October 2011 Volume V Issue 1
Beneath the Surface When skin becomes the story by Kevin Dukovic, Jacob Lauing and Nora Rosati additional reporting by Mira Ahmad and Emy Kelty
Extraordinary Gifts Town & Country Village (near The Cheese House)
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Staff View
Staff List Editors-in-Chief Emy Kelty Nathan Norimoto
Managing Editors Mira Ahmad Sam Borsos John Dickerson Alan Lamarque Photo Editor Paige Borsos
Copy Editors Anne Hildebrand Hilda Huang Columnists Peter Dennis Brennan Miller Shannon Scheel
Business Managers Kevin Kannappan Jacob Lauing
Staff Scotty Bara Emma Beckstrom Charlotte Biffar Spencer Drazovich Kevin Dukovic Marina Foley Michelle Friedlander Sapir Frozenfar Jonny Glazier Nina Kelty Austin Poore Nora Rosati Rohit Ramkumar Alana Schwartz Grant Shorin Nikolai Solgaard Sammy Solomon Michael Strong Annie Susco
Adviser Ellen Austin
The Viking Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-329-3837 Email contact: vikingeds@gmail.com Letters to the editor The Viking, a sports magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Advanced Magazine Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Viking is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Advertising in The Viking The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with The Viking, please contact the The Viking by email at vikingeds@ gmail.com or call 650-329-3837 for more information. Printing Services The Viking is printed six times a year by Fricke-Parks Press in Fremont, Calif.
The Viking weighs in on the benefit of diversity in sports On campus, we pride ourselves on being an especially diverse and tolerant campus. With a student body made up of all different ethnicities and cultures we make an effort to be inclusive and non-discriminatory. Society, however, is not always as open-minded. On campus student athletes are defined as two different people on and off the field by the things like their religion, culture, family traditions, or the color of their skin. The Viking believes that for many athletes, sports provide an escape from the barriers built by these identities. People come together on the field, the court, in the pool, or on the track to work towards a common goal. You have to have an immediate trust with the people you play sports with and there is no time to doubt one another. This trust is built upon an understanding that you and your teammates, no matter what differences you may have, have to work as a team, as one unit. This understanding allows athletes of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds to forget what differentiates them and embrace their shared passion for the sport.
Hello Readers,
This issue contains the controversial topic of stereotyping based on skin color and how it plays out in the lives of Paly athletes. While for some the issue may seem non-existent, it is a daily struggle for others. If you
have any comments regarding the story please comment on our website vikingsportsmag. com or email us at vikingeds@ gmail.com. We wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and GO VIKINGS!
From, Emy and Nathan editor-in chiefs On the cover, top left to bottom right: Tully Mcalister (‘14), Mallorie Ngyuen
(‘13), Nick Ortiz (‘12), Hannah Bundy (‘14), Nick Forlenza (‘12), Katie Foug (‘15), B.J. Boyd (‘12), Josie Butler (‘13), Maddie Kuppe (‘12), Ryan Oshima (‘12), Erin Chang (‘13), Key’Chaundre Hill (‘12), Jason Liang (‘12), Kalen Gans (‘12), Mira Ahmad (‘12), Serena Yee (‘13), Gabriel Landa (‘12), Emilee Osagiede (‘12), Maryssa Sklaroff (‘13), Moises Aguilar Henriquez (‘12), Alvin Kim (‘13), Andre Gouyet (‘12) , Justin Robinson (‘12), Skylar Dorosin (‘12), Corso Rosati (‘12), Gerrit Van Zyll (‘12), Tyrus Whitehead (‘13), Charlotte Alipate (‘14), Holger Thorup (‘12), Sara Billman (‘13), E.J. Floreal (‘13), Lindsay Black (‘12)
cover design by Emy Kelty cover photos by Scotty Bara, Paige Borsos, and Grant Shorin.
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The Viking
The Lineup November 2011 KICK OFF
COVER
3 | STAFF VIEW
24 | BENEATH THE SURFACE
Volume V, Issue two of six
10 | 10 QUESTIONS WITH SKYLAR DOROSIN
Shedding light on ethnicity and discrimination in the Paly athletic community. by Kevin Dukovic, Jacob Lauing and Nora Rosati additional Reporting by Mira Ahmad and Emy Kelty
11 | INSIDE THE MIND OF JOSH GOLDSTEIN 12 | WRAPUPS
p.12
WRAPUPS
Some closeout information about the end of the fall season. design by Mira Ahmad
p.24
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Shedding light on ethnicity and discrimination in the Paly athletics community. by Kevin Dukovic Jacob Lauing and Nora Rosati additional reporting by Mira Ahmad and Emy Kelty
Pictures (clockwise from top left) by Grant Shorin, Jonny Glazier, photo illustration by Emy Kelty.
p.19 HANSEN’S HEROES
The Viking goes in-depth on how scout teams contribute on all levels of football. by Spencer Drazovich and Jonny Glazier
Pictures (clockwise from top) by Grant Shorin. Scotty Bara, Scotty Bara
p.40 POWER 10 A glimpse into the life of a crew member and Paly student.
by Grant Shorin and Sammy Solomon
p.33
p.44
An overview of the ultimate Frisbee club and the culture of Frisbee at Paly.
The do’s and don’ts of athletic apparel according to students across campus.
THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME
by Nikolai Solgaard
ULTIMATE WORKOUT SWAG
by Emma Beckstrom
FEATURES
38| PLAYING THROUGH INJURIES
A look at Andrew Luck’s NFL future, starting with next year’s draft. by Austin Poore
40| POWER 10
16 | SUCK FOR LUCK
19| HANSEN’S HEROES
The Viking goes in-depth on how scout teams contribute on all levels of football. by Spencer Drazovich and Jonny Glazier
22| TOP 5 SPORTS MOVIES
A look a the best sport movies out there, according to The Viking staff.
30| RUNNING AFTER DARK
Examining the physical and psychological aspects of ultramarathon running. by Hilda Huang
33| THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME
An overview of Paly’s ultimate Frisbee club and the culture of Frisbee at Paly.
36| TEAM MOMS
The role team moms play in Paly athletics followed by a survey of athletes’ favorite post-game snacks. by Nina Kelty
At what point do injuries prevent athletes from playing their games? by Scotty Bara A glimpse into the life of a crew member and Paly student. by Grant Shorin and Sammy Solomon
COLUMNS
8 | VIKING TRIES
The Viking tries Malibu Grand Prix and mini-golf. by Peter Dennis
43| SHANNON SAYS
Shannon says make a splash on senior night! Shannon shares some light on ways you can shed your senior night woes. by Shannon Scheel
46| THE LAST WORD
Meeting professional athletes may not be as straightforward as you might think. by Brennan Miller
DESIGN PIECE
44 | ULTIMATE WORKOUT SWAG The do’s and don’ts of athletic apparel. by Emma Beckstrom
Intro
POP CULTURE GRID Kyle Stewart (Baseball ‘13) Favorite Thanksgiving food
Justin Rittman (Football ‘14)
mashed potatoes that stuffing stuff
Connor Scheel (Football ‘14)
Kevin Lavelle (Cross-Country ‘13)
Emma Ketchum (Water Polo ‘13)
the turkey
turkey with stuffing
pumpkin pie not surprising
Kim Kardashian’s divorce is...
pre-determined
ridiculous
a joke
why did she even bother getting married?
Best winter sport
hockey
hoops
basketball
definitely basketball
basketball
Keller Chryst (‘14) is...
raw
my homie
a good man
pretty sick
the new quarterback
Rohit Ramkumar’s thoughts on the NBA lockout... Picture this: third and ten, two minutes re- a 15 yard gain. That’s right, if the nice folks at maining in the game and the Cleveland Browns the NBA don’t end the lockout, we might see need a first down. Browns quarterback Colt King James take his talents to the gridiron.... McCoy drops back and finds LeBron James for
Read more at vikingsportsmag.com
photography by Michael Strong
Who is the best athlete at Paly?
ASKS...
“Gotta be B.J. Boyd (‘12)” Walker Mees (‘13)
“E.J. Floreal (‘13)” David Lim (‘12) 6
“B.J. Boyd (‘12)” Nira Krasnow (‘13)
NUMBERS HOT NOT
BY THE
OR
18
475 62 6104.5
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Touchdowns wide receiver/running back B.J. Boyd (‘12) has this season. Kills that hitter Melanie Wade (‘12) has so far in the regular season. Goals that Will Conner (‘14) scored in the regular season for the boys’ water polo team this year. Points that the seniors scored to win spirit week this year. Seniors on this year’s varsity football team.
Want real-time Paly sports updates? Visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: vikingsportsmag.com
“The Viking Magazine”
Skiing With the summer heat finally fading, ski season is just around the corner. Time to hit the slopes!
2014 “winning” spirit week Let’s be real, no one heard one cheer the sophomores said. Give them two more years to learn the ropes. New girls’ soccer coaches Quarter-high cut-off socks After a completely lost sea- Seriously, let’s ditch the son in which the team only awkward mid-calf socks. won two of its league games, Upgrade to full length high socks or pull ‘em down to new coach Kurt Devlin comes in to try and turn the normal ankle socks. Don’t be that guy, Paly. program around.
B.J. Boyd (‘12) What hasn’t B.J. done this year for the Vikings? He has 18 total touchdowns, four of which have been off of kickoff returns. He also leads the team with 12 receiving touchdowns...just another great year for the senior.
Texas Rangers Losing two World Series in a row? You’d think they would catch a break after losing once, but the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that barely qualified, sent them home once more. Apparently not everything is bigger in Texas.
Homecoming Finally! People actually showed up and had a good time at Homecoming. Even though a lot of it was for spirit points, it was still a large step in the right direction for Paly dances.
NBA Lockout One lockout wasn’t enough? How about players and owners just start agreeing because we’re getting sick of listening to your whining. Put your billions behind you so we can watch some sports.
www.twitter.com/thevikingmag
“Maddie Kuppe (‘12)” Sophie Robinson (‘15)
“Jasmine Tosky (‘12)” Parker Devine (‘14) 7
“Melanie Wade (‘12)” Serena Yee (‘13) The Viking
Viking Tries
photo by Kevin Kannappan
As Viking business manager Kevin Kannappan (‘12) and I trekked to Malibu in Redwood City, I was eerily reminded of six-year-olds and their birthday parties filled with screaming children. But Malibu is more than just that. Obviously. Because none of us are six, my birthday isn’t for another couple of weeks, and our voices are still somewhat hoarse from the previous weeks’ spirit rallies. We started off with mini-golf. And, as my movie-watching self reminded me, this is like a miniature version of Caddyshack except without Chevy Chase or Bill Murray. That being said, we had a grand old time, complete with Kannappan racking up insane numbers of putts on the 7 hole, a classic Kannappan move. If you’re Facebook friends with him, check
PUTTING MASTER Esteemed columnist Peter Dennis (‘12) shows his amazing putting skills.
by Peter Dennis photo by Peter Dennis
MALIBU
TRIES
STEEL ON WHEELS Kevin Kannappan (‘12) squeaks around a turn at Malibu Grand Prix. Kannappan is inspired by Mario Kart. out his tagged photos. And laugh. Before we made our way over to the Grand Prix side, we weren’t about to pass up a chance to hit up that arcade basketball game, skee ball or any of those classic arcade games that give you two tickets for a high score. It was classic. You also can never resist that temptation to go in big for that one game that says “Here! 25 cents and you could win 250,000,000,000 tickets if you knock over the dump truck.” And no one can ever knock it over. Good one. As the only person in attendance who hadn’t obtained their driver’s license, you can imagine that I was subjected to quite a bit of ridicule. And not only that, but I couldn’t even drive the Grand Prix cars. I had to drive the lowly turbo car, which for a reference point, is basically the lame ones you get to ride at Autopia in Disneyland. (I should mention here that while, yes, I am the youngest, I am also the tallest. So...eat your heart out Kevin.) But, he didn’t know how apt I am
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in Need for Speed. At home, when I’m on that Logitech MOMO Racing wheel hype and on the iPod, I do work. Just ask Max Siegelman (‘12). I played that game ALL DAY driving to and from JV basketball games sophomore year. And he thought he could beat me...foolish. So yeah. while he may have the actual experience driving, he has nothing on my virtual racing experience. And...I’m sure you can guess which prior experience did better on the track. All in all, it was a pretty liberating day. You might think that Malibu is childish and stupid. And it very well may be. For high schoolers that is. But that’s the fun of it. Like, yeah, you may feel somewhat stupid putting an inane amount of times on a mini-golf course. You as a high schooler, though, can probably get over it. At least a little bit more than a kid who is turning six and wants everything to go right that day. So. Do it Paly. Hit up Malibu one time. Its an extra fun experience and brings you back to the good ‘ole days.
Get Paly scores by e-mail every morning in Sign up for Express, the daily e-mail news digest from Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly, and find out how Paly teams fared, with links to stories and stats. Plus an update on local news and upcoming community events. Sent every weekday morning at 10 a.m. Join 13,000 others and sign up for Express by going to PaloAltoOnline.com and clicking on the link at the top of the page. Or, visit PASportsOnline.com and find stories, photos, schedules and other updates on all high school and Stanford teams.
24/7 online
Fridays in print
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WWW.PaloAltoOnline.com
10 Questions
10 Questions with Skylar
Dorosin as told to Alana Schwartz
WHO KNOWS SENIOR WATER POLO CAPTAIN SKYLAR DOROSIN BETTER? FRIEND/TEAMMATE MARGARET WENZLAU (‘12), GUY FRIEND KRIS HOGLUND (‘12) or COACH SPENCER DORNIN? photo by Alana Schwartz photo by Mira Ahmad
Skylar Dorosin
Margaret Wenzlau
Kris Hoglund
Spencer Dornin
Lar
Nickname
Lar
Lar
Sky
People not giving 100%
Pet Peeve
Morning Practice
Not Working Hard
People Not Working Hard
Reeses
Favorite Halloween Candy
Anything chocolate
Reeses
Chocolate
Favorite T.V. Show
Law and Order SVU
Desperate Housewives
Secret Life of the American Teenager
Lululemon Pants
Will Rossi
Shannon Scheel
Law and Order SVU
Lululemon yoga pants Can’t Live Without.. Purple
Favorite Speedo Color
Leopard
Anything but Daisy (my Volvo)
Dream Car
Daisy (her Volvo)
BMW
Porsche
Fraiche yogurt
Go-To Snack
Fraiche
Fraiche
Fraiche
A mermaid
Best Halloween Costume
A Dinosaur
Lax Bro
A Tree
J. Crew cardigans
Favorite Fall Clothing
UGG Moccasins
Lululemon Stuff
50% Correct
40% Correct
Images taken from
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Green
Cardinal Red
Pajamas
30% Correct
photo by Shannon Scheel
photo by Alana Schwartz
I
“
Inside the Mind of
“
Josh Goldstein
Josh Goldstein, Paly’s athletic trainer, was kind enough to talk to the The Viking about what goes on in his mind.
Known in the Xbox community as “hhammer18” by Paige Borsos
ON BEING AN ATHLETIC TRAINER It gets pretty hectic right after school because everybody starts practice around the same time. You get the big rush of kids trying to get taped, stretched, and everything as soon as the bell rings so they’re not late for practice. I like it, the coaches are very understanding and most of the athletes are well behaved and listen to what we tell them to do. It’s a good experience.
ON GAMING I like video games. I’m a big gamer. I play Call of Duty. I love FIFA, I just got it. I’ve been playing every night.
ON LIVING IN VEGAS It’s a pretty different world. The first year I was there it was all about, ‘Oh let’s go to the strip every night’ do this, do that. As the years went on, I moved further away into the deeper suburbs of Vegas. And I would only go out when friends came into town. I went to school, did my own thing. It was like living in any other suburb. You end up not going out because you don’t want to deal with the tourists.
ON PLAYING ROLLER HOCKEY Me and my friends basically got bored one day and decided, ‘Hey, let’s go play out in the streets.’ We ended up getting about seven or eight of us out every week, and we decided we should play [roller hockey] in a league. We played every Sunday for about two years in a league and the last season we played we actually won the championship. We ended on a good note.
ON HALLOWEEN I’m usually a last minute Halloween costume person. Last year was pretty good; I don’t know if I can top last year. I went as Mr. Clean last year.
ON HIS TONGUE RING I got it the second day I was at Florida International College. I actually wanted it when I was a senior in high school and my mom said, ‘No, no no.’ [Laughs] The first opportunity off on my own, I went and got it done myself. It actually didn’t hurt, because they give you a numbing mouthwash and pierce it really fast.
ON PLAYING GUITAR I play bass guitar. I used to play in a band in college. When I played in it, they were called Kutter. It was a Hawaiian Reggae band. I was the only white person in it. Now they’ve changed their name. I’m not going to mention [their new name] ‘cause its kind of innappropriate. They’re actually getting a little more fame in Las Vegas. They have an album on iTunes.
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”
The Viking
Fall Wrap-ups
FALL WRAP-UPS After an impressive 2011 season, fall sports are coming to a close. For updated game coverage visit vikingsportsmag.com, like The Viking magazine page on Facebook or follow @thevikingmag Twitter for updated coverage
FOOTBALL
OVERALL RECORD: 7-2 LEAGUE RECORD: 5-1
photo by Grant Shorin
photo by Grant Shorin
Quarterback Keller Chryst (‘14) throws a pass at the Mountain View game. The Vikings went on to win by a score of 46-14.
The football team (7-2, 5-1) will face its biggest competitor of the regular season, Milpitas High School (7-1-0, 4-1-0) in its final league game on Thurs. Nov. 10. Despite snapping a 14 game winning streak in a loss to Arch bishop Mitty early in the season, defensive tackle Nathan Hubbard (‘12) reflected on the team’s optimistic tone for the next games. “We’ll just keep getting better and better... I feel good about what’s coming up in the future,” Hubbard said. The Vikings thrashed Wilcox High School with the help of the newly introduced quarterback Keller Chryst (‘14), but were unable to defeat the Los Gatos Wildcats, who had previously lost to Wilcox. Chryst has had a solid season, averaging 170 passing yards per game, 1395 passing yards to-
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tal, and 18 completed touchdown passes. B.J. Boyd (‘12) ranks first in the league in receiving and scoring, averaging 88 yards per game and 12 points per game. Jayshawn Gates-Mouton (‘13) is also a major contributor with 42.2 yards per game receiving, along with runningbacks Dre Hill (‘12) and Morris Gates-Mouton (‘12), who have a combined 15 rushing touchdowns. Gates-Mouton also leads the defense in tackles, with eight tackles per game. The Vikings defeated Los Altos High School 74-14 on Senior Night at Paly on Nov. 4. The team will graduate 20 seniors at the end of this season. The game against Milpitas, the Viking’s last league game of the season, will determine the team’s overall league rank.
VOLLEYBALL Volleyball (11-0, 29-3) concluded the 2011 regular season with their sixth consecutive SCVAL De Anza Division championship. The Lady Vikes head into the playoffs that will conclude their overall season. After this year, the Lady Vikes will graduate eight extraordinary seniors, middle blocker Melanie Wade (‘12), outside hitter Maddie Kuppe (‘12), setter Kimmy Whitson (‘12), opposite Caroline Martin (‘12), defensive specialist Ashley Shin (‘12), defensive specialist Tiffany Tsung (‘12), middle blocker Jackie Koenig (‘12), and setter Ally Kron (‘12). After their loss to St. Francis on Sept. 9, a non-league match, the Lady Vikes did not lose a game, sweeping all matches until their final 3-2 win over Los Gatos on Nov. 1. The team also swept the Milpitas
photo by Sam Borsos
OVERALL: 29-3 LEAGUE: 11-0
Spikefest II tournament for the second year in a row, winning all five of its games. Although the team’s front row crew has been concrete, consisting of Kuppe, Wade, Koenig, and Martin to contribute kills and blocks, the back row position has been very liquid this season. Throughout the season, Shin, Tsung and Keri Gee (‘14) have all played the starting libero position. The defensive position has been a tough spot to fill, with the loss of Megan Coleman (‘11) last year, who contributed 543 digs and 51 aces for Paly throughout the season. Looking forward into the rest of the season, Paly next plays in the CCS tournament, which they won last year en route to their 2010 CIF State Volleyball Championship.
BOYS’ WATER POLO photo by Mira Ahmad
Quinn Rockwell (‘13) plays defense for the Vikings. The team will graduate four seniors at the end of this season.
Melanie Wade (‘12) goes up for a block. Wade has committed to the University of Washington.
OVERALL RECORD: 13-8 LEAGUE RECORD: 8-3
After a 12-8 regular season (8-3 in league), the boys’ water polo team will get its chance to prove they are a legitimate Central Coast Section (CCS) contender. After a disappointing 5-3 loss to their cross-town rival Gunn the team remained optimistic about the loss. “It was extremely embarrassing to lose on senior night. Although we played relatively well on defense, nobody could execute on offense. Gunn outplayed us but they did not play all that well. It was our own failure that we allowed them to win,” co-captain Aaron Zelinger (‘12) said. “The loss is going to serve as a learning experience for the games to come.” The Vikings crushed Homestead 16-8 in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) quarterfinals be-
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fore falling to Mountain View 6-3 in the semifinals. The team suffered a tough loss against Gunn High School in sudden death 15-14 in the consolation round. Some sucess in SCVAL will give the team an advantage in CCS . Brent Schroder (‘13) feels the Vikings are a very good team with a good chance at post-season success. “We have talent so if we can play good we could end up being a legitimate contender,” Schroder said. The team got off to a strong start in CCS competition, trumping Pioneer High School 14-4 on Nov. 8 in the first round of play. The Vikings will now move on to the second round and will be competing on Saturday, Nov. 12. At the end of this season, the tea≠≠m will graduate four seniors.
The Viking
Fall Wrap-ups
GIRLS’ WATER POLO The girls’ water polo team looked to rebuild its squad after graduating eight seniors and replacing its coach this season. With experience on the national mens’ water polo team, head coach Spencer Dornin saw much room for improvement this season. “[We need to work on] continuing to communicate and to be aware of where the ball is at all times,” Dornin said. Midway through the season the girls’ long practices paid off and the team turned its season around. With an expectation to beat cross-town rival Gunn High School, the Lady Vikes won their last six games. Among these games the team had a big 9-8 win against Los Gatos High School.
“The last time we played them we lost by one, this time we won by one,” Dornin said. “This time we were down by two and we fought back and stayed together as a team.” As the season continues the team strives to play its best no matter the circumstances. “When a play [doesn’t] go well we [are] able to turn around and change it,” driver Hannah Park (‘12) said. After several wins in the last few weeks the girls’ went into the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) tournament with momentum. They faced Wilcox Thurs Nov. 3 and won 15-3 before falling to Los Alots 9-3 in the quarterfinals The Lady Vikes will now play their first round for the Central Coast Section (CCS) tournament on Nov. 9th.
OVERALL RECORD: 14-11 LEAGUE RECORD: 9-6 photo by Scotty Bara
Quitterie Collignon (‘13) defends Kelly Stern (‘13) in practice. The team will graduate four seniors.
BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY photo by Anne Hldebrand Photo by Anne Hildebrand
Ben May (‘13) runs in the Gunn League Championship meet. May finished fourth overall in league.
The boys’ cross-country team finished its season on Nov. 1 at Crystal Springs. Only one runner, co-captain Nikolai Solgaard (‘12) will continue on to Central Coast Sectionals (CCS) on Saturday Nov. 12, also at Crystal Springs. Solgaard placed 13th overall on Nov. 1 with a time of 16 minutes 39.0 seconds and qualified for CCS with his previous time of 15:58.8, which ranks him 103 out of the 151 runners who qualified in his division. “I wanted to do well here, kind of go out with a bang,” Solgaard said. “I have one more chance to do better than I’ve done here and hopefully I can prove myself then, and if not, that’s all right too.” Co-captain Sam Carilli (‘12) placed second with a time of 17:48
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COACH: Joe Ginanni
and an overall 29th place, followed by Ben Hawthorne (‘13) and Ben May (‘13) both with times of 17:52 and in 31st and 32nd place. Justin Zhang (’13), co-captain William Hall (’12) and Matan Geller (‘13) finished fifth, sixth and seventh for Paly and rounded out the varsity team. Solgaard, Carilli and Hall are all graduating this year, leaving three open places on the varsity squad next year. Continuing on next year will be Ben Hawthorne (‘13), Ben May (‘13), Justin Zhang (‘13) and Matan Geller (‘13), who have high hopes for next year. “We just have to try harder next year,” Zhang said. “I think we’ll have a pretty good shot [at making CCS as a team].”
GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY With the end of the season looming, the girls’ cross-country team looks to finish strong heading into the Central Coast Section (CCS) and State Championship meets. The team is currently ranked fourth in CCS Division One, but will need to finish in the top two in order to qualify for the State Championship meet. The team recently finished in third place at the Baylands meet on Oct. 20 and second behind Gunn in the Palo Alto City Championship on Oct. 25. The Lady Vikes have also performed well in the invitational meets in which they have participated, including 12th of 29 teams in the Stanford Invitational, second in the Cal Poly Invitational, and third
in the Lowell Invitational. Strong performances by several underclassmen this year, include those from Katie Foug (‘15), Sophia Robinson (‘15), and Audrey DeBruine (‘14). Chika Kasahara (‘13) and cocaptain Nora Rosati (‘13) have also been top performers for the team this season. The girl’s have made steady improvements throughout the course of the season thanks to solid performances from underclassmen such as Foug, who has consistently been the team’s top runner as a freshman. With more young talent than in years past, the Lady Vikes look to build on a strong latter part of the season to finish in the top two for Division One, and qualify for States.
GIRLS’ TENNIS photo by Hilda Huang
Amy Ke (‘12) returns the ball in her match. Ke and her partner Hollie Kool (‘14) are the No. 1 doubles pair.
COACH: Paul Jones photo by Anne Hldebrand
Torie Nielsen (‘12) runs in her last meet for the Lady Vikes. Nielsen was a co-captain for the team in her last season.
OVERALL:4-7 LEAGUE: 4-6
The tennis team ended the season with a 4-3 loss to Los Altos which concluded their regular season with an overall record of 4-7, (4-6 league). Last season , the team lost nine seniors, and this year they only had four returning players. “Since this is a new team, we need some time to play together and get to know each other but it’s getting better,” Amy Ke (‘12) said. “As a team, we’re a lot closer and I think that’s a big part of playing,” The team started off the season on a high note, with a strong showing at the Paly Invitational, placing third overall. They continued on their the hot streak as they won four out of their next five matches.
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However, inconsistency is expected with a young team, and it showed as the Lady Vikes’ lost four consecutive matches from Oct. 4 to 2, including three close losses by the score of 3-4. Felicia Wang (‘14) and Aashli Budhiraja (‘14) were integral parts of the squad, as they helped fill the void of departing seniors. “I think Felicia and Aashli have been pulling out some great and much needed wins,” No. 3 single Sammy Solomon (‘13) said. Solomon remains optimistic about the possibility of a CCS berth. “It’s going to be tough to qualify for CCS, but there is always a possibility,” Solomon said.
The Viking
“Andrew Luck,”© 2009 John Martinez Pavliga, used under a Creative Commons Generic Attribution License.
Suck for Luck
Suck for
Luck by Austin Poore As the NFL season plays out, keep an eye on the teams with a chance to end up with Stanford’s Andrew Luck.
Andrew Luck of Stanford takes a snap against Cal at Stanford Stadium in Nov. 2009. The Cardinal lost to the Bears 34-28.
The end of every sports no mathematical shot at making the season brings with it a heightened playoffs and are not even close to pos-
sense of urgency for nearly all teams involved, which is why it is often called a “race to the finish.” Whether they are competing for first place, a berth in the playoffs or to avoid the embarrassment of relegation to a lower league, contenders usually feel extra motivation to play well and win games at the end of the year. This part of the season is sometimes even given a unique name, like baseball’s “pennant race.” This year in the (NFL), there will be two such races going on as the end of the year approaches. The first of these is obvious: The standard frenzied divisional finishes, where teams compete for playoff spots in order to have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. The other, however, will involve entirely different teams: Those who have
sessing a winning record. While these teams would never lose on purpose, the object of their competition is to have the worst record in the NFL. So what are these teams competing for, if not a Super Bowl? The answer lies right down the road at Stanford University. Andrew Luck, the quarterback for the Stanford football team, was widely regarded as the consensus number one pick in the 2011 NFL draft, but elected to return to school for his redshirt junior year after leading the Cardinal to a 12-1 season culminating with a victory over Virginia Tech in the 2011 Orange Bowl. This year, Luck is expected to leave Stanford and enter the draft, and is again projected as the top overall pick. The thought of drafting Luck gives bad teams hope for the future, and is
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why many fans may be satisfied with their team’s losing efforts this season. Luck is as close to a sure thing as there can be in the draft and, in addition to numerous John Elway comparisons, has been called the most NFLready prospect since Peyton Manning. As ESPN’s Brock Huard observes, “Andrew Luck has the same prototypical size, the same durable build and the same refined, over-the-top delivery that equal Peyton’s as a draft-day prospect.” Manning, who was drafted first overall in 1998, has accumulated several accolades as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, including four MVP awards, a Super Bowl championship in 2006, and Fox Sports’ NFL Player of the Decade award in 2009. It is no surprise, then, that teams would be excited to have the chance to draft Luck, even if it means one bad year in the process.
“Luck possesses the athleticism and strength in his legs to improvise... something more reminiscent of John Elway than Manning.” -Brock Huard, ESPN
gruntled Dolphins fan who has strong opinions regarding the whole situation. “I do not consider myself a bad fan if I support #SuckForLuck,” he tweeted. “I’ll take one bad year for 10 great ones.” While this view is certainly not uncommon, other fans would be appalled to hear anyone rooting against their own team, regardless of possible future benefits. This includes Paly student Kenny Jones (‘13), a lifelong Dolphins fan. And although it is officially “Tebow Time” in Denver, it is unclear how effective Tim Tebow will be as an NFL quarterback, and the team has been struggling. Luck would still be a good choice for the organization if they found themselves in a position to draft him, especially with Elway, the ex-Stanford quarterback, working as the team’s executive vice president of football operations. “An Elway-Luck union in Denver would be a heck of a sto-
ry,” ESPN’s Bill Williamson wrote. If the Colts, generally playoff contenders, were to end up with the first overall pick, that would turn into quite a tough decision for the team. Manning has been the face of the franchise since 1998, but after undergoing neck surgery has not played in 2011. Clearly, the team has struggled in his absence,
“Peyton Manning,”© 2010 Jeffrey Beall, used under a Creative Commons Generic Attribution License.
Naturally, this is a polarizing issue that presents a bit of a dilemma for diehard fans of teams like the Miami Dolphins. They hate seeing their team lose, but at the same time cannot help but wonder what it would be like to have Luck on their side in the future. The Twitter account SuckForLuck, a reference to the popular name for the Luck saga (specifically the strategy of losing to be able to draft him), is run by a dis-
Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts after a game against the Broncos on Sept. 26, 2010. The Colts prevailed 27-13. amassing the worst record in the league. This is the latest in a series of health issues that have plagued Manning recently, and it is likely that he will only be able to continue playing for a few more seasons. This would leave the Colts with a dilemma: Does it make more sense to trade the first pick and hope that Manning has several productive years left in his career, or draft Luck and set the team for potential long-term success
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that could outlast Manning’s career? If the Colts continue their current losing ways and end up with the first pick in the draft, they ought to consider taking a page out of the Green Bay Packers’ playbook and drafting Luck. After all, who would make a better mentor for him than Peyton Manning? Assuming Manning is able to play for three to four more years, Luck could sit on the sidelines and learn from the man who is arguably the best game manager in the NFL today. Then, whenever Manning decides to hang up the cleats and call it a career, Luck will be fully prepared to take his place as an elite quarterback. The Packers employed this strategy with current quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who sat behind the ageless Brett Favre for several years, learning the game and waiting. Finally, in 2008, Rodgers’ time came, and over the last few years he has developed into one of the top-five quarterbacks in the game, leading the Packers to last year’s Super Bowl championship and a very hot start this year. And although it is officially “Tebow Time” in Denver, it is unclear how effective Tim Tebow will be as an NFL quarterback, and the team has been struggling. Luck would still be a good choice for the organization if they found themselves in a position to draft him, especially with Elway, the ex-Stanford quarterback, working as the team’s executive vice president of football operations. “An Elway-Luck union in Denver would be a heck of a story,” ESPN’s Bill Williamson wrote. If the Colts, generally playoff contenders, were to end up with the first overall pick, that would turn into quite a tough decision for the team. Manning has been the face of the franchise since 1998, but after undergoing neck surgery has not played in 2011. Clearly, the team has struggled in his absence, amassing the worst record in the league. This is the latest in a series of health
Suck for Luck
“I’m not ready to anoint him the next Joe Montana or Dan Marino.”
-Kenny Jones (‘13)
all, who would make a better mentor for him than Peyton Manning? Assuming Manning is able to play for three to four more years, Luck could sit on the sidelines and learn from the man who is arguably the best game manager in the NFL today. Then, whenever Manning decides to hang up the cleats and call it a career, Luck will be fully prepared to take his place as an elite quarterback. The Packers employed this strategy with current quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who sat behind the ageless Brett Favre for several years, learning the game and waiting. Finally, in 2008, Rodgers’ time came, and over the last few years he has developed into one of the top-five quarterbacks in the game, leading the Packers to last year’s Super Bowl championship and a very hot start this year. Compare that to Alex Smith of the 49ers, who was chosen ahead of Rodgers in the 2005 NFL draft. Instead of having that learning period, however, Smith was immediately in-
serted into the starting lineup and has never lived up to his potential. Jim Harbaugh has helped restore a little bit of hope to Smith’s once-promising
chance that Luck could become a bust. His name could go down in infamy with those of Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell, both highly touted quarterbacks coming out of college who failed to live up to their high draft selections and have received the dreaded “bust” label. Luck is so polished and pro-ready, however, that the chances of him being a bust seem fairly miniscule at this point. Just look at Elway, the last Stanford quarterback selected number one overall, who is now in the Hall of Fame. Huard mentions that “Luck possesses the athleticism and strength in his legs to improvise, extend plays and
“An Elway-Luck union in Denver would be a heck of a story.”
“Andrew Luck,” © 2009 John Martinez Pavliga, used under a Creative Commons Generic Attribution License.
issues that have plagued Manning recently, and it is likely that he will only be able to continue playing for a few more seasons. This would leave the Colts with a dilemma: Does it make more sense to trade the first pick and hope that Manning has several productive years left in his career, or draft Luck and set the team for potential long-term success that could outlast Manning’s career? If the Colts continue their current losing ways and end up with the first pick in the draft, they ought to consider taking a page out of the Green Bay Packers’ playbook and drafting Luck. After
-Bill Williamson, ESPN
Andrew Luck throws a pass during Big Game against Cal in 2009. Luck, a freshman at the time, threw for 157 yards and rushed for 31 in the game. career, but even so, the difference between Smith and Rodgers is striking. Although some of this variance may be attributed to things like talent and work ethic, it is hard to imagine that the teams who drafted them did not have some effect on their development. Therefore, getting picked by and playing for a team like the Colts might end up being a blessing for Luck, since even a prospect as polished as he is can still greatly benefit from some time to learn how to play in the NFL. Of course, there is always the
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convert third-down scampers into first downs, something more reminiscent of John Elway than Manning.” Or Jim Plunkett, the Stanford quarterback and Heisman trophy winner selected first overall in 1971, who is not in the Hall of Fame, but won two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders in part of his productive professional career. Even if Luck turns out to be more Plunkett than Elway, being compared to a Super Bowl winning quarterback is not too bad. There is still one small issue that could wreck the entire Suck for Luck scenario, however, which is the fact that Luck is only a junior, eligibilitywise. He redshirted his freshman year at Stanford, so he still has one more year of eligibility left and could conceivably return for another year. He already shocked the world by returning this season, and while it would certainly be surprising, it it not impossible that he would do it again. And if that were to happen, for teams at the bottom of the standings hoping to
Hansen’s Heroes
photo by Jonny Glazier
by Jonny Glazier and Spencer Drazovich
Scout team player Andrew Frick (‘14) takes a drink during a practice at Paly. Frick is the back up quarterback. Finding yourself on the wrong side of 1100 pounds of stampeding manchild may be your worst nightmare. For scout team football players at Palo Alto High School, this nightmare defines their daily life at practice. Bloodied, battered or bruised, these weekday warriors consistently show up to practice, fully aware of the inevitable pain that is coming their way. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a scout team is composed of the backups of a football team. These practice squads are obligated to go game speed against the bigger, better,
and beefier members of the first team. Undersized and out-matched, these players go up against the starters every day of the week. Needless to say, it takes a brave man to strap up everyday knowing his impending doom. Despite their commendable efforts during the week, many of the members of the scout team see little return on their investment when the Friday night lights shine down onto the field. Why do they continue to endure so much pain during the week, if they aren’t rewarded during the game? The answer is simple. While their
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stat sheets may be peppered with goose eggs, the scout team is a vital part of any football team. “It’s a team sport, not an individual sport,” scout team player Andrew Frick (’14) said, “Like a coach once told me, if you’re selfish that’s not helping the team; its hurting the team. You need to accept your position whatever it is and go out there and play hard every play.” Frick, despite his role on the scout team, continues to improve both himself and the starters through his selfless hustle and commitment to his team. Every practice, Frick’s assignment
The Viking
Hansen’s Heroes
“It’s a team sport, not an individual sport. Like a coach it’s hurting the team. You need to accept your position “They give us the look of our opponent each week,” Halas said. “I mean its vital, if we can’t get a look about what our opponent is going to do then we can’t prepare properly.” While the number of in-game reps the scout team gets may be minute, the reps they give in practice make all the difference when the starters take the field. That being said, the scout team can be used thoroughly throughout the course of a season. Last year, the
motivated knowing that you’re going to get beat up by this number one everyday.” Halas, a relative of famous defensive innovator George Halas, understands exactly what it takes to refine a defensive unit. Palo Alto’s 2010 State Champion defense, nicknamed ‘The Swarm,’ held the high flying Centennial Huskies to a meager 13 points in the 2010 Farmers Insurance California D1 State Championship, a season low for the Huskies.
plays a vital role in assuring that the starters’ careers reach their full potential in length and that the starters are safe on a daily basis. Paly’s trainer, Josh Goldstein, has had years of experience with football related injuries. “Scout teams are important to keep your starters in that position from getting hurt,” Goldstein said. “When I worked for the [San Jose] Sabercats our starters had to play against each other in practice, and when we went
Garbed in black, scout defense lines up against the first offense, lead by Keller Chryst (‘14). The Vikings starting offensive line has given up only 10 sacks on the year.
photo by Jonny Glazier
on scout defense is to get the offensive linemen better. “Me going hard helps the starters get better and the team, as a whole, get better,” Frick said. While he may get tenderized with more fervor than a fillet mignon at Outback Steakhouse, Frick’s unwavering commitment to his team does not go unnoticed by both coaches and starters alike. “We as a staff value them [the scout team] tremendously,” defensive coordinator Jake Halas said. “It’s hard to stay
State Champion Palo Alto Vikings had to reach deep into their reserves on the bench to finish off their season. Against the Homestead Mustangs alone, the Vikings lost five players to varying injuries. Players who would regularly ride the bench suddenly found themselves being called into the trenches to fight on the front lines for the first teams. Without a doubt, football is a taxing sport. Many former NFL players never fully recover from the life of violence that is pro football. The scout team
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full speed, starters would end up getting hurt. You wear the players down more and your starters get worn down faster.” Given the importance of these scout teams in high school football it is not surprising that scout teams are found at all levels of football, playing a critical role on both college and professional teams. While best known for his flamboyant performance in the 2010 Vikings’ rendition of Katy Perry’s Teenage
once told me, if you’re selfish that’s not helping the team; whatever it is and go out there and play hard every play.” -Andrew Frick (‘14)
Nate Hubbard (‘12) takes a rest on the sideline. Scout team keeps starters like Hubbard, healthy and ready for gameday
photo by Grant Shorin
Dream, Paly grad Kevin Anderson (’11) went from “varsity stud” to “scout team scrub” in the blink of an eye as he now plays on the scout team against the legendary Andrew Luck at Stanford University. Being an outside linebacker in Coach David Shaw’s 3-4 defense, Anderson finds himself pitted against the most critically acclaimed offensive line in past years. Despite the high competition, Anderson still fights to get both himself and his team better. “Because I am redshirting, I am obviously not going to play on Saturday, so every week my game is playing scout team,” Anderson said. “Everyday I go up against Jonathan Martin, a projected 9th overall draft pick, so the likeliness of me beating him is very slim. So everyday I just go as hard as I can so I can hope to get him better.” Anderson’s commitment and relentless attitude is what has prepared the Cardinal for their games this year.
photo by Grant Shorin
State, Aaron Maybin was a highly coveted linebacker. Drafted 11th overall by the Buffalo Bills, Maybin cashed in $15 million in his lucrative rookie contract. Two years later, Maybin was cut from the Bills practice squad, ensuring his
member of the scout team a couple of months ago. While Maybin may be doing it on the big stage, every football player has had an experience on the scout team, regardless of the level. They have all
“Everyday I go up against Jonathan Martin, a projected 9th overall draft pick... I just go as hard as I can so I can hope to get him better.”
-Kevin Anderson (‘11) The majority of which they have won by 27 or more points, including a 10 game winning streak of wins with a 25 point margin or more, a FBS record. “Most players on the scout team take the same mentality that I do and go as hard as they can,” Anderson said. “If you go all out and refuse to let the starters get a play off in practice then they are forced to work hard.” Scout teams have similar beneficial results in the NFL. Coming out of Penn
place as one of Buffalo’s biggest busts in recent history. Maybin’s luck began to change as Rex Ryan gave him a chance as a part of the rival New York Jets scout team. Through continued hard work and discipline, Maybin worked his way up through the ranks of Ryan’s infamous defensive scheme and is now a major contributor. Maybin has had three sacks and three forced fumbles on the year through four games after being a
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been pounded by someone bigger and meaner, and they know all too well the grind that is daily football practice. The scout team players may be recognized by some as “benchwarmers,” however they are the true workhorses behind any team at any level. So next time you are in the stands at a game of football, give a salute to those guys riding the pipe, and know that they contribute just as much as any of the starters.
The Viking
Top 5 Sports Movies
TOP 5 SPORTS
MOVIES
by Michelle Friedlander and Annie Susco
Everybody loves a good sports movie, ranging from the comedies to the serious and inspirational ones. Whether you’re crying, laughing, or both, sports movies are always fun to watch! The Viking constructed a list of the top 10 sports movies of all time, including a list of honorable mentions. Director: Boaz Yakin
Remember the Titans tugs at your heart and reminding us that, color of one’s skin does not matter. In the midst of extreme controversy due to the new integration policy, the T.C. Williams football program is faced with a plethora of race related challenges. Despite hatred, the team is able to come together and as a family.
Hoosiers (1986)
Director: David Anspaugh
Hoosiers shows the impact that one can have on a large group of people. Inspired by a true story set in a small Indiana town, this movie focuses a boys’ basketball team’s pursuit at success with a new coach. The coach, Norman Dale, is faced with difficulty in keeping his job and persuading the town’s best player to play for him.
Miracle (2004) Director: Gavin O’Connor
Miracle chronicles the journey of the American 1980 Olympic men’s ice hockey team during the Cold War. Due to political tension with the Soviet Union, the team wins a battle for the United States and in turn becomes an iconic. Miracle portrays how a team of young college students and took down the powerhouse Soviets in the Olympics.
Friday Night Lights
Director: Peter Berg
Friday Night Lights demonstrates how a team can stay positive despite losing. This movie follows the Permian High School football team. In this stereotypical Texas town, football rules all and friday nights are sacred. The players must overcome high expectations, but come together to make it to the playoffs.
Invictus (2009)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Invictus is an inspiring testament to those dedicated to over coming it. Post apartheid South Africa was still racially divided, and President Mendela wanted to unite the country behind a single cause. Rugby turned out to be something that could hold his country together, and in it united a once divided nation.
Honorable Mentions
The Sandlot (1993) We Are Marshall (2206) Million Dollar Baby (2004) Rocky (1976) Glory Road (2006) Cool Runnings (1993)
The Longest Yard (2005) Bad News Bears (1976) Field of Dreams (1989) Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Moneyball (2011) The Blind Side (2009)
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Rudy (1993) Coach Carter (2005) The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) Hoop Dreams (1994) A League of Their Own (1992) More Than a Game (2008)
Photo taken from creative commons by Paul Garland
1 2 3 4 5
Remember the Titans (2000)
ZOOM Quarterback Andrew Frick (‘14) throws a pass against Mountain View on Oct. 29. Starting quarterback Keller Chryst (’14) combined with Frick and running back Dre Hill (’12) for nine and five yards respectively. The Vikings (7-2, 5-1) went on to beat the Spartans 46-14. Photo by Grant Shorin
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The Viking
Cover Story
Beneath the Surface Surface by Kevin Dukovic, Jacob Lauing and Nora Rosati additional reporting by Mira Ahmad and Emy Kelty design by Emy Kelty
“HE’S-A-WHITE-GUY! HE’S-A-WHITE-GUY!”
a large block of seniors vehemently chanted after Holger Thorup (‘12) dunked during the gym rally on the fourth day of Spirit Week. The chant was directed at the junior class and its two African-American dunkers, E.J. Floreal (‘13) and Aubrey Dawkins (‘13). After both Floreal and Dawkins failed to complete their dunks, it was Thorup’s turn. He connected on a 360° jam, and the senior class erupted. The jubilation rose into an overpowering chant that resonated throughout the gym. “Can you imagine how the crowd would have reacted if there was an Asian student that could slam it?” Palo Alto High School Principal Phil Winston asked when interviewed about his reaction towards the cheer that he “couldn’t understand,” due to the “muffled” sound quality on the court. The school’s response to the person dunking, as opposed to the dunk itself, speaks volumes about hidden racial biases that exist in modern athletics. Sports mirror aspects of society. And just as discrimination, prejudice, and racism live in society, they live in sports. They even exist at places that like to think of themselves as highly evolved and sophisticated, such as Paly. The ethnic composition of Paly’s 1,916 students is 58.3 % Caucasian, 27.7% Asian, 8.1% Latino, 4.6% African-American,
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When skin becomes the story
photos by Grant Shorin photo Illustration by Emy Kelty Pictured adove clockwise from top left: Serena Yee (‘13), Gabe Landa (‘12) Josie Butler (‘13), Key’Chaundre Hill (‘12)
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The Viking
Cover Story
and 1.3% other. The stories of many Paly athletes reveal the existing consequences of this diversity, as racial stereotyping has yet to become totally extinct both on the streets and on the field. Even a seemingly light-hearted cheer offers a glimpse into some of these ingrained stereotypes. As the seniors shouted, their words flooded the gym, drowning out all other noises and echoing in the ears of many, including one Middle Eastern athlete, Sarah, whose name has been changed upon request.
history of conflict on the field, she learned to ignore her opponents’ crude comments and keep them from impacting her play. “As you move on and have all [these] experiences, it changes who you are,” Sarah said. “As an athlete, that’s just part of it. People can say things to you and try and bring you down, but you just have to move on. I’ve gotten to the mentality where I feel sorry for [those who stereotype me].” However, racial stereotyping remained a substantial
Her passion for her sport grew from a natural love of the game, but playing was not always enjoyable for Sarah. As a Middle Eastern athlete participating on predominately Caucasian teams, Sarah stood out. Her skin color made her a target for opposing players, who, from time to time, teased her with racial slurs. Because of this, Sarah’s emotions soon began to affect her play on the field. “We thought I had asthma for the longest time because I would literally start to hyperventilate [while playing],” Sarah said. “I would get so angry and hurt, and I would be half way between crying and not wanting to cry.” Despite her struggles, Sarah continued to play. After a
part of her athletic endeavors. Sarah recalls one game in which she and an opponent repeatedly exchanged seemingly harmless jibes. At one point, her opponent’s frustration reached a peak, and with this came a slew of derogatory remarks, including statements like, “You dumb Pakistani, why don’t you go blow up a plane?” In another instance, a different opponent addressed Sarah, “You stupid [Middle Easterner]. Shouldn’t you be doing your math homework?” These, along with many others, were the insults Sarah fended off throughout her sporting career. Learning to build defenses was doable as she soon realized that athletics allowed her to shed cultural labels.
“Whether you’re black, green, red or blue, if you can run the ball, you can run the ball,” Paly football and track coach Jason Fung said.
“Just because you’re black, you’re supposed to be good at sports.” E.J. Floreal (‘13)
Josie Butler (‘13) photo by Grant Shorin
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“[To] become a solid unit, you need to be able to overcome the differences between players.”
photo by Grant Shorin
Paly head coach
11.8 % Asian
The racial makeup of the 17 head coaches at Paly.
At the college level
5.8 %
Latino
82.4 % Caucasian
5.5% of college football head coaches are of color.
“For me, my sport was a way to get away from both of [my stereotyped] identities and have a separate identity as an athlete,” Sarah said. “[Sports] should be the place where you leave [behind] things like your culture and traditions and your language, the kind of barriers that hold you back.” Other Paly athletes have faced similar adversity, including Paly alumnus and current Golden State Warriors point guard Jeremy Lin (‘06). As a senior, the Chinese-American led the Vikings varsity basketball team to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division II state title, where Paly upset nationally-ranked Mater Dei. Although Lin was regarded as “the runaway choice for player of the year by virtually every California publication,” according to a Dec. 2009 article written by ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, he “didn’t receive a single Division I scholarship offer.” While Lin acknowledges that being undeveloped physically may have played a role in his under-recruitment, he also believes that his ethnicity was part of it. Nevertheless, Lin’s stellar play on the court and superb performance in the classroom allowed him to walk-on to Harvard University’s basketball team in 2006 and continue to prove his doubters wrong. During his college career, fewer than 0.5% of all NCAA Division I college basketball players were of Asian-American descent. Nevertheless, these low numbers did not discourage Lin. Lin was selected to the All-Ivy First Team his senior season after averaging 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Despite these impressive collegiate numbers, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft. Lin, however, did not give up. He found his way onto the Dallas Mavericks’ Summer League team, where he impressed NBA scouts. From
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there, Lin received offers from several NBA teams. On July 21, 2010, Lin signed with the Warriors to become the first American-born NBA player to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Breaking this new ground was a moment of pride for Lin, who reflected on his stereotype-shattering passage. “I know that my journey has taken me on a path that has overcome many stereotypes, and I am just thankful for that opportunity,” Lin wrote in an email. “I really hope to break more stereotypes as my career progresses.” Lin professes a positive attitude towards both his past in basketball and his future, but like Sarah, this attitude grew from despairing moments. “At first [the ethnic profiling] was really discouraging, but I’ve learned to make it a positive thing, and it has given me an extra chip on my shoulder,” Lin wrote. Like Lin, Asian-American varsity basketball player Aldis Petriceks (‘13) has been subject to discrimination. “I get made fun of a lot for my race,” Petriceks said. “For instance, sometimes people just call me ‘chink’ randomly on the court, even when I do something good. If I catch a bad pass, people might say, ‘I’m surprised you even saw that ball, small eyes,’ or if I make a shot, sometimes they say, ‘You deserve a rice bowl for that.’ And you know, I’m just sick and tired of that.” Although disheartening, these discriminatory remarks strengthened Petriceks, who can relate to Lin because of their cultural and athletic similarities. “All of the racism that has been displayed in front of me has forced me to toughen my skin and improve my mental toughness to withstand the insults on the court, just like [Lin does],” Petriceks said. “What [Lin’s] done has really inspired me to follow in his footsteps.”
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Cover Story
Famous firsts 1936 African-American Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in Berlin during a time where Adolf Hitler was trying to showcase Aryan supremecy. 1947 Wat Misake becomes the first Asian-American in the NBA. 1947 Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American in the MLB. 1948 Alice Coachman wins a gold medal at the London Olympics as the first African-American women to do so. 1956 Althea Gibson becomes the first AfricanAmerican woman to win a Grand Slam title. 1968 Tommie Smith and John Carlos are condemed for demonstrating against racism during the Olympic award ceremony for the 200 meter dash. 1970 Illinois State hires basketball Will Robinson as the first African-American head coach of a major college team.
photos taken from creative commons
1974 A six-month study was conducted by the National Council on Education that concluded that racism permeates every segment of college athletics. 2008 A Golf Channel broadcaster is suspended after joking about Tiger Woods being “lynched in a back alley.” 2010 Jeremy Lin becomes the first American born NBA player to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent.
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While others lowered their expectations of Petriceks and Lin because of their ethnicities, for Petriceks’ teammate and junior Spirit Week dunker Floreal, his ethnicity has had the opposite effect. “Just because you’re black, you’re supposed to be good at sports,” Floreal said. “It puts a lot of pressure on you.” The higher standards Floreal feels his teammates and opponents hold him to often undermine his accomplishments. “If I do something special or great in my mind, people still say, ‘Oh, you’re black. You are supposed to do that,’” Floreal said. “If I was a white guy or an Asian guy and I did some of the stuff that I do, I’d probably get a lot more credit.” Although Floreal’s ethnicity altered his peers’ perceptions of him, for fellow African-American Paly athlete, Lauren, whose name was changed for the purposes of this article, her ethnicity has made her feel out of place. She compares the different cultures in both soccer and basketball, recalling her experiences on various soccer teams in her youth. “There were a few other mixed girls [on the team], but I was the only full black person, so I really stood out,” Lauren said. “I had to get used to being not only the only black person on my team, but the only black person in a tournament.” Stereotypes work in multiple ways. Minorities, like Lauren, may be more frequently stereotyped, but majorities are nevertheless stereotyped as well. For Caucasian badminton player Alex Carter (‘12), playing in a sport perceived to be dominated by Asians made him feel alienated by opponents prior to his matches. “People assume I’m bad [at badminton] just because I’m white,” Carter said. With this feeling of inferiority, created merely because of a difference in ethnicity, not only is Carter’s confidence lowered, but he also feels “a lot of performance pressure.” Latino football and lacrosse player Gabe Landa (‘12) can relate to Carter, as he is also used to being a minority in his particular sport. “I actually don’t know any other Latino lacrosse players,” Landa said. “None of my family [knew] what lacrosse [was], and they only [now] know because of me.” While Paly’s athletes have experienced forms of racial bias on the field, discrimination also occurs on the sidelines on the part of coaches. Asian-American football, track-and-field coach and Paly alumnus Jason Fung is one of three non-Caucasian head coaches at Paly. Fung recalls a specific instance of racial bias by coaches, at the track-and-field Central Coast Section (CCS) finals a few years past.
“Some [one] in the crowd said, ‘We hang n----rs like you.’” Tyrus Whitehead (‘13)
Alec Wong (‘12) photo by Grant Shorin
“We still pass the ball to whoever is open, whether they’re black, white or Asian.” photo by Scotty Bara
“[There was a] black coach and a white kid long jumping,” Fung said. “The white kid messes up, coach turns around, and whispers, ‘Damn, I wish I had black athletes!’” Paly football head coach and Athletic Director Earl Hansen does not tolerate such behavior by coaches on his staff. Hansen, who is Caucasian, said, “[If a coach were to discriminate] it would get [him or her] fired, and I would be very supportive [of the decision to fire the coach]. Basically the coaches that I hire are trying to, every time, play the best players. It doesn’t have to do with anything else.” Fung agrees with this policy, and he expresses the same beliefs in his own approach to coaching. “For us coaches at Paly, there’s really no profiling,” Fung said. “Whether you’re black, green, red or blue, if you can run the ball, you can run the ball.” While coaches generally refrain from player discrimination, spectators sometimes do not. After a junior varsity football game against Los Gatos in the 2010 season, a Los Gatos fan directed a discriminatory slur at African-American varsity football player Tyrus Whitehead (‘13) and his teammates. “Right after the game when we had lost by a touchdown, some [one] in the crowd [said], ‘We hang n****rs like you on this side of town,’” Whitehead said. Even though this extreme instance may be unusual, members of the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) administration, including Winston, have yet to see any examples for themselves. “It might be naïve of me to say [discrimination] doesn’t exist,” Winston said. “[However] I have not personally seen it. That would be just like me saying students don’t drink. I’m
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sure it happens. I just don’t see it.” Lauren, on the other hand, has experienced stereotyping firsthand, and firmly believes it exists on campus, regardless of what others might say. She believes that Paly’s administration may have a limited perspective on the issue, and addresses what she believes to be their general perception of the matter. “‘I don’t see racism because I’m a 40-year-old white guy, so I wouldn’t know,’” Lauren said, mocking the view of the administration. PAUSD superintendent Kevin Skelly shares a similar viewpoint to that of Winston. Skelly, who is Caucasian, said, “I don’t see [discrimination] directly, but I think [it comes] up.” Although Winston and Skelly see no tangible examples of discrimination, the district is still working to dissolve racial stereotyping. According to the “Nondiscrimination and Section 504 Grievance Policy” listed in Paly’s 2011-2012 Handbook, “The Board of Education of the Palo Alto Unified School District shall provide equal opportunities in all areas and assure that there will be no discrimination against any person on the grounds of race... and color.” To spread awareness of the cultural differences in the PAUSD community, the administration has also recently developed a workshop called ‘Teaching and Leading with a Cultural Eye.’ “It’s a [three day workshop] in which we have speakers who talk about what your expectations are in class, how are you taking on these kinds of issues, [and] the kind of things you do in the classroom to create a culturally sensitive environment,” Skelly said.
The Viking
Cover Story ronment,” Skelly said. Another way PAUSD combats discrimination is through Camp Everytown, a four-day student-teacher retreat to Boulder Creek, California. African-American Living Skills teacher and Camp Everytown staff member Letitia Burton describes the purpose of the outing. “With Camp Everytown, we really try to look at all those stereotypes, whether [they are] conscious or unconscious,” Burton said. “We know that all these racial stereotypes exist and we all grow up with them. [We try] to make that all conscious and bring it to the forefront, and to really see how these stereotypes hurt people on very personal levels.” Concerning sports, Burton acknowledges the possibilities of discrimination in sports, but also the opportunity to unite. “I think any time you are on a team when you bring people of different backgrounds together for the benefit of the team, [people] can [come] together,” Burton said. Lauren agrees, and traces many of her current friendships back to the sports teams she has played on. “I feel like if I had not been playing sports, I most likely would not be talking to a lot of [the people I talk to now],” Lauren said. “It makes life so much easier to have as many good, trusting friends as possible, and especially to have diversity among your friends. I would never have gotten to that amount [of friends] without sports and the diversity it brought.” Skelly also believes that sports do more to unify than to divide. “Sports [do] much more to unite. Athletics in general [require teammates to] cheer, support and count on people of all kinds,” Skelly, a former basketball and tennis player said. “You’ve got to understand their tendencies and where they’re weak. If you’re playing with someone who can’t shoot, you’ve got to find ways for them to be an asset to your team. As a
teammate, put them in a position where they can be helpful. I think sports are a great way to get a window into somebody else.” The barrier-breaking potential that makes the sports environment unique stems from the very nature of team competition. Every sport from swimming to football is based on performance, and with this, carries an equal playing field for all athletes. “There are certain cliques within our team based on race,” Asian-American varsity basketball player Alec Wong (‘12) said. “But once we’re on the court, it doesn’t matter who it is. We still pass the ball to whoever is open, whether they’re black, white or Asian.” Regardless of the attempt to avoid the use of racial stereotypes, Skelly believes the tendency of athletes to occasionally profile still exists. “Often we want to draw conclusions about someone without trying to understand them,” Skelly said. “Your conclusion is not necessarily what you are trying to learn or how you’re trying to understand that person.” As Skelly states, people make assumptions. They range from ‘He’s white, so he can’t jump,’ to, ‘He’s black, so he’s supposed to be good at sports.’ But each athlete is different. Each one comes from unique backgrounds and experiences. Each has a different shape, size and color. And focusing on the exterior takes away from an athlete’s accomplishments on the field. Unity and teamwork are colorblind, or as they teach at Camp Everytown, “color-conscious.” On the surface, a player like Thorup might be a “white guy,” but beneath the surface, he is just another athlete striving to be the best he can be. Sure, he can hear the booming chant of his fellow seniors, but that is not where his focus lies. In the athletic arena, players forget their ethnic, religious, cultural, and all other differences to unite and strive for one thing: victory.
By the numbers
In an annonymous survey with 109 Paly athletes (70 Caucasian, 18 Asian, 8 African American, 4 Latino, and 9 other)..
49 %
believe racial profiling is prominent in Paly athletics
57 %
admit to racially profiling an opponent or teammate
13 %
say that racial profiling has discouraged them from pursuing a sport
30 %
say they have been affected by racial profiling in sports
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Perspectives
interviewed by Emy Kelty and Nathan Norimoto
Tremain Kirkmain
Photos by Scotty Bara
Mira Ahmad
“
“
Since Sept. 11, my race has played a very defining role in how people I don’t know perceive me. In third grade, there was this boy, it was right after Sept. 11, and he was calling me Mira Bin Laden. I just remember that my parents had talked to me about people saying things, but it’s 3rd grade and you don’t really expect it at school. It’s all just a part of racial profiling, so when it happens outside in your life, I think you’re mentally prepared for those kinds of comments by the time you get onto the field. Sometimes it’s like stupid Indian b***h, or they’ll say you f*****g Paki. Soccer is something that I love to do. I think I’m too strong of a person to let someone else dictate how I would live my life. I feel like if I let comments affect me to the degree, where I stop doing something because other people essentially forced me to stop doing it. It would be pretty spineless. Soccer is called, “the universal language” because it doesn’t matter where you’re from, because you all have something in common by sharing a love for the game. I think the mixing of cultures and being able to experience other people’s cultures and them learning about yours, to, is one of the best parts about soccer. You have to work as a unit. It’s not about who you are as an individual on the field, but how you are as a whole on the field. No matter how global our world or community is becoming, there is always one person who just doesn’t get it.
”
I feel like [sterotyping] is a huge problem in Palo Alto, because we don’t have enough of a minority population in Palo Alto. There is an expectation that you are here visiting from EPA. I know I see a lot of racial profiling around Palo Alto. People like to think that Palo Alto is this great place, and most people just don’t see the other side. My friend Morris [Gates-Mouton (‘12)] was walking to my house, and someone pulled up to him and said, “Get out of here n****r,” and sped away. During a game, [opponents] would be like, “Get out of here, we don’t like your kind around here”. When [people] see black players, they think “an unintelligent player’ and ‘ridiculously athletic.” Grades are more important to me. They expect you to be an athlete first. They say, ‘Hit the books first,’ but I have received backlash for running in [late to practice] after school. [There are] expectations that you aren’t necessarily as focused on academic success, so it takes a little while to really adjust. [In the classroom] the achievement gap is a national thing. I think at Paly the statistics are 90% of Asian students and 88% of white students meet A through G requirements and 30% Latino and 15% black students [meet requirements]. That doesn’t include special ED students, some of which are put in Special ED wrongly at an early age, but that is a different issue. It [racism] starts from a very early age, from kindergarten on.
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”
The Viking
Running After Dark
Running
After
Athletes push their minds and bodies to the limit in ultramarathon running
Dark The 27th mile marks the departure from the average marathon. Founded by the Tarahumari (Raramuri) Native Americans in Northern Mexico, ultramarathon running pushes athletes into a world dominated by psychology, physiology, and nutrition. Running through the night in longer ultra races presents unique situations for inexperienced runners, but the practiced, prepared athletes take it all in stride.
“It’s a metaphor for how to do life,” longdistance runner and English teacher Shirley Tokheim said. “That’s how it’s worked for me. And you have to have the goal.” For the full story on ultramarathon running, go to www.vikingsportsmag.com. The Viking explores runners’ personal experiences and the mechanics and logistics of ultramarathon running.
by Hilda Huang
Lungs
The human body houses its own balloons, and in running, the lungs serve one of the most important roles, streaming oxygen into every muscle. For athletes, the velocity at maximum oxygen uptake (vVO2 max) serves as a limit for speed and endurance. Unfortunately, 80-90 percent of a person’s range of athletic capabilities, including O2 capacity and ratio of fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles (fast-twitch muscles deliver short, great bursts of power while slow-twitch muscles sustain activity over a long period of time) are genetically predetermined, and so sports like ultramarathon running become essentially hereditary. “That’s why you see you see families where all generations have been Olympic athletes, because it’s largely [genetic], and that’s really important for endurance events like ultras,” sports medicine doctor Sally Harris said.
Knees
“And then you get to the knee, and that’s where the real trouble is,” ultramarathon runner Jean Pommier said. “If you land on your heel, the shock goes straight to the knee which is really bad for the cartilage. The other thing is that if you have good quads, [just like] the idea of suspension, the quad is going to absorb a lot of shock instead of going bone on bone on the knee.” Runners often train only by running, and the rest of the muscles can’t absorb shock as effectively. Most running injuries stem from knee problems or weakness over the extended period of shock absorbance. “In runners there’s runners’ knee,” Saxena said. “It’s a collective term, not a specific diagnosis-it could be tendonitis of the knee, a kneecap [that] doesn’t track properly, or you could have arthritis in the knee.”
Ankles Of a hundred runners, studies show that around 80 would suffer from ankle overpronation, when the ankle rolls inward due to bone and leg structure. “You can have malalignment of the ankle and it wears out the ankle unevenly,” podiatrist Amol Saxena DPM said. With each of the over 15 million steps in an ultramarathon (transposed from author and running coach Rick Morris’ estimation of 42,000 steps in a marathon) the ankle serves its highest purpose in stabilizing the leg and performing kinetic change, distributing shock evenly to joints in both legs.
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Mental
“It’s mostly mental,” long distance runner and English teacher Shirley Tokheim said. “Once you’re running hours and hours and hours it becomes a mental challenge because physically you might be able to do it, but if you can’t mentally do it, you won’t be able to finish.” Most argue that ultra-running is more of a mental game than a physical challenge. Mental training plays a critical role for athletes aiming to finish day-long races. “The mental training could be something like going out and running 30 miles on Saturday and then setting your alarm early on Sunday and going out for 20 miles,” ultramarathon runner Stan Jensen said. “When you go out Sunday you’ll be tired, you’ll be sore, and you’ll have every reason not to go running.”
Hydration and Nourishment
Runners rely on glucose and glycogen stores in the body to fuel Anaerobic respiration, and so they need carbohydrate stores. Even shorter distance marathon runners experience ‘hitting the wall’ at around 20 miles, when the glycogen and carbohydrate their bodies run out. Running for 12 hours or more means that athletes have to hydrate starting days before the race and snack on the run. Aid stations spaced every 10-13 miles provide snacks from hamburgers to sushi and drinks from electrolyte-rich Gatorade to sugar-filled soft drinks with sugar. Others provide coffee, to help runners stay awake through the night. “It’s often called an eating and drinking event because you’re managing your hydration, you’re managing your calorie intake,” ultramarathon runner Paul Oropallo said.
Feet
Paly teacher, Shirley Tokheim
The feet take up 52 of the 206 bones in the body and bear the brunt of bad form and overuse. Runners suffer from these stress fractures, particularly in the metatarsal, or the ball of the foot, because of constant pounding and overuse. “You do anywhere from three up to more than 10 times your body weight [with each step],” Saxena said. Over a period of 30-plus hours, feet swell and bruise, and if runners take over 400 steps per mile, for a 100-mile race, the foot takes in 400 to 800 tons of force.
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The Viking
The Spirit of the Game
THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME Ultimate players put a new spin on Frisbee at Paly by Nikolai Solgaard photography by Scotty Bara design by Sam Borsos
Samuel Mignot (‘10) left and Sam Asin (‘12) right go air born to complete a pass on a Paly field afterschool. As the last few weeks of school loom over students, many find their own unique ways of celebrating the approaching summer. Some bare it all and streak across the quad. Others lounge around on the senior deck. But what about those Frisbee™ players always seen running around near the tower building? While it may seem as though the students are casually playing on the quad, there is actually a competitive Ultimate club at Palo Alto High School. Ultimate is not you’re average sport. It doesn’t use balls. You can’t move while you have the Frisbee™ and there are no referees. It’s not necessarily the most popular sport in America. So how did it come to Paly? “Frisbee™ basically started as a debate activity,” co-founder of the Ulti-
mate club at Paly Nassim Fedel (‘12) said. “Freshman year me and a few others would play Ultimate Frisbee™ during and after debate. We kind of became that core group of guys who still play ultimate now, I guess debate and Frisbee™ have a lot of connection to each other.” Although it’s currently unknown who originally brought Ultimate to Paly, Fedel and Xavier Mignot (‘12) were the two who truly made the sport mainstream. “We wanted to make it an official Paly club because a lot of the people who play ultimate at the school are seniors,” Mignot said. “We wanted to get younger people involved and make it into a Paly tradition.” The club’s goals are being accomplished as more and more people across
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campus are noticing an increase in the number of Ultimate players at Paly. “Everyone knows what a Frisbee™ is, but not many people know what the sport of ultimate is,” casual Frisbee™ player Ben May (‘11) said. “There’s a lot more people who are aware of what the sport is since the club came along.” Part of what makes Ultimate so fun is how easy it is to get started. While many other sports require gym space or expensive equipment, Ultimate is very low maintenance. Sam Asin (‘12) thinks this may be its most attractive feature. “It’s basically my favorite team sport because it’s something you can just pick up and play,” Asin said. “It’s very free flowing, you don’t really need to organize anything. You just make two teams and then run around.”
Although currently there is only a club for Ultimate, the club hopes to expand into a team by the spring season. Hopes to expand in the future. Mignot and Fedel are working with the Ultimate club’s advisor Chris Farina, a psychology teacher at Paly, into making an Ultimate team. “We have so many people interested in Frisbee™ at Paly it would be cool to compete against Ultimate players from other schools,” Fedel said, “With the addition of Mr. Farina at Paly we can now compete more successfully. He has a lot of experience.” Farina certainly has his share of Ultimate experience, having played competitively his senior year of high school, four years in college at Middleberry and club Ultimate after college.
“Mr. Farina attends every other practice,” Fedel said. “Our practices mostly consist of games, and when he’s there clearly he is a big factor in the games. But beyond that he makes everyone play at a higher level.” Aside from teaching psychology and participating in the Ultimate club, Farina’s uses his experience to teach the fundamentals of the sport. “He taught me how to throw a forehand, and he taught us how to throw around defenders,” Fedel said. Undoubtedly Farina’s teaching will be critical when the team begins to play more competitively. People don’t often think of ultimate as a competitive sport, but the truth is every aspect of the sport indicates competition. Like any competitive sport, there are both
serious mental and physical aspects. “Ultimate isn’t just leisurely tossing a Frisbee™ around in a park,” regular ultimate player Maxwell Siegelman said. “It’s a physically and mentally demanding sport.” Ultimate isn’t just competitive in small unknown leagues, the level of Ultimate play extends all the way from high school to the national level. “They don’t have varsity Frisbee™ in college, but club Frisbee™ is very competitive,” Asin said. “Most colleges have intramurals at least.” You may think students playing ultimate on the quad are just a bunch of kids trying to blow of steam after class, but the truth is that they are competing, in a real and unique sport, just like any other team at Paly.
OFFICIAL ULTIMATE RULES Information from the usaultimate.org website
THE FIELD: TO SCORE: CHANGE OF POSSESSION : NO REFEREES : NONCONTACT: SPIRIT OF THE GAME:
A rectangular shape with end zones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with end zones 25 yards deep. Catch the Frisbee™ in the opponent’s end zone. When a pass is not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense. Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes. No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when contact is made. Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of playing.
“Moose Pretzel Disc Golf Stickers” © 2011 John Fischer Creative Commons Generic Attributions.
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The Viking
Team Moms
Team Moms The hidden heart of Paly athletics
photo by Nina Kelty
by Nina Kelty
Football team parent Kim Grey serves Mike Lyzwa (‘12) and Sam Moses (‘12) at a team dinner before their Senior Night game on Nov. 4. The Vikings crushed Los Altos High School 74-14. Theresa Anderson watches from the stands as the Paly football team takes the field. She blends in with the rest of the crowd, but her contribution to the team is more than most. The night before, she was one of a few Palo Alto High School football moms orchestrating another weekly team dinner. After the game, she and the other football parents will plan for the upcoming Senior Night. “It can be tiring and stressful, but it’s rewarding, ” Anderson said. Team parents, such as Anderson, are essential to help a team run smoothly and allow the coaches to focus on the sport. “Basically everything that goes on outside the field [the team moms coordinate] because I know that the coaches are pretty occupied,” wrestler and baseball player Christian Lonsky (‘12) said. As a team mom of cross-country, soccer, and lacrosse for the past two years, Margie Cain understands the importance of her role, as well as other team parents.
“I think parents are a necessary aspect of high school sports [because] there are too many details for a coach to take on alone,” Cain said. To create an organized athletic environment, team parents spend hours
Football moms Theresa Anderson and Christina Dickerson enjoy a football game. managing, facilitating, planning, and communicating between coaches and other parents. Brent Schroder (‘13), a water polo player, understands the extent of the tasks that his mother Barbara Schroder
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does to help his team. “[My mom] sets up carpool rides, snacks for after the games, [takes] stats, and [sets up] all the volunteer work [and] concessions,” Schroder said. Barbara Prati, mother of football captain Tori Prati (‘12), explains her contribution to the football team. “I make sure everything runs smoothly because there are a lot of things that need to get done like team dinners, senior night, team banquets, and overall communication,” Prati said. The unrelenting hours of devotion to the various Paly teams reflects their love for the game in their willingness to help. “I’m not [being a team mom] to get my kids more playing time, or favor with the coaches at all,” veteran team mom of boys’ soccer, wrestling, basketball, and baseball Melinda Christopherson said. “I love sports and I love to go and root on all Paly teams [and] I am doing it to be [of] help.” Another reason team parents are willing to dedicate an extensive amount
of time and energy to the team is to share the experience with the team and their own kids. “I do it more because the boys are really fantastic,” Prati said. “ It’s a real pleasure to work with kids that are so great and the parents are so supportive.” Fellow team mom Anderson has a similar view to Prati. “It just makes you feel good that you are a part of the team and you are sharing the experience with your kids,” Anderson said. Similarly, Cain has found that being a team mom has helped her get involved with her children and their friends. “When you have kids in elementary school and middle school it is easier to find opportunities to volunteer in the
classroom, drive on field trips and be on campus so it [is] easy to get to know your child’s friends.” Cain said “By volunteering with high school sports, I had the opportunities to get to know my kids’ friends on and off the field.” Even though the job at hand can sometimes be thankless and overwhelming, when their own kids graduate, team parents remain dedicated to Paly athletics. This year with her last son, Joey Chrisotpherson (‘12) graduating, Melinda Christopherson is one of many team parents involved in Paly sports who is confronted with a bittersweet end to her many adventures as a team parent. Although her days coordinating soccer, wrestling, basketball, and baseball are nearing their
For the Love of Food
end, she is still going to volunteer in the Paly athletic community through Paly Sports Boosters in the years to come. “[Being a team mom has] been a lot of fun and it’s sad to see Joey, being a senior,” Chrirstopherson said. “I am sad to see it all end. It’s such a fun and rewarding way to give back to your community, even though your kids may be gone.” Paly teams are grateful for their team moms’ support. Despite all the duties that come with it, team moms remain grateful for the opportunity they are given to partake in Paly athletics. “You do a lot of work but you get a lot back,” Anderson said. “I feel very lucky that I can do that.”
Although team parents are busy coordinating transportation, fundraising, ordering team gear and practically everything else their teams may need, players are most grateful for the delicious food that they provide. Matt Lam (‘12) is one of many Paly athletes appreciative of the snacks that team moms’ provide. “Its really nice when [team moms] bring us snacks after the game because there is nothing better than having water or Gatorade for you after the game,” Lam said. For many athletes, in high school they are at an age where they are growing, which translates to constantly being hungry. Therefore, team moms’ understand athletes need to refuel before, during and after playing. Not only do players depend on the food, but it can also bring the team together. “[Team dinners] help bring the team together because we can get pretty competitive at practice,” Lonsky said. “After a long practice it’s a different atmosphere going to a team dinner where everyone is close and just having fun being together.”
In a survey of 160 Paly athletes, people said their favorite post game snacks were:
15% Bagels 8.3% Bars
3.3% 8.3% Frozen Nutella Yogurt
20.8% Smoothie/ Shake
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15% Fruit
5.8% Baked Gods 17.5% Chocolate Milk 5.8% Juice
The Viking
Playing Through Injuries
Playing Through Injuries A look at how players overcome injuries through the desire to keep playing by Scotty Bara photography by Grant Shorin “Man up. Come on, the team needs you! Push through the pain! Don’t wimp out! Shake it off!” This is not uncommon language for high school athletes to hear during a game or practice. But when is enough, enough? At what point is an injury enough to prevent athlete from playing their game? High schools including Palo Alto High School have trained faculty to keep players from making bad choices regarding playing through injuries. “There are a lot of reasons why players play through injuries,” head trainer Stacey Kofman said. “We [the athletic trainers] try to determine if it would benefit the athlete to continue to play or whether it’s more detrimental to their health.”
Chris Bisbee (‘12) comes out of the game against Mountain View . Bisbee has had a broken arm for four weeks while playing for the Vikings. 38
The head trainer’s attitude however, is not necessarily shared by athletes; “50 percent of an injury is mental and 50 percent physical,” linebacker, Brennan Miller (‘12) said. “Personally, I don’t have a problem with the pain, for me the injury inhibits me. I can’t cut as well and can’t run as fast.” The debilitating aspect of an injury may seem obvious, but the mental effect of the injury also proposes a dilemma for an athlete. Players commonly enter a game with wellpadded arm or taped hands to protect broken fingers. In order to play well, an athlete has to put minor injuries and pain aside to concentrate on doing their job well. One reason athletes push themselves through injuries is to avoid loosing their positions. Team unity affects player’s attitudes toward playing through the pain. Players do not want to let their team down. If a player takes a break because of an injury he or she could be replaced by another player who could shine at the position and possibly take over. Athletes are also influenced by pressure from the team, the coaches, friends and fans. “I work harder in the weight room to get stronger to keep my position on the field,” linebacker Erik Anderson (‘13) said. Players feel a responsibility and drive to do their best, injury or not in order to not let these people down. Due to these reasons, an athlete may feel compelled to go back into the game, but a trainer must step in and assess the seriousness of the injury. Injuries, such as sprains, can seem minor at first, but could develop into an injury that requires surgery and months of healing and rehab. “We have players who play with first and second degree sprains all the time, but we do the rehab to get them back to the game safely,” Kofman said. Along side Kofman, trainer Josh Goldstein, has to be alert in order to spot players who may not want to be pulled from the game to prevent worsening an injury. “If I see somebody favoring a body part,” Goldstein said, “you can tell they are not using a body part properly, [and] I pull them aside and say ‘hey are you doing ok?’” For trainers, taking a key player out of a close game is not an easy call. The trainer acts as the gatekeeper, prevent-
Bisbee talks to Coach Matt McGinn during his game against Mountain View. The Vikings won the game 46-14. ing athletes from serious injuries. Bone fractures can also lead to growth plate damages, which could affect an athlete’s final height and bone density. These fractures can potentially cause long-term pain that an athlete may have to endure for life. Athletes who want to play in every game are only thinking of this play, this game, this season. “If it [the injury] is at the growth plate, we certainly want to wait,” Kofman said. “We don’t want to impede somebody’s growth factor. Sometimes players make attempts to play through a sprained ankle or a broken thumb because of their love for the game. Injuries can impede an athletes’ ability to perform, and game-changing plays can expose an injury.” So, is it really worth it for an athlete to go back in the game and perhaps cause an injury to become a long-term injury? Athletes must live with these bodies for the rest of their lives, is it really worth it to cause long-term pain and complications from an injury to their bodies by playing rough and physically demanding sports? Will that one game against the cross-town rival really matter that much in 25 years? For some, it is worth the extra effort because they want to play sports at a higher level and athletics can be the ticket to college with scholarships. Many professional athletes would
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not be where they are today if they did not play through their injuries. Former NFL quarterback Steve Young believes that playing through injuries can lead to greater consequences. “I didn’t mind playing through injuries that were not debilitating or long term,” Young said. “Anything that could be [debilitating or long term], you better rest up, you may lose your job, but at least you don’t lose your health.” Young contends serious secondary injuries may result when a player continues to play with a severe initial injury. Athletes have to know before entering a sport that they have to protect their bodies. They have to be responsible for their own safety. For athletes in all sports the trainer has the last word about whether or not a team member takes the field. “It is up to the trainers to determine whether or not the injury is severe or not severe enough for them to come out,” Goldstein said. Training for a sport can help decrease the risk of an injury. “Strength training, speed training, knowing proper technique of your position,” Goldstein said. Man up? Push through the pain? May not be such a hot idea. It’s a short-term solution for a potentially long-term problem.
The Viking
Power 10
Power 10 by Sammy Solomon and Grant Shorin photography by Grant Shorin
The NorCal rowing club glides through Redwood shores. Paly rower Luke Prioleau (‘12) is two seats from the “Power ten! Power ten!” These words translate to “all or nothing” in the life of a crew member. “Power ten” is the coxswain’s (the person who steers the boat and directs the team) command at the most intense moment of the race, during the final stretch when rowers must decide mentally if they have it in them to give that final push to be the first to cross the finish line. Ten strokes, eight rowers, one boat. Alec Fishman (‘13) has experienced firsthand the intensity of sore muscles, rushing adrenaline and only 500 meters left of focus to pull ahead to the finish line. Fishman has rowed for two years with the NorCal Rowing Club and has come to enjoy the sport despite many sacrifices that he has to make in order to attend practices. His squad trains six days a week, which includes five after school practices and one morning practice a week. “On Mondays we have morning practice from 5-7a.m. and then I have to get to [Paly] jazz band which starts at 7:15 a.m.,” Fishman said. While a rower’s biggest sacrifice is sleep, a cherished teenage pasttime, many describe the early rise as a rare occasion to take in the aesthetic appeal of nature that most people don’t get to experience. “You see the most shooting stars you will ever see in your lifetime,” Palo Alto Rowing Club member Victoria Tse (‘12) said. “One time I saw eight during morning practice. I made a lot of wishes that day.” Learning how to adjust to morning practices and the in-
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tense workouts are some of the struggles that many athletes face who have had to make the transition from a mainstream sport such as baseball or football to crew. “The biggest obstacle is the physical and mental exhaustion,” NorCal crew member Luke Prioleau (‘12) said. “We do a lot of cross training like running and lifting, which is exhausting.” In elementary school, aspiring athletes generally pick up sports like soccer and basketball and join youth programs such as the American Soccer Youth Organization (AYSO) and the Young Men’s Christian Organization (YMCA). While many athletes who participate in mainstream sports have been training from an early age, crew athletes generally develop their skills in just a few years. “My coach was an Olympic rower in Athens and he won a National Championship three years after the first time he ever rowed,” Fishman said. “It doesn’t take that long to pick it up.” Paly alumnus Ben Brown (‘11) walked onto Michigan University’s club crew following only two years of training in high school. After quitting football and baseball, Brown became accustomed to the extreme physical and mental toll that crew members experience. However, building strong relationships with teammates makes all of the difficulties of crew seem worthwhile. “My favorite part of crew is the camaraderie that stems from going through hell with your teammates,” Brown said. “You gain respect for people when you know they are willing
front Jasmaer Sandhu (‘12) rows three seats behind Prioleau and Alec Fishman (‘13) is right behind Sandhu. to sacrifice their bodies for you.” Having solid relationships with the members in his boat helped Brown and his teammates maintain the perfect rhythm that allowed them to win the National Championships last spring. Rowers who aspire to participate in crew at the college level spend 15 hours a week training in high school to work towards this goal. Many Paly rowers are part of either the NorCal rowing club or the Palo Alto Rowing Club which rows two, four and eight-person boats. In each boat there is an even amount of people with each member responsible for one oar. The fourman boat and the eight-man boat have coxswains to direct the boat. Colette Lucas-Conwell (‘13), a coxswain, began rowing four years ago and is well suited for this position due to her size and commanding voice. “When I started crew in 8th grade I was 4’9’’ so I couldn’t do a lot of sports,” Lucas-Conwell said. “I had given up on other sports because everyone was so big and tall and I was pretty small.” Her role as a “mini-coach” is to instruct the other members in the boat and to steer the boat because she is the only one who can see the course in front of her. The coxswain also shouts out the stroke rate, which they obtain via a cox box. The coxswain’s commands help the rowers stay on rhythm and gage their strokes per minute so that they can increase their speed.
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Afternoon practices are generally spent doing cardio and weight training to improve speed and endurance while morning practices are devoted to practicing rhythm on the water. “We go on rowing machines and five to seven mile runs,” Tse said. “A lot people think crew is only about upper body. It’s also a lot about legs because you’re pushing off with your shoes.” However, one of the hardest aspects of crew is learning how to push off at the exact same time as the other members of the boat. Rowing completely in sync with one another is the most important component that factors into winning a race. In the fall, races are generally 5k or 6k, while in the spring races consist of short distance sprints of about 2k. 5k races translate to a little over 12 laps around the track. These races require strength, endurance, and perseverance. Recently, Prioleau and his Norcal crew team participated in the Head of Charles Regatta in Boston. “There were about 9,000 people racing in it and over 300,000 fans,” Prioleau said. “It’s one of the biggest sporting events in the nation and just being in Boston with so many people in the rowing community is a lot of fun.” These regattas require intense concentration and the confidence that the other members in the boat will fulfill their role. In crew, if one member of the team is off-rhythm with another, it can sabotage the entire team’s chances of winning the race.
The Viking
Power 10 Crew
The NorCal crew team rows its eight-man boat in unison, led by the commands of its coxswain. The coxswain shouts out to control the stroke rate and steers the boat towards the finish line. “[Crew] really expresses the power of teamwork,” Fishman said. “For example, if you’re a fan of a sport you know key players and the stars of the team. In crew there is no star of the team. You are one boat and it’s all a machine working together. Crew is the definition of a team sport.” If all of the boat members concentrate on emulating the person in front of them and staying on rhythm, they can experience the rewarding feeling of being the first boat to cross the finish line.
“Last year we won our race by three or four boat lengths because the entire time we were out ahead,” Fishman said. “If you’re winning and you’re out ahead you’re looking at who you’re beating because you are facing backwards the entire race and you’re knowing that they can’t catch up with you.” Whether it’s waking up before sunrise or enduring grueling practices, crew members demonstrate the power of teamwork and the beauty of eight people working equally towards one common goal.
“CATCH A CRAB”: A rowing error in which the rower is unable to remove the oar blade from the water and the oar acts as a brake on the boat.
“FEATHER”: To turn the oar so that its blade is parallel with the water.
CREW TALK “WEIGH ENOUGH”: The command to stop rowing or whatever the rower is doing, whether it be walking with the boat overhead or rowing.
“POWER 10”: Coxswain’s command to row 10 strokes of special effort used to pass another boat. “SWING IT”: The command used when carrying a boat to start turning either bow or stern.
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photo by Quitterie Collignon
Shannon Says...
Make a splash on your Senior Night! by Shannon Scheel
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Shannon Scheel (‘12), cherished columnist, reminisces about her last night in the Paly pool. Senior Night. It’s one of those things that every high school athlete knows, at the back of his or her mind, will come around one day. Key words? One. Day. In my head, Senior Night is a night, so far off, many moons from now that it will never ACTUALLY occur. This has been the thought process I have had since my wee freshman self stepped onto the pool deck for the first time in the fall of 2008. I marveled at the seniors, receiving flowers and gifts and waving as gracefully as Debbie Whitson in the hallways, yearning to aspire to their greatness. But before I got lost in my daydream, I quickly snapped back into reality. “Whew, I’m not leaving yet,” I sighed to myself. “Three more years.” The progression ran through my head with every new season. “Two more years. One more year...” The night of October 25th, 2011, however, the truth set in. Senior night, the “date that must not be named,” had arrived, despite my best efforts to avoid it. They say you can’t stop the passing of time... believe me, I’ve tried. You can’t. So after our usual pre-game
dance off in the team room, getting jiggy with it to club bangas such as “Shirt Off” by Young Ivy (what kind of a rapper name is that?) as well as Turbulent Rock Anthem from the Kollection (that song SLAPS), it came the time for us to unplug the stereo and face our opponent in the pool. I stood on the edge, swimsuit zipped, cap and goggles on, but I wouldn’t budge. I tried to convince myself that this was the perfect moment for Senior night. It was a night game, first of all, so definitely fitting in the name. Also, we were in the midst of SPIRIT WEEK, which is arguably the best thing that has ever happened to this great planet of ours since the Renaissance. AND it was toga day, EASILY the best dress up day for any senior. Did I mention we were playing Gunn? That was the icing on my green and white cake. And yet, I continued to hesitate. Once I entered the pool, there was no going back: I would have to face the inevitable of my last home game as a Viking. SPLASH. The cold water engulfed me and I begrudgingly began swim-
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ming. Warm-ups were a blur: my stomach was knotted, my throwing arm felt stiff and all I wanted was to leap out of the pool and run away. I wasn’t done being a Viking. I never wanted to leave Paly water polo. Finally, the season that had meant so much to me was coming to a close. This was the most cohesive team in four years, built from the ground up. No one expected us to win more than a handful of games. But all season our team had a drive to prove something; if not to the other teams, then to ourselves. After two missed Junior Olympic tournaments, I never thought I would make it this far in water polo; This proof had culminated in my Senior night, and I didn’t want to let it go. Before I knew it, there I was, on the side of the pool deck, like so many seniors before, standing idly, cold and wet, waiting for my name to be called. Spencer (our wonderful coach, Sperrys and all) announced each of our names. I held my breath in an effort to stop myself. “And one of our co-captains, Shannon, who has been a great leader this year.” I gripped his hand and my flowers and I couldn’t stop: I was making it rain (not dimes and dolla bills, y’all, but tears). But I surprised myself: these tears were not of sadness. It was pure joy. Water polo was a gift, a skill I can contribute and share with the world of sports. Before the sprint, Skylar Dorosin (‘12)looked at me. “Lets finish this right,” she said. I nodded. We lost 9-6. But my pride in my Senior Night still remains. You know that cliche quote that says: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened?” Well that’s the simple truth. And whichever pool I enter next, I’m taking that smile with me. Maybe I’ll flash my pearly whites at you, reader, if you’re lucky.
The Viking
ultimate workout swag
ultimate workout swag by Emma Beckstrom
“what do you like to see Paly athletes working out in?” the boys say girls should wear...
“Earn your swag” Josh Totte (‘14)
“Spandex”
Keller Chryst (‘14)
“Short-shorts and a normal t-shirt”
“Neon shirts. They’re flashy and make you stand out” Bret Pinsker (‘13)
Sean Harvey (‘13)
“Anything that they are comfortable in: yoga pants, shorts, t-shirts, whatever allows them to actually work out and not just dress up”
Lululemon Wunder Under
Crop athletic leggings are perfect for activities from running, to lifting, to yoga and anything in between.
accentuate the curves” Kenny Rappaport (‘14)
“[When I see a girl wearing a black sports bra, I think] she’s classy; she’s got her head on straight.
“Baggy clothes look awkward; keep it tight and clean”
Nike Free Run 2+ offer
a bare-foot like run and come in countless colors for both men and women.
Tory Prati (‘12)
“Leggings
Nelson Perla-Ward (‘15)
“Yoga pants” B.J. Boyd (‘12)
Lindsay Black (‘12) photo by Scotty Bara
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Neon colors take away from the outfit, black is classic” Andrew Sternfield (‘14)
“Don’t bedazzle. This isn’t a fashion show here; we’re trying to get buff- no crystals” Levi Schoeben (‘14)
the girls say boys should wear...
“Shirtless...but only if they have a six-pack, nothing less” Olivia Maggi (‘13)
“Power Balance bracelets” Sophie Parker (‘13)
“Nothing?”
“Under Armour or Nike
sleeveless shirts because
Lydia Berry (‘15)
Nike cut-off shirt
they show off muscles”
Nike cut-off shirts are a perfect way to stay cool when working out while showing off arm muscle.
Kimmie Flather (‘12)
“Cut-off t-shirts” Abbey Kinnaman (‘13)
“High socks and wifebeaters. No awkward ankle socks” Olivia Cornfield (‘13)
“bro tanks” Victoria Tse (‘12)
“Nike
footwear”
Kristen DeStefano (‘14)
“It’s all about doubling up the elites for extra sock swag” Emilee Osagiede (‘12)
Nike Elite
Proceeds from pink Nike Elite socks help in the fight against breast cancer.
Gabe Landa (‘12) photo by Grant Shorin
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David Fichtenholz Private Academic Tutoring
PSAT, SAT, SAT II, ACT Cell: 310.995.3283 davesemail1212@yahoo.com
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Mervyn’s Plaza 2118A El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 95050 Phone: (408) 261 2255 - Fax : (408) 261 2254 Hours: Mon-Fri 10-5:30 Sat 11-5 Closed Sun
The Last Rules
Friday is game day. And game day usually entails a meal at Panda Express. But a few weeks ago, it was different. That game day meal was more special than the rest. I’m waiting in line with some other Panda goers and lo and behold, in by Brennan Miller walks Steve Young! photo by Paige Borsos Previously, I detailed my love of the 49ers so it should come as no surprise that I was very excited to see my boy Steve. I’d met him several times before, (not that he remembered me) including a Halloween visit to his house about ten years ago, and he had always been very nice to me, unlike some pros who brush people off. We made pleasant conversation about Paly football and pregame rituals and he reminisced about his high school career. But we got to the end of the line (we both had orange chicken, obviously) and he left. But, it occurred to me that not all interactions between the
ing quarterback and LT came around the left side and then you never played again? I was sitting on my green leather recliner sippin’ my fourth Schlitz on that play and man, was that nasty. I could hear that leg crack from right there in my living room!” Although I can’t guarantee this, if I were a betting man, I would bet that Joe Theisman doesn’t want to hear about your drunken experience of one of the worst days of his life. He remembers that play. Once again, he was there! In fact, he was on the field! In that very game! Rule No. 3: Don’t tell them you drafted them on your fantasy team. I don’t have a fantasy team this year, but I have in the past and I needed an FOA: Fantasy Owners Anonymous. I was addicted heavily: doing research everyday, hours of preparation for the draft, reading blogs and listening to podcasts to give my team the edge. So it wouldn’t surprise my if I myself broke this rule. I would definitely tell Ladanian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson that they won me my league in eighth grade. But I can step back and appreciate that they don’t care about me whatsoever. And I’m sure that they care about my fantasy team less than they care about me. But I agree it’s hard. “Hi, my name is Brennan and I’m a Fantasy Owner.” Rule No. 4: Don’t tell them about how good you are at sports. It’s logical that people who are more talented or more qualified for certain activities get paid to do those
public and celeb-letes are like this. So I decided to come up with some rules. Rule No. 1: Don’t ask for autographs. Unless you’re under the age of ten, this is unbelievably tacky. These are real people! They don’t want to sign some scrap of paper you fished out of your soup stained jeans just so you can prove to your fantasy football obsessed friends that you actually met him. Addendum: If you are at a sporting event, this is acceptable. Stadiums are a place to get autographs. Autograph signing sessions are a place to get autographs. Restaurants, malls, Fry’s Electronics: not places to get autographs. Rule No. 2: Don’t say “I was there when you...” I see a lot of people rattling off this bad boy, usually in one, incredibly annoying and gushing run-on sentence. “Tom, I was at that game when it was snowing and you were playing the Raiders, from Oakland, and it was really cold and you fumbled but they said you didn’t cause of your arm and then you guys won. That was really cool!” Tom knows. He was there. In fact, he was on the field! In that very game! Worse than talking about a particular play is talking about an injury. “Oh man Joe, remember in that game when you were play-
activities. There is a reason that professional athletes are professional athletes. They’re really good. Much better than you. If you were better than them, you would be them! You would be the one having to deal with some over arrogant yet completely average athlete rushing up to you and saying, “Ya know Jeremy, I really liked your effort trying to score from first on a ball to the right side, but I woulda beat Jeter’s throw. There’s no way I woulda been out.” You would’ve been out. In fact, probably, you wouldn’t have even been on base. Not that I would know, but I’m pretty sure it’s extremely difficult to a 95 mph Mike Mussina fastball. Professional athletes don’t want to hear about how you would do better than them or about how you scored last weekend for you wiffle ball team, The Average Joes. I certainly don’t know all the rules. I am open to adding, amending or otherwise changing them. I just think that celebrity athletes should be treated properly. Steve Young walked in to Panda with his daughters; he’s a family man. It wasn’t my place to embarrass him by asking for an autograph or telling him about events he was apart of. We should just treat them like what they are: regular people.
We should just treat celeb-letes like what they are: regular people.
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