottom. barrassment Rose-colored because Mississippi or pride, our glasses must come governors have political leadwith the job beers’ refusal to cause Mississippi been wearing acknowledge governors have them since 1992 and tackle our worn them since when Governor problems headat least 1992 Kirk Fordice put the on is counterwhen Governor productive. To Kirk Fordice message, ‘Welcome understate our put the message, to Missisissippi current standing “Welcome to — only positive for public relaMississippi — Mississippi spoken tions only positive Mis— to “sell Mississippi spoken here,’ at all of the sissippi” — or here,” at all of the entrances to the political reasons entrances to the state. ” serves only to state. perpetuate the What if we were problem. honest with ourBeing at the selves? What if we didn’t speak bottom does provide an incred“only positive Mississippi,” but ible opportunity for us to grow
JOJO DODD JoJo Dodd is a sophomore majoring in economics. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
and improve our state. But to do that will require (at least) enough courage to admit we have real problems.Offering qualitative arguments to refute quantitative facts solves nothing and proves only that we are content doing what we’ve always done. Mississippi has problems. And ironically, our seeming inability to admit we have real problems is the one that most hampers efforts to solve the rest. We’re last. But we don’t have to be. Let’s talk about it.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
State of emergency in southeast was more than snow and ice
I
am writing this in response to the opinion article titled, “Since when is two inches of snow a state of emergency?” The writer incorrectly assumed that it was only because of the two inches of snow and ice that the majority of the southeastern United States was shut down. This simply was not the case. Yes, the south is ill-prepared for an event of this magnitude. The reasoning is simple. There is no reason to pay for the maintenance and upkeep for equipment that may be used up to three to four times a year. In a budgetary situation, like almost every state has, this simply would not fly, especially when there are more pressing matters to allocate governmental money toward. Let’s put you, the reader, in the shoes of a congressman/woman. If someone came onto the floor during a budgetary debate and requested money be allocated for equipment that may be used up to three to four times a year at the most, would you put the money into it? Let’s assume that in order to clean up something of the magnitude of the event that happened, it would take 50
percent of what most states in be very easy to justify to a state the Mid-Atlantic region experi- Congress that already struggles ence. The State of Virginia esti- to make ends meet. mates that the average cost for Moving onto the weather itself, a “major statewide snow or ice the Birmingham, Ala., ASOS storm” would cost “about $11 station reported two inches of million per day.” These num- snowfall. The ice accumulations bers were taken from an article are what put a stop to Birmingfound on “The ham traffic Daily Press,” and caused the A situation which serves majority of the like this the Hampton problems. The Roads region accumulation is not of Virginia. So was as high as unlike that let’s use the sitone inch in uation that I ‘Superstorm’ Sandy some locations. have put before for the New England This forecast us and say we in area in terms of was admittedthe south would crippling effects. ly difficult for only need 50 every meteorolpercent of that, New England was ogist. Forecasts so around $5.5 not prepared for will be wrong million per Sandy, and the south at times. It’s the day for a ma- was not prepared for nature of the jor snow or ice job and nature storm event. this amount of ice.” itself. The MisTake the days sissippi State this event has University area taken to get sitwas spared from uations close to normal, around this storm with the exception of three days. This brings our grand .2 inches of snowfall. Icy road total for this one event to $16.6 conditions caused what we saw million. That would be a bud- in Atlanta and Birmingham, getary situation that would not and it would have caused more
Andrew Norwood is a senior majoring in geosciences.
mayhem here if we were put into that situation. I would just like the author of the previous article to take a step back and think about the situation at hand. People in the south, generally, do not know how to drive in wintry conditions due to the pure lack of need to learn how. The monetary need for preventative measures isn’t nearly as necessary here as it would be at a location of higher latitude or elevation. This fact makes it quite difficult to justify the amount of allocation necessary to effectively prevent the situation we saw. I hope that before you start judging the south for responding so dramatically to adverse conditions, you think about how uncommon this type of event is for this area. With that in mind, a situation like what we saw is not unlike that “Superstorm” Sandy for the New England area in terms of the crippling effects. New England was not prepared for Sandy, and the south was not prepared for this amount of ice.
PONDER THIS
Can the American public get Justin Bieber deported?
I
t is a known fact that celebrities have no secrets. Everything they do, particularly celebrities who are always in trouble, is broadcast to the public. Broadcasting companies release information because they know it is what we want to hear. But even getting into mischief has its advantages in the celebrity business world. The more public attention a celebrity gets, the better. But now another celebrity has stepped up to the plate. Justin Bieber, originally a citizen of Canada, has gradually played on the same strategy. Young adults and older generations generally tend to mock Bieber, but his apparent success with the younger generation was enough for the United States to issue the star a Visa on his so-called talent alone. But a celebrity with Bieber’s shaky status often shows out for attention at some point. It was no surprise to me that he was recently charged in Miami, Fla., with drag-racing, a DUI and resisting arrest. The public outrage was even more fueled when he admitted he takes prescription drugs, smokes marijuana and drinks underage. These recent events caused the already high number of signatures on the White House’s “We the People” site petition requesting for Bieber’s deportation to escalate to well over 100,000 — requiring
the White House to respond to it. ABC News recently released the official statement of the petition. It reads, “We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture. We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive and drug abusing, Justin Bieber, deported and his green card revoked.” But is this enough to get the 19-year-old pop star deported? It looks doubtful. You don’t have to be a celebrity to figure out the charges Bieber now faces are common. In other words, the White House needs a little more to go on than a simple case of reckless driving. Especially since the police were unable to find drugs when they searched Bieber’s private jet. We also can’t deny Bieber fits in with a large pool of celebrities when it comes to drugs, alcohol and being uncooperative with the law in a nonviolent way. The simple truth is that for Bieber to be deported under the immigration law, the recent events of his arrest will have to be set aside. The White House is generally more concerned if a case involves violence, not an out-of-control teenager. Bieber should consider himself lucky that he hasn’t had a violent encounter with law enforcement. But what about the Bieber scenar-
ios that were reported in the news but overlooked? The fact that Bieber might have done thousands of dollars of damage to his neighbor’s home in Los Angeles might have been enough for the White House to respond. Whether or not he was involved in the egg-tossing incident is still under investigation. The pop singer is also known to mistreat his fans, even going so far as to spit on one of them from a balcony. One of the most embarrassing of Bieber’s actions is the disrespectful way he represents the U.S. Since the U.S. chooses to support his fame, his actions mostly fall back on the U.S., not Canada. Bieber’s behavior is the root of his bad reception with the general public. Evidence for this can be found in his recent mug shot, which he doesn’t really seem to mind. It all goes back to the celebrity business world as far as he is concerned. His statement that he hopes Anne Frank would have been a “Belieber” when he visited her hiding place and his appearance when he met the Prime Minister of Canada show he has little regard for how he represents the U.S. David Leopold from Fox News points out that some of these behaviors could be enough to have Bieber deported if proven true — but not a simple traffic violation. Leopold also poses the question:
BROOKLYN TUCKER Brooklyn Tucker is a junior majoring in kinesiology. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.
what would happen if Bieber was not a celebrity? Would he still be able to get away with his behavior if he were a common man? If a celebrity is disrespectful, should he or she really have the joy of attention? Does he or she really deserve his or her fame when there are so many talented people out there who never get a chance? For now, it will be shocking if the White House does make a decision to deport Justin Bieber. But, according to Leopold, the young celebrity should learn to watch his behavior. “Bieber might want to take a moment to consider that legally he is a guest in this country. And a guest who wears out his legal welcome runs the risk of being shown the door,” he said.
Do you think Justin Bieber should be deported?
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014 | 5
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The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost. FOR SALE
Classic rock albums for sale in Starkville. Beatles, Eagles, AC/DC, Boston and more. Over 5,000 comic books, mostly 1970s and 1980s, bagged and boarded. Over 20,000 baseball cards in 800 and 3,200 count boxes. Call 662-312-2402.
be submitted by email to club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability. WESLEY FOUNDATION
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MSU Libraries and African American Studies present “Created Equal: Americans’ Civil Rights Struggle.” The movie “Freedom Riders” will be shown in the library auditorium Monday at 7 p.m., and a film discussion and seminar will take place in the library auditorium Tuesday at 3 p.m.
6 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
THE REFLECTOR
LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
Big tunes, bigger hair: The Molly
Ringwalds take audiences back to 1980s BY CATIE MARIE MARTIN Staff Writer
Just the opening chords of Hall & Oates’s “You Make My Dreams” get crowds screaming, and the opening guitar riff of “Sweet Child of Mine” alone makes audiences swoon. The Molly Ringwalds, a 1980s cover band, recognizes the universal beauty in these moments and plays on the singular appeal of ’80s music. Friday night the band brings Starkville residents the opportunity to enter into the neon vortex that is the fastpaced, colorful, exciting culture of the 1980s. The Molly Ringwalds will transport Mississippi State University students and Starkvillians back in time to a decade of MTV, Pac-Man and the Rubik’s cube through an interactive concert complete with costumes and audience participation. According to the band’s website, The Molly Ringwalds’ devotion to ’80s music comes from the decade’s cultlike appeal, which stems from
its collision of technology the band’s primary goal. with melody and fashion. “We just try and recreate “Thus, the ’80s music rev- the music, the fashion, the olution was created. No, it sexual energy that happened wasn’t all good, but when it in that decade,” he said. was good, it was great,” the Nooner said The Molly website Ringwalds states. live experiIt speaks Five ence draws ’80s fanaton the greatly about ics from n o s t a l g ia the decade Sheffield, hinging that the England, on a deyounger gencompose cade that the band: has been, eration is so into that Sir Devon in many decade of music. The No o n e r, ways, imsongwriting is good, and guitarist, mortalthe songs are fun. It’s en- ized. Lord Phillip Wang, “Eighttertaining.” bassist, ies music -Devon Nooner, Sir Liam appeals guitarist and vocalist for Thunders, to us bevocalist, cause that The Molly Ringwalds Dickie was great English, music; it synthesizis great er and Platinum Randi Wil- music. We kind of grew up de, guitarist. All five band in that generation. That was members contribute vocals to our decade, and we were exform the band’s full-bodied periencing all of life’s purpos’80s sound. es,” he said. “When we play Devon Nooner said bring- a song on stage like ‘Under ing the unmatched vitality of Pressure,’ it brings me back the ’80s to the present day is to where I was at the Univer-
sity of Oxford.” The Molly Ringwalds’ show will not only appeal to audience members who lived during the ‘80s and saw “The Breakfast Club” in theaters. Instead, Nooner said the beauty of the ’80s can equally entice younger generations that came after the years of leg warmers and nylon track jackets. The ’80s, he said, combine quality music with a healthy dose of joviality. “It speaks greatly about the decade that the younger generation is so into that decade of music,” he said. “The songwriting is good, and the songs are fun. It’s entertaining.” The band’s shows hold a charm that lies in the quintet’s dedication to presenting an exciting, unique and creative show that audiences of all ages — and with various levels of ’80s love — can enjoy. To make the show a truly immersive experience, the members of the band dress up as ’80s music figures, complete with makeup, teased hair and costumes.
However, the band’s concerts are just as much about the audience as they are about the musicians. Nooner said the band’s shows attempt to transport people to a world without the worries of daily life for a few hours. “What we do really well is try to entertain people and help them escape from their normal lives,” Nooner said. “The Starkville crowds are great. They’re involved and
they know the songs better than we do.” With a repertoire that ranges from Michael Jackson to ACDC and the Beastie Boys to Queen, The Molly Ringwalds promise to transport its audience to bigger hair, louder clothes and better music with their all-encompassing 1980s extravaganza. The show begins at 10 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at rickscafe. net or at the door.
THE MOLLY RINGWALDS | COURTESY PHOTO
Five men and women from Sheffield, England, form the Molly Ringwalds, a 1980s cover band that wears 1980s-themed costumes while belting an extensive repertoire of tunes from the decade that includes Michael Jackson, the Beastie Boys and Queen.
ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
SPORTS
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SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com
2014 MSU FOOTBALL
SIGNING
CLASS
Brandon Bryant Deion Calhoun Ronald Cochran Will Coleman Logan Cooke Deshon Cooper Lashard Durr Nick Fitzgerald Jamoral Graham J.T. Gray Gerri Green Grant Harris Jordan Harris Braxton Hoyett Darrion Hutcherson Jesse Jackson Elgton Jenkins Jocquelle Johnson Dontavian Lee Chris Rayford Elijah Staley S Cory Thomas Aeris Williams
S OL OL DE K/P LB CB QB WR S LB DT OL DT TE WR OL OL RB CB QB DT RB
5-11 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-2 5-11 6-5 5-10 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-6 6-5 6-1
194 325 255 248 200 209 181 210 165 196 221 270 299 285 250 201 283 308 211 182 231 273 200
Tunica, MS (Rosa Fort HS) Pleasant Grove, AL (Restoration Academy) Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS) Tyler, TX (Tyler JC) Kokomo, MS (Columbia Academy) Atlanta, GA (Columbia HS) Gulfp MS (Harrison Central HS) Gulfport, Richmond Hill, GA (Richmond Hill HS) Decatur, MS (Newton County HS) Clarksdale, MS (Clarksdale HS) Greenville, MS (Greenville Weston HS) Bolton, MS (Clinton HS) Stone Mountain, GA (Stephenson HS) Pelham, AL (Pelham HS) Dadeville, AL (Copiah-Lincoln CC) Petal, MS (Petal HS) Clarksdale, MS (Clarksdale HS) Jackson, MS (Copiah-Lincoln CC) Hattiesburg, MS (Forrest County HS) Byhalia, MS (Byhalia HS) Marietta, GA (Wheeler HS) Bessemer, AL (McAdory HS) West Point, MS (West Point HS) ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
Dogs ink 23 for 2014 season BY ALEXANDRIA WILSON Contributing Writer
A National Signing Day event held at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex on Wednesday gave fans an in-depth look inside Mississippi State University’s 2014 football signing class. Head Coach Dan Mullen said he not only looks for athleticism in his recruits, but also character and intelligence. “When you look at the class as a whole, I’m really excited about not just the quality of players coming in, but also the character of players coming in. That to me is really important in what we’ve tried to build here and what we think is important,” Mullen said. “To me, when you look at the class, it is headlined by Gerri Green. He has all the tools and is a big-time linebacker. We’ve had him in camp and got to work with him, but then he has all the leadership and character you’re looking for. That’s the type of guys who you look for.” The quality of an athlete is vital to the program, and Mullen said he values leadership skills when recruiting new players. Green will soon be a graduate of Greenville-Weston High School and is most likely to be valedictorian of his class. Ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the state by ESPN. com, Green racked up 98 tackles, broke up seven passes and forced several fumbles during his senior year in high school. The Bulldogs will also welcome quarterback Elijah Staley, who played five games as a senior while completing over 60 percent of his passes for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. His size and
athletic ability contribute to his rank as the 18th-best high school quarterback in the country, according to ESPN.com. Although he is involved in other sports at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., Mullen complimented Staley’s natural throwing ability and smooth passing techniques. “It’s a good day for Mississippi State basketball as well as football, with getting Elijah. He’s a guy, who when you look at his skill set of what he can do, he has size, he has great athletic ability, he’s a very natural thrower and the ball comes out his hands smooth. There’s no wind up or elongated motion. He’s an accurate passer,” Mullen said. “When you take the natural things that he has and get him coached up, you’re going to get a good football player. You’re looking right now at a guy who hasn’t gone through many off seasons. He goes from football right into basketball, to AAU and right back into football. Now he is going to get into a little bit more of a structured training session. He has a chance to be a very special player.” The Bulldog football team has will seek to fill key positions, losing projected second-round draft pick Gabe Jackson to the NFL Draft along with Tyler Russell, LaDarius Perkins and Nickoe Whitley. Mullen said the new signing class has good balance, besides academic concerns that could hinder a small number of the players. With multiple seniors returning to the offensive line, Bulldog fans should be looking out for an explosive offensive line that includes Deion Calhoun, a Restoration Academy
senior and the No. 7 offensive lineman in the state. Mullen said Calhoun has the athleticism that is important to the team’s success. “Deion Calhoun is a guy who we had in camp who is extremely athletic. When you got to watch him play at Restoration Academy, he played at a small football school. One thing you noticed about him is that he’s got the size. He was 6-foot-3 320-plus on his visit here,” he said. “When you have a guy with that kind of thickness and explosiveness, with the athleticism that he has, he is a guy we will really need.” The Dogs also inked defensive lineman Braxton Hoyett and Cory Thomas, and Mullen said both athletes have an opportunity to see playing time next season. “The defensive line is obviously of huge, huge importance to us. When you look at the inside guys we got, Braxton Hoyett and Cory Thomas will be huge for us. Those are guys who are going to have to make immediate impacts. It might not be in game one next year, but it’s going to be in a hurry with four senior defensive tackles on the roster for next season.” Hoyett, who also celebrated his birthday Wednesday, tweeted the reason he picked MSU was because of the Bulldog coaching staff. “I wanna give a shoutout to the best coaches in the nation @ CoachDanMullen @CoachCollins @coachdt48 y’all are the reason I chose this place!” The Bulldogs kick off the 2014 season Aug. 30 against Southern Mississippi in Davis Wade Stadium.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014 | 7
STAT OF THE DAY: BOVADA ONLINE GAMBLING GAVE MISSISSIPPI STATE QUARTERBACK DAK PRESCOTT 33/1 ODDS OF WINNING THE 2014 HEISMAN TROPHY.
COACH’S CORNER
Manning’s legacy misleading to fans
I
f I told you an NFL quarter- say is the answer to that quesback has posted career num- tion is an opinion, and it varies bers of 64,964 yards passing, depending on who you ask. I 491 touchdowns, completed do not think Manning’s perforover 65 percent of his passes mance in the Super Bowl hurt and had a passer rating of 97.2 his legacy much because I was plus five MVP awards, 13 pro not surprised. His lack of success in the bowl appearances and an overall record of 167-73 in 15 seasons, playoffs is the main reason why what would you think of said I picked the Broncos to lose all three games they played this quarterback? One might believe that quar- postseason. They won the first terback to be the greatest of all- two, but in the end Manning time. If not, certainly in the top did not disappoint. He was the accident waitfive of all-time. Well, what if I also told you that same quar- ing to happen like he always is terback has a career record in around this time of year. Dethe playoffs of just 11-12, only spite perhaps the greatest regular won one Super Bowl and actu- season in NFL history and winally came up small in numer- ning two playoff games to get to his third Super ous big games Bowl, Manning when his team When I never had me needed him the think about fooled. most. Would A win against those facts then the greatest the No. 6 Charchange your of the greatest at gers who sneaked perception of the quarterback that position, I think into the playoffs by the luck of the who had all the about guys who, Irish and a win gaudy regular when the going against a Patriots season num- gets tough, could team completely bers? decimated by inThose are lift their team up, jury did not imPeyton Man- put them on their ning’s numbers, shoulders and carry press me. When and that is the the team to victory. it was truly time, Manning folded dilemma NFL like a cheap tent historians, an- Manning is just not in a thunderalysts and fans that guy.” storm, and true have struggled to form he was with for some time now when it comes to try- “Pick Six Peyton” at his finest. I had Manning seventh on ing to rank him all-time. His performance in Super my list of all-time NFL quarBowl XLVIII perhaps compli- terbacks before Sunday’s game. cated things even more, and If you ask me if the Super Bowl some even say it might have loss hurt his legacy, I will tell even hurt his legacy. So where you no because he was not that exactly does Manning stand af- high on the list to begin with. But for many people out ter the Broncos debacle in the there who had him top-three Super Bowl? Well, the first thing I would or better, they really need to
FORREST BUCK Forrest Buck is a senior majoring in kinesiology. He can be contacted at reflectorsports@ gmail.com.
re-evaluate what their criteria for all-time greatness is at that position. If all someone cares about is stats, then fine, they got me, Manning is the greatest or certainly top five. When I think about the greatest of the greatest at that position, I think about guys who, when the going got tough, could lift their team up, put them on their shoulders and carry the team to victory. Manning is just not that guy. When I think about the best of the best to ever play NFL quarterback, I think about Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, John Elway and Tom Brady. Those guys got it done in playoff time. They got it done in the clutch, and they did not wilt beneath the pressure on multiple occasions like Manning. You have to have Manning top-10 all-time just because of his statistics, ability and awards, but hopefully after his performance in Super Bowl XLVIII, everyone now knows Manning in no way, shape or form is anything close to being the greatest anything of all-time.
8 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
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