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MON DAY EDI T ION November 1, 2010 Volume 60 Issue 26
SPORTS
Bulls Extend Losing Streak CHRIS RAHN Sports Editor
This season has been like a broken record for the football team – the defense plays well enough to win, but the offense can’t get the job done. The Bulls (2-6, 1-3 Mid-American Conference) made things happen down the stretch but ultimately fell to Miami (Ohio) (5-4, 4-1 MAC), 21-9. The defense was able to limit the RedHawks’ strong passing, but the offense couldn’t overcome a slow start, which has become a trend for the Bulls. Following defeat, Buffalo is now on a three-game losing streak. “Another disappointing loss,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “We didn’t play well enough to win, we didn’t make the plays when we needed to make the plays… These are tough times, but we’ll fight through it.” It’s hard to win while constantly playing from behind, and after Saturday, the Bulls have been outscored by a total of 61-3 in the first quarter this season. The combination of a stagnant offense, poor punting, and one big turnover led to favorable field position early on for the RedHawks. Miami’s redshirt sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert and freshman wide receiver Nick Harwell took full advantage. With just over seven minutes left in the first quarter, Dysert hit Harwell on a five-yard slant route for a touchdown, giving the RedHawks an early • see FOOTBALL | page 4
Clinton Hodnett /The Spectrum
The Bulls weren’t able to get a win against Miami (Ohio), but Alex Zordich (15) is starting to figure things out.
N EWS
A RT S
Five For Fighting Breast Cancer MEG KINSLEY Photo Editor
Spectrum File Photo
Buses will randomly be asking patrons for their UB IDs.
UB ID Now Required on Stampede AMANDA WOODS Managing Editor
Students have plenty to remember as they board the Stampede for class every day, and now they must add another item to that list – their UB cards. Through a joint initiative by Parking and Transportation Services and University Police, all passengers on campus transportation, including the Stampede and campus shuttles, are required to present a UB Card or affiliate institution badge, guest pass, or event pass upon request. According to Maria Wallace, director of Parking and Transportation Services, student fees pay for UB buses, and students-only buses would improve efficiency and
safety on campus. “There have been complaints during peak hours about standing students…and in fact, some non-students have taken the bus and have been linked to crimes and/ or inappropriate behavior on campus,” Wallace said. According to Dick Linde, Assistant Chief of University Police, approximately five to six times per year, non-students who commit on-campus crimes take UB transportation to campus. Through interviews with perpetrators of campus crimes such as laptop thefts and vehicle break-ins, University Police learned that many of them traveled to campus via the Stampede. Although not all buses will be checked, University • see ID | page 2
“You gotta have hope, ’cause nothing else will save the day.” For many, these Five for Fighting lyrics symbolize years of struggle, hardship, and the survival of loved ones. On Thursday night, Hard Rock Café Niagara Falls celebrated the very first International Pinktober Living Ribbon Ceremony. Over 300 people from both Canada and the U.S. joined together to celebrate breast cancer awareness. “This was very successful for the first time out. We were able to make a human pink ribbon across the entire border,” said Sue Swiatkowski, the sales and marketing manager for the U.S. Niagara Falls Hard Rock Café. “Eventually, we’d love to have two or three lines on the border, and we’re hoping this will grow year after year.” Following the ribbon ceremony, • see HARD ROCK | page 2
Karen Larkin /The Spectrum
John Ondrasik, Five for Fighting’s lead singer brings hope to Hard Rock Café to celebrate breast cancer awareness month.
N EWS
University Heights Meeting Becomes Heated Over Police Presence LAUREN NOSTRO Senior News Editor
Students adorned in Greek letters and University at Buffalo apparel gathered at the Heath Street Block Club meeting last Thursday at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center. The agenda of the meeting, planned over six weeks in advance, intended to discuss a recent rash of crimes in the University Heights district and the lack of jail time given to criminals. However, the turnout of over 100 community members, long-time University Heights residents, and UB
students quickly turned the meeting’s focus to the Oct. 22 assaults on Lisbon Avenue carried out upon students by local teenagers. Brett Berman, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, spoke on behalf of the students in attendance. Berman questioned the system of priority ranking to calls made to local 911 dispatches. Captain David Stabler of Buffalo Police’s E-District explained that priority one calls can involve a person with a gun, assault in progress resulting in physical injuries, burglaries in progress, and other related crimes. Priority two calls can
include violent domestic reports or a burglary that just happened. Priority three calls can include larceny and criminal mischief. However, these were just examples “off the top of [Stabler’s] head.” At the meeting, Berman questioned the initial priority ranking from 211 Lisbon Ave. In response, Stabler incorrectly stated that the call originally came out as a “shots fired” call that was dispatched to Buffalo Police at 12:05 a.m. and that they responded within 30 seconds. To clarify the confusion, Mike DeGeorge, Buffalo Police Depart- Minnesota Ave. Block Club member ment spokesperson, joined the panel
“We have students in our neighborhood being victimized because they’re students”
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to resolve the dispute between the officers. DeGeorge stated that the call moved from a priority three to a priority one call over the course of the night. “I don’t see where there is a problem with Buffalo Police response time,” Stabler said. As fraternity members became frustrated, Berman questioned the reported police response time of 30 minutes to the Lisbon Avenue home and asked Stabler if fights normally went on for half an hour. The question and answer session, • see POLICE | page 4 classifieds — 7
sports — 8
The Spectrum Monday , November 1 , 2010
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volleyball | Women split matches over the weekend continued from page 8
with 25 kills and had a .354 hitting percentage on 48 attacks. The loss to the Falcons was the second time this season that the Bulls have lost to the last-place team in the MAC. Buffalo managed to snap its fivematch losing streak on Saturday with its second win of the season against the RedHawks. Senior outside hitter Marissa Hornbaker led the Bulls in their win with a game-high 13 kills. Buffalo finished with an impressive .240 hitting percentage en route to disposing of Miami, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19.
Freshman outside hitter Christine Fritsche has made strides in the second half of the season. Against the RedHawks, she played a wellrounded game, turning in nine kills, three aces, and 16 digs while hitting .318 for the match. “It was a good team win and we learned that we can be a very good team when you fight from the first point,” said head coach Todd Kress in a press release. “We also learned that trusting and believing in your teammates out on the court goes a long way in being successful.” The Bulls recorded six service aces on the day. The only scare was a 20-14 deficit in the second set, but Hornbaker stepped up to help bring
the Bulls back with three kills in the final eight points. Bulls freshman libero Kelly Svoboda led the team with 16 digs against the Falcons and again on Saturday with 21 against Miami. She also had three service aces on the weekend. Buffalo will return home this weekend to battle MAC East leader Ohio (15-10, 7-5 MAC) and Kent State (10-17, 3-9 MAC). Friday’s match against Ohio is scheduled to start on Friday night at 7 p.m.
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
id | Some students consider the card-checking an inconvenience continued from page 1
Police will select random buses to check for IDs, which is similar to NFTA’s policy of checking for tickets on the rail system. Wallace notes that it is common policy at many universities to show ID for campus services, but she explains that exceptions will be made for those lacking IDs on a case-by-case basis. “Officers will use their discretion in accepting other forms of ID or hearing explanations of why someone does not have their ID,” Wallace said. “For guests or visitors, confirmation of an appointment [or] tickets to an event will be accepted.” Visitors can obtain a guest pass
at the Parking and Transportation office at 102 Spaulding Quadrangle in the Ellicott Complex. Some students consider the card-checking an inconvenience, especially when they are rushing to get to class on time. “It ta kes too long,” said Chelsea Ha le, a sophomore business major. “Too ma ny people have to get on the bus.” Others believe the policy is unfair to students who may forget their IDs and non-students who wish to take advantage of on-campus services. “I understand why they’re doing it, but there might be people who don’t have their IDs [with them] and want to get to campus or people who are not students who use the
libraries,” said Emily De Beer, a senior English major. Despite the student opposition, David P. Urbanek, a lieutenant with University Police, believes that this initiative, although it is still in its infancy, will benefit students in the long run. “You’ve got to keep in mind that the entire university is for the students, whether it’s the faculty who support their efforts to get educated and developed or the students themselves,” Urbanek said. “Having outsiders use the buses to victimize the students is totally contrary for the environment we want to create for all of our students.” E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
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night ended hard rock | The with ‘hope’ continued from page 1
Star 102.5 and the American Cancer Society hosted a free indoor concert at the Hard Rock Café. The show featured Hard Rock National Battle of the Bands winner More Than Me and headliner Five For Fighting. The acoustic set and pink lighting made for an intimate show, and there was standing room only. The floor was crowded with music lovers of all ages. More Than Me, a native Buffalo band, was more than happy to return to the Hard Rock. Last June, these “Ambassadors of Rock” went to London to perform at Hyde Park, opening for music legends Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and Pearl Jam. Although opening for Five For Fighting may seem anticlimactic, it didn’t get to their heads. “Each and every set we gotta celebrate and enjoy and appreciate,” said Ryan Doyle, More Than Me’s lead singer. “No matter how small, no matter how big. Sometimes you’re in the major leagues and you go to London and play for Paul McCartney. Sometimes you’re playing for the two new people that enjoy it. You’ve got to be appreciative.” After 10 years of promoting themselves nationwide, More Than Me is swiftly moving into the spotlight. In addition to winning Ambassadors of Rock Battle of the Bands, their song “Unconditional Truth” received VH1’s Save the Music Foundation “SongoftheYear.com” award. The pop-rock band was recently nominated for the 2010 Buffalo Music Awards, with lead guitarist Joey Nicastro nominated for “best original guitarist.” According to Doyle, the boys will perform in the Hard Rock headliner announcement festival in the Dominican Republic in 2011.
On Thursday night, More Than Me wowed the crowd with their songs, such as “Drag,” “You Make Me,” and “Shoelace.” “More Than Me’s performance last night was great,” said 19 year-old Garrett Shea, a freshman at Villa Maria College. “I had only seen one other show of theirs before. It was cool to get to hear an acoustic set rather than an electric. It’s a cool way of getting a different feel of the music.” While people enjoyed the opening act, they loved the main attraction even more. Five For Fighting took the stage to a roar of applause from the wall-to-wall audience. John Ondrasik, who uses Five For Fighting as his stage name, opened his performance on the piano, singing “World.” Switching to his guitar, he sang hit songs such as “ Superman” and “Chances” before returning back to the piano for “100 Years.” In between songs, Ondrasik took time to interact with the crowd. From talking about the Sabres and cars – specifically Mustangs in reference to his song “’65 Mustang” – to cracking jokes about his songs slipping into the oldies category, Five For Fighting easily won the hearts of the crowd. Near the end of his show, Ondrasik took the time to dedicate a song to the troops and their family members. He sang “Freedom Never Cries” before ending the night a cappella. “Pinktober, lots of survivors here, thought this would be good,” Ondrasik said. “[Hope] is not just a bumper sticker. Thanks for all the supporters here tonight.” “Hope” was the perfect end to the night, combining music and the feeling that pushed so many to celebrate breast cancer awareness. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
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wsoccer | Poor showing this season continued from page 8
State offense was able to penetrate the defensive core and get a total of 12 shots on net. In the second half, McHale made three of the five total saves for the Bulls to end her career. McHale is one of six seniors leaving the team after this season. The Bulls will be saying farewell to Bailey and her sister, Kristen, who plays defense. Defenders Nina Connell
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and Julie Dale along with forward Martina Pettenuzzo also played their final game for the Bulls. Despite looking back on a poor showing this season, thoughts are hopeful that the Bulls will be able to come back and improve next year.
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
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The UB Department of Music presents
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute with Roman Rabinovich, piano and Barry Crawford, flute Friday, November 5, 2010 7:30 pm Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall A mostly contemporary program, to also include the music of Bach and Widor
Tickets: $12/$9/$5 in advance; $20/$15/$8 at the door Info: (716) 645-2921 or www.slee.buffalo.edu
Opinion 716.645.8566
Editorial Board Editor in Chief Andrew Wiktor Managing Editors David Sanchirico, senior Luke Hammill Amanda Woods Editorial Editor Jeff Pelzek News Editors Lauren Nostro, senior. Brendon Bochacki, asst. Amanda Jonas, asst. David Weidenborner, asst. Arts Editors James Twigg, senior Jameson Butler Vanessa Frith, asst. John Hugar, asst. Nicolas Pino, asst. Life Editors Jennifer Harb, senior. Katie Allen, senior. John Connelly, asst. Steve Neilans, asst. Sports Editors Matt Parrino, senior Jacob Laurenti Chris Rahn Brian Josephs, asst. Photo Editors Clinton Hodnett, senior Renee Huo Megan Kinsley. Karen Larkin, asst. Sam Zakalik, asst. Web Editor Adam Cole Copy Editor Meghan Farrell Graphics Designer Aline Kobayashi
Professional Staff Business Manager Debbie Smith Administrative Assistant Helene Polley Advertising Manager Marissa Giarraputo Advertising Designer Christopher Lonzi Creative Directors Jeannette Wiley Chris Caporlingua, interim The views expressed — both written and graphic — in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or spectrum-editorial@buffalo.edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address.
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NOVEMBER 1, 2010 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 26 CIRCULATION: 10,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by 360 Youth. The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100. Telephone: (716) 645-2468. Fax: (716) 645-2766. Copyright 2010 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by Buffalo Newspress PO Box 648, Buffalo, NY 14240-0648.
www.ubspectrum.com/opinion
Williams Fired For a Misunderstanding Apologies are owed, but point is taken Juan Williams, a former senior news analyst for National Public Radio (NPR), was fired from the station after making controversial remarks about Muslims and political correctness in an interview with Fox News political commentator Bill O’Reilly. He was trying to make a larger point about how political correctness subtracts from honesty within media and American culture in general, and he said that our irrational fears, based on cultural differences, should not form a comprehensive anxiety toward a single religious denomination, namely Islam. Administrators at NPR isolated part of his statement, took it out of his intended context, and arranged for his termination from public radio, of which he was notified over the phone. He was not afforded a conversation or airtime to justify his remarks or make an apology. Many believe that NPR’s decision to fire Williams was lacking in good judgment and that his opinion was a perfectly valid and honest point that many Americans are afraid to make. But people were offended by his remarks, and as soon as Williams was fired, their feelings, and the comments themselves, were thrust into the background, and it turned into a media-led game of politics that avoided the original issue. Williams ended up putting off the people he was attempting to defend, and his refusal to apologize for the plausibly offensive statements continues to erode his original point.
In order to be a diplomatic public figure, and in order to back his original statement that was shaded in the best intentions, Williams should apologize to the people that he did offend, despite his overall meaning. Also, NPR should have given Williams the opportunity to issue a statement that clarified his point and/ or apologized for the comments. Now, it seems, Williams is refusing to apologize to spite NPR, and instead, he is continuing to offend the people who were hurt by his comments. And now it is a media war between self-righteous news corporations, while again, Islam is put in the middle of the problem. As a senior news analyst for a national news company, Williams should have known better than to express his opinions in a less than diplomatic fashion. Had Williams put “Some people feel that…” in lieu of “I feel that…” his relationship with NPR would have been saved, and his points would have been completely taken in stride. Though some believe that it is a problem of censorship, Williams was given the chance to make his statement, and now he is suffering the consequences of political media. It is unreasonable to assume that Fox News would not fire one of their analysts for saying something similarly out of character for the network. Despite his intent, his words were offensive to some, and that alone is cause for a public statement of apology. His problem is with NPR and not with the people who felt snubbed by his comments. Now, it seems to be an issue of pride, where only the originally offended are coming short of satisfaction.
Attention Toward Al-Qaeda is Bad for Yemen
Media may unfairly categorize Yemeni people Though formerly an unnoted Middle Eastern state, Yemen has garnered the attention of United States National Security, as recent terrorist threats from within its borders have centered their crosshairs on the United States. Sects of Al-Qaeda in Yemen have recently plotted to ship ingredients for explosives to the United States, where citizens would assist in a terrorist plot against fellow Americans. As the military filters out of Iraq, it seems that Al-Qaeda will become a larger problem, as its boundless organization bleeds into other governmental jurisdictions. Namely, it will create more of a problem for Yemen than it will for Al-Qaeda, as the country could be the next Middle Eastern state that is subject to an American military occupation under the pretext of quelling a terrorist group. Yemen is now inadvertently viewed as a home for terrorists, having hosted terrorist accessories among its citizenship even though their presence was unknown to the Yemeni government. In this way, it becomes easy to associate Yemen with terrorism, and the United States media is not making it easier for Yemen to speak in its own defense. Simply covering the story is detrimental for Yemen, as media readerships will come to their own conclusions based on what many will see as a Yemeni problem. Even subtle psychological nuances of national attribution find their ways into the media, whether it is intended or not.
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For example, in a recent New York Times article explaining the terrorist plot, it mentions Yemen 25 times and Al-Qaeda 14 times. Though almost certainly not a ploy by media to allot blame, the mere repetition of “Yemen,” overshadowing the frequency of “Al-Qaeda,” points to a possible reason for misconception. Americans of Iraqi and Afghani descent already deal with undeserved animosity and unwarranted suspicion. It seems that people of Yemeni descent could suffer the same scrutiny in light of these new terrorist cells in Yemen. Though it is unfair, nationality and religion invariably become associated with people’s actions. A radical that guns down an abortion doctor will unintentionally add to bitterness toward Evangelicals and American ignorance, just as an extremist Yemeni Muslim who plants a bomb will earn points against both Yemen and Islam. And though it should not have to be this way, each person who subscribes to any nationality or creed represents that denomination with every action he or she makes. Sometimes, it seems, we only hear about the bad things that religion does. But the media is caught in the middle of this unfortunate truth as well. In order to present relevant and unbiased news, it must peripherally damage Yemen’s reputation as an innocuous Middle Eastern factor. It is a situation that can only be problematic for Yemen and beneficial to Al Qaeda, as the nation is illusively forced to share blame with its terrorist groups.
THE WORD AROUND CAMPUS Although not quite as raunchy as Generation’s personals once were, these are voices of UB students who have something to say. If you want to be heard, too, write us a blurb online at ubspectrum.com. Some of the wittiest remarks will appear in the paper in no particular order. (Edited for grammar.)
> Dear Pompous Ass, With attitudes toward women like that, you don’t deserve the company of a woman. I hope that with the money you would be spending on a date, you buy a new personality because you sure as hell need one.
> I’m not going to lie. I’ve posted a status or two on
facebook commenting on the fashion fiascos seen on campus (i.e. stockings under shorts in 40 degree weather). But who are we kidding? We love the crazy clothes people wear on campus. They break up the monotony of walking through the Spine on a cold day.
JOHN HUGAR
Asst. Arts Editor
Think For Yourself The elections are coming up, and talking heads are sprouting up on every cable news channel, determined to let us know why their opinion is the only one that matters. All this bickering has led me to one important question. Does anyone think for themselves anymore? The most troubling thing I’ve seen lately is a terrible lack of diversity in opinions among TV personalities. Ask a liberal what they think and they’ll give you a typical answer. Ask a conservative and they’ll give you the typical conservative response. No one seems willing to veer away from standard talking points on any given issue. Take the Juan Williams controversy that exploded last week. You had extreme overreaction on both sides, because both liberals and conservatives wanted to claim their cause. What happened was simple; Juan Williams made a comment about Muslims that was rather careless but, based on the context in which it was uttered, not actually bigoted. His statement that when on an airplane, he fears people in “Islamic garb” does sound racist at first, but he only said it to make a larger point – that prejudice exists. Later on in the interview, he actually condemned prejudice toward Muslims, stating that his airline prejudice was wrong. Of course, that didn’t stop National Public Radio from canning him anyway. If that weren’t enough, they made it seem like he was crazy, saying that his feelings about Muslims should be “between him and his psychiatrist.” A bit of an overreaction for sure. Unfortunately, the conservatives who defended Williams were not much better. Fox News actually called his firing a “stealth jihad,” which may be the single dumbest thing they have ever said. While I disagree with his firing, they had every right to do it, and comparing it to holy war is just ridiculous. So, why did these exaggerations happen? Because neither group thought outside of its own stereotypical way of thinking. Liberals have an unfortunate tendency to get mad about every potentially offensive thing, whether it was actually offensive or not. Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to disagree with anything liberals do or say just because, well, they hate liberals. No one ever wants to come to the middle anymore. We’re in the era of “you stay on your side, I stay on mine.” When the Tea Party movement began, it looked like an exception to that – a true grassroots organization going against party politics. Those days are long gone, as the Republicans have taken over the Tea Party, and now their official goal is to remove Obama from office in 2012. It’s a shame that what could’ve been an honest, independent movement has merely become another source of partisan shouting. America is a terribly divisive place right now, but that doesn’t mean we have to be. We don’t have to agree with everything liberals or conservatives say just because that’s how we identify. It is up to us to come to our own conclusions on the issues of the day, even when people who think like us disagree. The divisive nature of American politics will not go away until we cease to think in terms of party lines and learn to think for ourselves. When we do that, we can get back to having what we need now more than ever: honest, thoughtful debate.
> I wish I could study abroad longer. Why can’t education be free?! E-mail: john.hugar@ubspectrum.com
The Spectrum Monday , November 1 , 2010
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police | Police reaction questioned continued from page 1
which was intended to bring the community together, temporarily intensified when Stabler responded to the questions raised by Berman. “Listen Brett, I understand what your point is. I understand that you want to show that we weren’t responsive enough to what happened at 211 Lisbon,” Stabler said. “But I’m going to tell you what [was] going on at 211 Lisbon. You guys were having a house party. You should not have been having a house party.” Stabler accused the fraternity of victimizing itself and continued speaking over the applause from other community members. “When you didn’t let [the assailants] in because they didn’t want to pay your cover charge, a fight ensued,” Stabler said. “That’s what happened over there. Don’t paint yourselves as victims. You’re creating a problem in that neighborhood and you [were] victimized because of what you were doing at the house.” Panel members alleged that these “illegal house parties” are hurting the community. However, a resident of 215 Lisbon Ave. supported the fraternity, stating that its members always alert their
neighbors of any parties they host. Additionally, the Lisbon resident stated the parties end by 1 a.m. out of respect for neighbors. “There is never music being played, they clean up after themselves, they are very respectful,” said the Lisbon Avenue resident, who did not mention her name. “I can’t speak for any of the other neighbors.” A parent of one of the fraternity brothers who lived at 211 Lisbon Ave. voiced his respect for the Buffalo Police force but became irritated by allegations made against residents of the house where the fight broke out. “In terms of the calls that were made to 911, what was said earlier about the original 11:50 p.m. call [that the fight was over] was an outright lie,” said the parent, who also did not reveal his name. “It’s clear that you don’t have enough staff…When you blame the victims, when you claim these kids were at fault for having a party… if you call that street, you will find that those neighbors…have the utmost respect [for these boys]” According to the parent, the fight turned into a 100-person brawl involving around 30 local teenagers and around 60 or 70 students. There were two additional parties on Lisbon Avenue that evening, and other
students ran down the street to help. “Even neighbors got involved to protect these kids,” the parent said. “My son carried kids back to the house [over his shoulder], where if he didn’t, [they] would probably be dead today. These kids risked life and limb selflessly, maybe foolishly, but they did. And when you blame the victim, it’s akin to blaming a woman wearing a tight dress for getting raped.” Throughout the meeting, debates arose between longtime University Heights residents, who were frustrated with the amount of drinking and house parties in the area, and UB students, who felt disrespected at the meeting. “We have students in our neighborhood being victimized because they’re students,” said a member of the Minnesota Avenue Block Club. “These are kids that are walking to school being attacked by kids who don’t live in our neighborhood. You can dial 911 for help and then you can wait anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. You might be laying there dead, you might be beaten up, you might be held up with a gun.” Questions arose regarding the response time of 911 calls to the Buffalo Police Department. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, who was on the panel, recommended that community
members that attend these meetings contact Commissioner Peter Vito of Central Police Services. “We’re not trying to pass the buck, but we need to fix and improve the system so that police can be dispatched more effectively and can respond to these calls more quickly,” Brown said. The panel included Captain Mike Garrity of NFTA Transit, Chief of NFTA George Dast, Officer Tom Losi of NFTA Transit, Buffalo City Councilwoman Bonnie Russell of the University District, Assistant District Attorney of Erie County Patrick Shanahan, Stabler, Chief of Detectives Dennis Richard, First Deputy Commissioner Byron C. Lockwood, and Brown. Residents addressed the “revolving door” situation of criminals who have made repeated offenses in the area. Mayor Brown gave statistics to show that crime has actually decreased in the area. “I know that there is a perception of a rash of crimes in the University Heights area, but when we look at robberies, [they] are less than they’ve been since 2006,” Brown said. “Assaults are less than they’ve been since 2006. Burglaries, larcenies, unauthorized use of vehicles have all been less. There is a perception
of crime, but the real numbers are actually less in University Heights [from past years.]” Community members also raised issues regarding city curfew times, unemployment rates in the area, and overall police presence, among other issues. Russell hopes an arrangement can be made between the Buffalo Police Department, NFTA Transit Officers, and University at Buffalo Police throughout the University Heights district. “You see the number of people in here who are students,” Russell said. “We want a committee set up [between UB and NFTA] with a few residents involved throughout the entire district to see if they can’t just drive down Main Street, Winspear and Bailey but [also] take two minutes to go in and out of the side streets. A lot of this has to do with police presence.” UB police allegedly rejected an invitation by Russell to attend a preliminary meeting to discuss a coalition between the police forces to increase police presence in the area. Russell ended the meeting by passing out petitions to have a meeting with the three police forces to find a solution for the University Heights area. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
msoccer | Small fight broke out continued from page 8
half was very strong,” Astudillo said. “It was our best in a long time – we played well. We both defended and attacked very well.” The relentless offensive attack of the Bulls helped them head into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Buffalo outshot the Owls 12-4 in the first half alone. The Bulls were able to keep the ball on their opponent’s side of the field for the majority of the half,
as they were constantly threatening. A huge reason for the success in the first half was the play of senior defender Casey Derkacz. Astudillo was very pleased with his play. “Casey was formidable in the first half,” Astudillo said. “Not only was he defending well, but he also did a great job starting our attacks. He was just solid.” Derkacz also assisted on the Bulls’ only goal of the game. The goal came in the 33rd minute from junior forward Mike Unwin. It was Unwin’s
team-leading fifth goal of the year. Unwin almost outshot Florida Atlantic by himself, but his 11 shots were one short of the Owls’ 12. The game was a physical battle that saw plenty of fouls for both sides. Florida Atlantic recorded 15 fouls, while the Bulls had 13. There were also two red cards given out after a heated altercation in the 66th minute. The Owls were called for a foul when Buffalo freshman midfielder
Richard Craven was knocked to the ground. Despite the call, an Owls player continued playing and kicked Craven in the face with the ball. This caused the players on the field to start a small fight, resulting in red cards for both teams. The victory was huge for the Bulls, as they are preparing for the conference tournament. “We know every game is important at this time of the year,” Astudillo said. “We keep on getting better. We
are learning how to win the close games. There is so little margin for error at this point in the season.” The Bulls’ final game of the regular season is at 7:30 p.m. at UB Stadium on Friday night against the Western Michigan Broncos (8-7-2, 3-2-0 MAC). The game has major playoff implications, as the teams are currently tied for second place in the conference standings behind the nation’s best team, Akron. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
football | Deficit too much to overcome continued from page 1
7-0 lead. The turning point in the game, however, came late in the second half. Bulls freshman quarterback Alex Zordich fumbled the ball while trying to extend a play to convert on third-and-long. The RedHawks recovered the fumble near midfield with just over two minutes left in the half. A couple of plays later, Dysert
threw a pass to the back of the end zone, giving Harwell a chance to make a play. Harwell reeled it in with one hand for a 29-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left in the half, extending Miami’s lead to 14. On the following kickoff, Buffalo junior wide receiver Ed Young fielded a squib kick and appeared to take it 68 yards to the house, giving the Bulls life before halftime. But a booth review overturned the call on the field, ruling that Young stepped
out of bounds and nullifying the touchdown. “I’m not usually one that’s lost for words, but this is hard to put in words, in terms of what we’re experiencing right now,” Quinn said. In his second career start, Zordich was able to lead the Bulls offense into threatening situations in the second half, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Down 14-3 in the third quarter, Zordich and the Bulls offense capitalized
off of a nine-yard punt by the RedHawks. After taking over inside Miami territory, Zordich finished off the drive by running it in for a touchdown from 12 yards out. A missed extra point by senior kicker A.J. Principe left the Bulls trailing 14-9. The pass-happy RedHawks answered with their first rushing touchdown in the last four games, and the Miami lead increased to 21-9 in the fourth quarter. When it looked as though
the Bulls were done, the defense stepped up and made one more big play. Senior safety Domonic Cook intercepted a Dysert pass in Miami territory with seven minutes to go. Zordich led the Bulls inside the 15-yard line, but the poor play of his offensive line stifled the drive. On a 4th-and-10, Zordich was swarmed by the Miami pass rush and was unable to get a throw off, taking his fifth sack of the day. “[The RedHawks] did a good job today bringing some pressure,” Zordich said. “There are no excuses, though. We just have to keep with our assignments and just work for what we know we can do. We’ll get this thing going.” Despite the loss, Zordich gave the Bulls offense a breath of fresh air in the second half. He completed 16 of 33 pass attempts for 210 yards and didn’t throw an interception. Quinn was impressed with the development of his freshman quarterback. “We saw some things out of our quarterback situation,” Quinn said. “I think we can pretty much see him continue developing and continue leading this offense. He’s a very knowledgeable young man.” Senior kicker John Rachuna made a 52-yard field goal in the third quarter, the longest of his career. The kick was the longest in the MAC era for the Bulls. Cook’s interception in the fourth quarter was his sixth of the season, which is tied for the most in college football. It also marks the fifth straight game in which he has been involved in a turnover. This week, the Bulls will travel to Athens, Ohio for a Thursday night game against the Ohio Bobcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPNU. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
Arts & Life
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A Fairytale Revolution
KATIE MERTENS
Staff Writer
More to Buffalo fashion
NICOLAS PINO Asst. Arts Editor
A Feminine Take on Fall Trends
Grade: B
Fable 3 takes a hint from the Beatles and starts a revolution. Its stunning open-world environment and rich plot puts Steve Jobs’ definition of a “revolution” to shame. Fable 3 is all about personalization from start to finish, and it doesn’t fail to deliver. Before even leaving the castle training grounds, players will make decisions that will play a vital role in the latter half of the game. One such decision is the choice between sacrificing the protagonist’s childhood sweetheart or a group of innocent civilians who are under scrutiny by the king of Albion. The current situation for the protagonist is complicated since the ruler of Albion is none other than his malevolent brother. Atrocities like JENNIFER HARB and ASAL NASSIR Senior Life Editor and Staff Writer
Cupid’s arrow sometimes has to endure a seven-hour car ride to hit the right target. Many UB students endure longdistance relationships. Sometimes, the distance makes relationships better, while other times it causes them to fall apart. To avoid crumbling under the pressure, many couples must take special action to make sure the physical distance doesn’t translate into emotional separation. Unfortunately, for a junior finance major who asked to remain anonymous, this was precisely the case. His girlfriend went to school three hours away, which ultimately resulted in the ending of their relationship. “I found it hard because there’s no balance. You need the physical and emotional aspects to be balanced,” the junior said. “With long distance relationships, it turns into either one or the other. There’s never a steady flow of both.” Others believe that lots of communication can easily bridge the
Fable 3 weaves an enchanting narrative, putting players in the seat of power as the king of Albion.
the one the player has just experienced can no longer be tolerated, and thus the hero’s quest to overthrow his own flesh-in-blood begins. The scope of this game is absolutely massive. Albion is never without somewhere to go or something to see, as the player transverses a variety of locations in a quest to rally an army to aid the rebellion. Sadly, the picturesque landscape is marred by the multitude of bugs that
interfere with the game’s natural beauty. Besides the hiccups in frame rate and temporary lapses in the enemy AI, the gameplay in Fable 3 is like none other. A sparkling golden path leads the player from objective to objective, which at times is both a blessing and a curse. Without the guidance of the in-game navigational system, finding some of the quest’s more remote
Admiring From Afar
Michelle Jettoo / The Spectrum
Long distance relationships can be tough on young adults, but there are ways to cope with the hardships.
physical gap. “We text and [Blackberry message] all the time,” said Nicole Gossert, a senior early childhood health and human services major. “We always know exactly what the other is doing throughout the day.” Gossert, whose boyfriend of three years attends UB, must deal with a long-distance romance during the summer since they live 90 minutes
away from each other. She admits that maintaining the long-distance relationship, even for a short amount of time, isn’t necessarily the simplest task. “It’s a lot harder because we have to sacrifice a lot of time,” Gossert said. “When we visit each other, we’re together for the whole weekend without any breaks. It can get frustrating.”
A Rocking Halloween Eve JAMES TWIGG
Senior Arts Editor
You don’t need costumes, candy, or cups of beer to have a good time on Halloween. Sometimes, all you need is a little rock. On Saturday night, the streets were alive with the constant stream of costumed college students. Ranging from the simple Batman to the ironic slutty angel, alter egos were in abundance. The spectacle of the night, however, wasn’t found in the masked crowds roaming the roads. The true entertainment lay within the dingy and dimly lit bar of Broadway Joe’s on Main Street. Within the confines of the tiny venue, the five-piece band known as Autopunch anxiously awaited its chance to take to the stage. When the time came and the band members finally donned their instruments – and their masks in recognition of the holiday – Autopunch gave the crowd
5
Courtesy of Lionhead Studios
items would be near impossible. However, the game randomly manages to confuse itself, leading the player away from objectives. Missions in the game vary greatly in length, complexity, and level of fun. One quest may consist of a monotonous delivery mission, while the next puts the player in the middle of a virtual Dungeons and Dragons • see FABLE | page 6
In a society where texting has become more common than making a phone call, it may be easy to misjudge what one’s boyfriend or girlfriend says. Therefore, many students opt for visual contact methods such as Skype. Jennifer Daily, a first year medical student, is going to school 10 hours away from her boyfriend in Chicago. “We do things together like watching a movie at the same time, or we do our homework while the web-cam is turned on,” Daily said. “We actually feel that we are together.” Other couples say that communication is key to maintaining a long-distance relationship. “Ta lk about your f ut ure together,” said Carissa Uschold, a licensed clinical social worker. “You need to be working toward a common goal.” It may be a daunting topic for some couples, but having an ultimate goal and a general timeline may help keep the relationship alive. Uschold also encouraged students to write notes and schedule visits, if possible. • see LONG-DISTANCE | page 6
Autopunch entertained attendees at Broadway Joe’s on Saturday night with their rocking performance and musical skill.
a performance that showed off the sheer skill that each member brings and the level of enjoyment they have while playing. Autopunch hails from the Queen City and consists of five members. Dan Burkhardt spouts lyrics as the band’s lead singer, Tom Bowers and Dan Wallace make up the band’s guitarists, Luke Hammill lays down the bassline, and Dan Sheppard runs the sticks as Autopunch’s drummer. Together, the individual members of the group are able to craft a jam band of impressive proportions, capable of rocking alongside the best Buffalo has to offer. The band kicked off its set with a new number titled, “This Harsh World.” The song radiated with energy and set the precedent for the rest of the show. Every song boomed through the speakers and • see AUTOPUNCH | page 6
Photo: Clinton Hodnett / The Spectrum
Fall 2010 is upon us, which means that there is a whole new season of fashion dos and don’ts for females. For some, it signifies that it’s time to update a barely-there summer wardrobe, while others simply consider it a time to re-wear fall and winter items from previous years. While nothing beats wearing cozy sweats to class, there are ways to look cute and presentable this season. It’s true that Buffalo turns into a frigid snow-globe for most of the months when students attend classes. So, when deciding what to wear, whether it is to class, downtown, or out on Main Street, most try to pick something that will keep them warm. One highly over-worn item is leggings, which, needless to say, may not look flattering on everyone. One’s flaws are left out in the open and not covered like they should be. I’ll let you use your imagination. While I don’t want to be seen as a legging “hater,” there are definitely ways to be comfortable while still demonstrating a more flattering, less generic look. Personally, I go for comfort. I love to dress up and play with fashion, but most of the time, I’m too tired or rushed to care too much about how fashionable my outfit is. Comfy looks aren’t exactly on the runway this season, but one can still look presentable with yoga pants or jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweater or shirt. Although everyone on campus seems to wear these common staples, Uggs and moccasins will always be warm and comfortable footwear. When looking to fall and winter trends, however, there are many options to update your wardrobe this season. Chunky knits, camel-colored pieces, aviator jackets, sweater dresses, and faux fur are some current fashion trends. Lace, leopard accessories, and plaid have also made their way into fall fashion. Designer Diane von Furstenberg focuses many of her designs this season on chunky sweaters, cardigans and animal prints. Other designers such as Rebecca Taylor and Derek Lam focus on faux fur, and Taylor has also featured plenty of leopard print in many of her current trends. Some students who never thought they would try the new fall fashion trends have found themselves inspired. “I was never really a big fan of lace before this season. It always reminded me of the costumes I’d wear to my dance recitals when I was little, but now I love it,” said Victoria Zajac, a senior psychology major. “I’m also finding that I dress a lot edgier this fall by incorporating more black into my outfits.” Some popular evening trends feature sequins pieces, plenty of black, more lace, and handbags with chained straps. Other pieces have found their way into many female students’ repertoire. Red accessories, extreme wedged shoes, over-the-knee boots, and blazers are popular and functional, especially when they can dress up an outfit and keep you warm at the same time. E-mail: kmertens@buffalo.edu
The Spectrum Monday , November 1 , 2010
6
fable | Game is compatable with Xbox Live continued from page 5
tabletop setting. After the revolution’s conclusion, the game shifts into an entirely different vein, putting the hero in a position of power as it makes him the king or queen of Albion. The hero must now decide to either fulfill the contractual promises made throughout his journey or to exploit his subjects for personal gain. Plus, all of these decisions must be made with the
looming threat of a war that will engulf the kingdom before the game’s conclusion. The in-game audio provides a much-needed epic ambience to accompany Fable 3’s incredibly immersive gameplay. Over 80 voice actors contributed hundreds of hours of dialogue to make every conversation, every comment, and every snide remark filled with the wry British humor that the series has become so delightfully entrenched with.
While the possibilities in Fable 3 are just short of limitless, the main story of the game can be beaten in just a few short hours. The main quest, however, is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Subplots such as the hero settling down, owning property, and becoming the next “Lute Hero” are just a few of the many activities that will keep the player enthralled for hours in the land of Albion. Thankfully, the player won’t have to wander this massive world
alone, since man’s best friend will stay faithfully by his side throughout the relatively short endeavor. However, if a virtual canine companion isn’t exactly the most attractive option, players can utilize Xbox Live to meet up with other revolutionary heroes and quest through Albion together. While this game is a successor to Lionhead’s original hit, it has evolved in such a way that it can feel like the original is ancient history. However, the ideas that
drove the series in its beginnings still play a dominant role in the franchise. Fable 3 follows the proverbial two steps forward, one step back mindset. Ruling the kingdom has to be one of the greatest feelings in gaming history, though the brevity of this game will keep it locked behind the “Demon Door” of success. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
autopunch | Bowers and Hammill gave the liveliest performances continued from page 5
showcased Autopunch’s level of skill with their instruments. “They always put on a good live show,” said Kevin Sheehan, a
senior business and finance major. “They don’t really make many mistakes, and they always bring a lot of energy.” Of all the members in the band, though, it was Bowers and Hammill
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that gave the liveliest performances. During the set, it was almost as if Bowers was being played by the guitar and not the other way around. The more exhilarating the notes played were, the more animated and entertaining Bowers would become. Similarly, Hammill was unafraid to jump, dance and groove in time with his bass. With every movement made, Hammill added that much more to Autopunch’s stage performance and overall appeal. Unfortunately for the band, the set fell on only a few eyes and ears. The crowd consisted of a small handful of fans and a few regulars at the bar. “[The worst part was] the lack of a crowd there,” Sheehan said. “Broadway Joe’s is a small venue so it really wasn’t the best place to see them.” The inconsiderate staff members
who were more interested in intimidating the fans than actually making sure they had a safe and fun time only made this worse. “The bouncers were awful. I think the personnel at the facility was a little unfriendly and a little unwelcoming,” said Chris Zonneville, a junior exercise science major. Despite the small crowd and unsettling employees, Autopunch still gave the show full effort and failed to let up even for a second. From beginning to end, the band pumped out song after song and made sure to have fun while doing it. This was never as evident as it was during Autopunch’s cover of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” During the cover, the band was in full swing, with each of its members becoming more and more enslaved by the metal. The only
downside to the performance was Burkhardt’s vocals. The singer’s voice was a bit too soft for a Metallica cover. This was easily forgiven, though, as the band doesn’t traditionally play metal music, and living up to Metallica singer James Hetfield is no simple feat. All in all, Autopunch’s show was one of the best local sets Buffalo has seen in a long time. At the same time, however, it was also one of the most underappreciated. With the music scene continuing to spit out cookie-cutter bands, it is shameful that a lack of attention is given to a band as original and genuinely talented as Autopunch. Full disclosure: Luke Hammill is a Managing Editor for The Spectrum. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
long-distance
NOV. 30
Free services available at 120 Richmond Quadrangle continued from page 5
so we can have a better life.”
Krista Hoff, a freshman biology major, tried to focus on the impermanence of the situation.
Sometimes, couples need to be creative to keep the flame burning. Hand written letters tend to be more meaningful than e-mails or text messages, so some couples may utilize “love letter day,” which happens on the 10th of every month.
“I know our situation is temporary,” Hoff said. “I need to go through school and get my education
Uschold reminded students that free counseling services are offered. Students can visit the counseling services at 120 Richmond Quadrangle in the Ellicott Complex to obtain more information or speak with a counselor. E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
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Bulls Clinch Spot in Conference Tournament ZACH FILZEN Staff Writer
Brandon Freeland /The Spectrum
Tom Beckvermit (2) and the men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament with a win over Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon at UB Stadium.
The men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament with its victory on Sunday afternoon at UB Stadium. The Bulls (7-8-1, 3-2-0 MAC) topped Florida Atlantic (5-7-2, 2-3-0 MAC) 1-0 to move into a second-place tie in the conference standings. The game was a physical, defensive-minded battle, which saw Buffalo dominate the first half and hold off a late Owl surge in the second to come away with the win. The victory puts the Bulls in great position in the standings with
one game remaining in the regular season. Buffalo is going into every game with the mindset that every match is going to be a battle. Head coach John Astudillo knows how important each performance is and is preparing his players to take the field with a higher level of focus each day. “We knew this game was going to be a battle,” Astudillo said. “We are already in the playoff mindset.” The effort in the first half was a huge reason that the Bulls were able to pick up the victory on Sunday afternoon. “Our performance in the first
MEGAN LEACH Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team traveled to Kent, Ohio hoping to end the season with its first Mid-American Conference win of the season. Luck was not on the Bulls’ side. The Bulls (1-16-2, 0-9-2 MAC) fell to the Kent State Golden Flashes (4-10-4, 3-7-1 MAC) by a score of 7-1 in their final game of the year. Buffalo ended its season on a 15-game winless streak to add to the disappointment. “It’s a tough place to play at,” said Bulls head coach Michael Thomas. “[We] started well, then Kent State scored one, and then, frankly, the wheels fell off the bus. We couldn’t get back on the bus, and we couldn’t get back on track.” It didn’t take Kent State very long to take control of the match. At the 6:10 mark of the first half, Kent State defender Vanessa Salerno put the Golden Flashes on the board. Ten minutes later, Salerno would get the second of her three goals of the contest. The early barrage of shots disoriented the Bulls and sent them into a downward spiral. At the end of the first half, Bulls goalkeeper Danielle Quigley had already allowed four goals on six shots, prompting a change in net at
halftime. When the Bulls returned to the field in the second half, senior goalkeeper Courtney McHale took control of the net. A promising start to the second half came on an unassisted goal from Bulls sophomore forward Taylor Thompson. The tally marked Thompson’s second goal of the season, as she managed to dribble past the tight Kent State defense to score from 12 yards away. After finally making something positive happen, the Golden Flashes thrashed the Bulls momentum only a minute later. Salerno scored her third goal of the night to restore Kent State’s four-goal lead over the Bulls. Although this season has been tough to swallow for Thomas and his team, he looks to start turning things around next year. “Obviously the results are disappointing,” Thomas said. “What we have to do now is look at it and know we have an extremely young team with young players. Now we have to build off that and turn the playing time into results for next year.” The game was extremely physical, with a total of 38 fouls. Twenty of the fouls went against Buffalo. The physical play was just one of the many factors that led to the struggle for the Bulls. Senior midfielder Lindsey Bailey played well in the loss and carried the Bulls offense for most of the match. She posted four of the eight Buffalo shots, and two of them were on net. While the team struggled on offense, the defensive struggle was just as apparent. The prying Kent • see WSOCCER | page 2
• see VOLLEYBALL | page 2
E-mail: brian.josephs@ubspectrum.com
Alex McCrossen /The Spectrum
Bulls End Streak on the Road Senior Sports Editor
When October began, the expectations swirled around the volleyball team after it won its conference opener. One month later, the team is in the Mid-American Conference cellar and looking for anything to turn its season around. The Bulls (15-13, 3-9 MAC) split a pair of matches over the weekend. They fell to the last-place team in the MAC, the Bowling Green Falcons (8-18, 2-9 MAC), 3-1
on Friday, but they bounced back to shut out the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (9-16, 4-8 MAC) 3-0 on Saturday night. Against the Falcons, Buffalo was overwhelmed by the Bowling Green attack. The Falcons recorded a .278 hitting percentage in the match as opposed to the .194 percentage posted by the Bulls. Freshman outside hitter Dana Musil totaled 10 kills for the match but also led the team with seven errors. Errors were a problem throughout the match, as the Bulls seemed out of sync. Leading the Bulls in kills Karen Larkin /The Spectrum
left: Abby Niekamp (15) and company salvaged the weekend by breaking a five-match losing streak against Miami (Ohio).
Fair Game
was junior middle blocker Abby Niekamp, who recorded 12 in the match. She also led the team with a .571 hitting percentage and had one of three Bulls service aces. Down 2-1 in the fourth set, the Bulls responded with a sense of urgency and went up 7-0 early. Buffalo would extend that lead to 10-3 before the Falcons came roaring back to tie the game at 19 apiece. Bowling Green freshman Paige Penrod closed out the Bulls single-handedly by recording six kills on the final six points for the Falcons to win the match. She finished
• see MSOCCER | page 4
Lindsey Bailey (17) and five other seniors said goodbye after the season finale.
MATTHEW PARRINO
Asst. Sports Editor
The past few years have really sparked my interest in the NFL. In last season’s Super Bowl, the underdog Saints defeated Peyton Manning’s Colts in grand fashion. Two years before that, the Giants beat the undefeated Patriots with one of the most remarkable drives of the decade. These finales are some of the most memorable of this generation. However, people still find something wrong when the underdog and the favorite are indistinguishable. This occurred to me while watching SportsCenter one afternoon. I was caught off guard when one of the commentators said that the usual elite teams should start playing better football within the upcoming weeks. So does this mean that less popular teams like the Rams must continue rolling in mediocrity while sports analysts enjoy being right every single week? This season marks the first time in the past three years that a team hasn’t gone undefeated through week nine. And the Kansas City Chiefs were the league’s last team to lose this season after starting 3-0. Parody is what makes the Sunday spectacle more interesting to me this year. Teams like the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are now in the same position as the previously struggling Chicago Bears and Houston Texans. Plus, the Rams are finally getting some shine after years of being sub-par. This is good for a number of reasons. For one, bandwagon jumpers are exposed. If a Colts fan suddenly became a Rams fan, there’s something wrong. Secondly, the importance of each game increases. The NFL is the world’s highest level of competition in football, so it would make sense to see hard-nosed action in every game. At this point of the season, the games will have greater value, with more of the 32 teams vying for supremacy instead of the usual eight. Peyton Manning is third in the league in passing yards, yet his Colts were beaten by the strong offensive play of the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars this season. Phillip Rivers is leading the league in passing yards, but his pass-oriented team is still 3-4 and struggling. So has the public become too accustomed to the usual st a nd i ng s i n t he N F L? Probably. The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t won 10 games in the past three seasons combined, yet they are 5-2. The Oakland Raiders, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2002, actually have a chance to go past the regular season if they can improve. So it’s not too surprising to see the public shocked at the moderate successes of these teams. This season may see the upperechelon teams take the backburner while the lesser known teams attempt to start a new era in a new decade. Few people expected the Detroit Lions to rout the Rams 44-6 in week 5. Even fewer expected the Arizona Cardinals to beat the Saints 30-20 with no offensive touchdowns that same week. Like they say, “This is why we play the game.”
Forgettable Season Finally Ends Bulls Drop Last 15 Games, Winless in Conference
BRIAN JOSEPHS