Western Courier / January 16th, 2019

Opinions: Government shutdown affects the TSA.

Sports: Take a closer look at the MLB offseason.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - Vol. 119 Issue 44

Sports: Women's basketball goes 3-6 over break.

Crafty Coop seeks liquor license

felicia selmon/ courier staff

devon greene/ editor-in-chief

City Attorney Kristin Petrie discusses conditions of potential liquor license for Crafty Coop.

By Steven Barnum news editor

Macomb aldermen met on Monday evening to discuss a water main project, additional financial opportunities and liquor licenses.

City officials are working on an agreement that would allow customers of a Macomb business to consume alcohol on site. The “Class Y Patron Supply Alcohol and Liquor License” may soon be awarded to a paint and pottery studio in downtown Macomb, The Crafty Coop.

City Attorney Kristen Petrie talked about the conditions that would come with the liquor license.

“This would be for beer, wine or cider brought by the patron with no more than 35 persons occupying the business at one time,” Petrie said. “That would keep the group at a relatively small and workable size. It cannot just be a social gathering, it would only pertain to paint parties and classes or something related to the business.”

Another stipulation of the

license requires all employees at The Crafty Coop to complete training in The Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET) program.

Once certified, employees would be clear on how to be compliant with the law and how to detect signs of over-intoxication.

Additionally, customers are not allowed to supply everyone in the studio with alcoholic beverages.

Instead, they are only able to share with their group. Per the laws regarding alcohol

in public, beverages leaving the business must be properly sealed. When it comes to the potential dangers of alcohol, Lacie Todd will take the proper precautions.

“I would card everyone to make sure that they are all 21,” the owner of The Crafty Coop said, “and I’ve already looked into the BASSET training.”

Todd also referenced a similar business upstate in Galesburg, Ill., which doesn’t allow employees under 18 years old to pour, serve or clean up alcoholic beverages.

She says she would follow the same rules if Macomb agrees to grant her business the license.

Alderman Gayle Carper asked if the business could be subject to compliance checks, similar to checks that police officers do in bars.

Petrie confirmed that the police could check in with the studio since it’s a public place, and that the employees should be aware of the potential consequences.

City Council page 2

Jimmy person/Production Manager

By Steven Barnum news editor

Fire departments in Fulton County and McDonough County responded to a train derailment near Table Grove, Ill. Several cars on a BNSF train left the track shortly before

5 p.m. Sunday evening. The tanker cars were carrying isopropyl alcohol, which is a flammable chemical. Fortunately, the chemical did not leak into the environment.

Edgar Rodriguez is the Director of the McDonough County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency,

and he says that the situation could have been a lot more dangerous.

“Some of the tracks go through our community,” Rodriguez said, “but luckily, this happened in a rural and unpopulated area. None of the tankers burst and there were no injuries to the crew

or the public.”

As part of his job description, Rodriguez would be involved in protecting the public in situations of natural disasters, like tornadoes and blizzards that recently hit McDonough County. Additionally, Rodriguez said that his agency would also assist

in threatening situations to the area, like if there was an active shooter.

When it comes to derailments, they do not occur very often in McDonough County, according to Rodriguez.

Derailment page 2

2

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

NEWS

City Council

from front page

“I would hope they’d take the appropriate steps to manage the situation if they weren’t complying, it would be their license at risk,” Petrie said.

In the initial draft of the ordinance, the liquor license fee will total $750; however, there appears to be a compromise in the works after Todd made the case on why that amount should be reduced. “$750 is a little too high for me,” Todd said. “This is my third job, so money is not forthcoming for $750. I

Derailment

from front page

He recalls an incident near Galesburg, Ill. a few years ago, but says that this is the first major train incident he has seen in the area since taking the job.

Garrett Savage also responded to the incident.

Savage is the fire chief of the New Salem Fire Department, he was able to get to the scene quickly despite the inclement weather from Saturday’s snowfall.

“We had no issue getting to the scene,” Savage said, “because it was right along the highway and the roads were cleaned off by then.”

Savage’s team arrived to the tracks within six to eight minutes after receiving the call, and they were prepared to evacuate the area if necessary.

“We had every road blocked that could lead to that area, whether it be a country road or highway. There were only two houses that were within the evacuation area, but we told them there wasn’t any need to evacuate at that time,” Savage said.

Savage was not completely aware of what had exactly occurred regarding how many cars left the track and how serious the situation was

WC Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall.

Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press

think $500 is more reasonable for me.”

Both Alderman John Vigezzi, who called the business a great opportunity for Macomb, and Aldermanat-large Dennis Moon also believe that the proposed cost is too high.

“Usually, I don’t have a problem charging more for liquor licenses,” Moon says, “but in this case, I suggest we do $500. I think this is really a niche business and this could enhance its chances of being successful.”

When it comes to why she feels a liquor license would benefit her studio, Todd

wants members of the public to feel the artistic vibe in the most relaxing and fun way possible.

“Everyone has been loving the studio and I just wanted to explore this option,” Todd said. “I thought it’d be something the City of Macomb could look into for me because people enjoy having a glass of wine while they’re creating art.”

Petrie will make the proper adjustments to the ordinance proposal, which will be on the agenda for the first reading at next week’s meeting. The Crafty Coop has been open to the public since Oct. 20, 2018.

WesternCourier.com Elsewhere in Macomb, Public Works Director Scott Coker shared the bids that the city received to complete the water main repair project. After collecting bids from four different companies, the city of Macomb selected “Visu Sewer” at a total of $201,450.

Roughly 75 percent of that amount will repair the storm sewers while the other 25 percent will cover the sanitation sewers. The Wisconsin-based company beat out rivaling bids of $219,116, $237,266 and $209,913. Coker says that the department’s inspection of the sewer lines indicated that the project shouldn’t

exceed the bid, although there is always the possibility of an issue leading to additional costs.

Mayor Mike Inman announced that the Macomb community will be a recipient of the community block grant. The economic opportunity is thanks to a statewide initiative, which will hand out more than $13 million to 28 different communities in Illinois. Macomb will be receiving $500,000, which they could use to fund the water main project.

“We’re looking forward to putting that to good use,” Inman said.

until he arrived to the scene.

He says that they prepared for a much-worse scenario.

U.S. Route 136 and its connecting roads were closed off so that cleanup crews and investigators could work on the scene. The county redirected traffic into detours, but Rodriguez says they were planning on reopening all roads within the next day of the incident.

“The railroad company asked us to give them 48 hours and so far they’ve been doing a great job,” Rodriguez said. “We’re heading in a good direction to repair the tracks and reopen the roads.”

BNSF is still searching for the factors behind the cars leaving the track, and Rodriguez says that they will release more information when the investigation is complete. At this point, the incident could have been a combination between the snowfall and condition of the tracks.

Isopropyl alcohol is a solvent, which is used as an ingredient in products ranging from wet wipes to hand sanitizer. When combined with enough magnesium, isopropyl alcohol can create explosions, showing that the derailment could have been a major disaster.

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Devon Grrene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu news editor Steven Barnum

proofreader Amanda Wandachowicz

SS-Barnum@wiu.edu

A-Wandachowicz@wiu.edu

opinions editor Allison Young

photo editor Becca Langys

AN-Young@wiu.edu

RE-Langys@wiu.edu

sports editor Bradley Piros

assistant photo editor Sara Remar

BJ-Piros@wiu.edu

SE-Remar@wiu.edu

assistant sports editor Chris Bean

production manager Jimmy Pierson

CR-Bean@wiu.edu

JM-Pierson@wiu.edu

edge editor Marc Ramirez

business manager Faith Rucker

MA-Ramirez3@wiu.edu

F-Rucker@wiu.edu

copy editor Brie Coder

advertising manager Jacob Day

B-Coder@wiu.edu

JD-Day@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

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Wednesday, January 16, 2019

NEWS 3

Student Government Association Announces Restructuring

Aaron Steele (left) and Grant Reed (right) discuss new Student Government Association meeting structure.

By Marc Ramirez edge editor

The Student Government Association at Western Illinois University held their first general assembly meeting of 2019 on Tuesday, where the new restructuring of the organization was explained to all in attendance.

According to President Grant Reed, Attorney General Kelly Rodger, Speaker of the Senate Aaron Steele, Vice President Madison Lynn and himself met several times

over the break to discuss the new plan of restructuring the association.

The structural change consists of two types of meetings occuring on alternating Tuesday’s. A formal business meeting, as conducted this week, will still begin at 7 p.m., and the general assembly meeting will be run at its typical time. On off weeks, the meeting will be a committee meeting, a time where Senators would attend their assigned committee and actively work to

draft legislation and present it before the Student Government Association, an action that lacked last semester.

“Next week will be our first committee week so we will not make you guys dress business casual but ask that people wear a collared shirt, jeans and tennis shoes,” Reed said.

During the new committee weeks, committees will have a structure time during meetings to participate in discussions regarding their things

related to their committee and present ideas that would create a positive contribution to Western.

Reed also announced that on committee weeks, SenatorsAt-Large will now be required to attend the last 15 minutes of the SGA cabinet meeting which takes place immediately before the weekly meetings at 7 p.m. In this time, they will be required to give a report explaining what they have done the week before to satisfy their position as Senators-At-Large. This can

felicia selmon/courier staff

include organizations visited or contacted, progress on legislation ideas, outreach efforts, senators collaborated with, campus issues and discussion topics, what is going on in your committees, etc.

Office hours and attending them was another point brought up during the meeting. It was made clear that office hours are constitutionally required for Senators-AtLarge and that each should have three to five hours logged into the Student Organization center per week.

JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER

JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER

We are currently in the longest federal government shutdown in history. Many government employees have gone weeks without pay, including members of the TSA. TSA agents are an important part of the airport system and having more agents help airport checkpoints move a lot more smoothly.

The lack of pay has led to a number of government employees including TSA agents to call in sick to work, some of which work very important jobs and professions. While I don’t condone people calling into work when they’re needed, I wouldn’t want to come into work if I wasn’t getting paid either. These are people’s livelihoods and they have bills to pay, they’re not going to waste their time doing work they don’t know if they’ll get back pay for. A significant number of TSA agents have called in sick across the country.

In fact one Miami airport is saying they have to shutdown a whole terminal due to the number of call-offs. I feel that more airports will have to result to similar measures if things don’t change soon.

No one is blaming the workers though. They’ve been used as pawns in a situation without their permission and without any disregard for how it will affect them. Individuals who have necessary federal jobs like the TSA and other agencies should not be expected to do their duties without pay. Anyone who worked any job would probably not come in if they were told they wouldn’t be getting paid, most

people don’t work for the simple pleasure of doing something.

Not everyone is lucky enough to work just to pass time. Many of these federal employees have created GoFundMe pages and found other methods of getting money to pay bills. With the end of this stalemate nowhere in sight it may be wise for them to start looking at employment in other places or in the private sector. That way they would still be able to make money to support their families.

Both sides are holding firm and attempts at compromise have been futile. The sad part is that it’s not Congress or the president being affected but the federal employees and everyday citizens who are taking the brunt of it. The FDA stated that it can only now regulate the necessities (dairy, meat, canned foods, baby food, etc.) as it doesn’t have the resources for their normal amount of regulations. The ability to receive tax returns has come into question as people may have to wait months to get their money.

Food stamps and WIC have also been affected. You know there’s a problem when WIC is not able to run, which means some babies may not be getting the food they need.

Living in Illinois, we’re not new to government budget impasses. We finally got a state budget, which doesn’t seem too long ago based on how long we went without it, and now the federal government can’t agree on one.

Let’s hope this shut down comes to an end soon.

Contact

AN-Young@wiu.edu

I realize that this is a common opinion among many students and is a sore spot at the beginning of most semesters, but not much has actually been done on the subject.

Grading attendance is a common, yet useless and counterproductive practice that is still found in many classes.

Understand that I am not talking about classes where participation is a key part of the class such as kinesiology or an art class.

If you are never participating in basketball or are always forgetting your art supplies, then it makes sense that your grade is affected.

For most classes though, grading attendance and participation is not necessary.

Attendance policies are commonly found in lecture classes where students read off a PowerPoint. The long held belief is that students who go to class do better in that class.

That makes complete sense and I’m not disagreeing with that statement at all. Based on that logic, students who don’t show up to class will do worse on assignments and assessments which is fair. If you don’t learn the material you won’t be able to demonstrate your knowledge of it. The issue is that those students who have already been docked on the assignments and assessments are also being docked even more on their attendance grades, this is called double jeopardy. There is no reason students should be punished twice for essentially the same reason.

The student is docked on their test and on attendance grade for not showing up to class? That doesn’t

seem fair. Then there’s the students who don’t show up to class half the time, only show up for quizzes and tests and still manage to get an A. Once the attendance grade goes in this student who earned an A on all of their assignments ends up with a B in the class. Someone please explain to me how that makes sense. The student is able to earn all A's on their assignments but is docked for not attending classes they apparently didn’t really need to go to. They either understood the material or the class just wasn’t that difficult. That shouldn’t be counted against the student. All attendance grades do is hurt students grades and GPAs. If prospective students see that students at an institution are being knocked down for reasons besides academic ability, they’re not going to want to attend that institution. Aren't your grades supposed to reflect your knowledge on the material? I don’t quite understanding how sitting in a chair demonstrates understanding of the material. I’m just discussing academic discrepancies with attendance grades. I’m not even going into the medical reasons why attendance policies are counterproductive.

As I said earlier, many students share this sentiment. In fact last spring Western’s Student Government Association overwhelmingly passed a bill that stated graded participation or attendance doesn’t serve a purpose in demonstrating knowledge. Unfortunately the bill never made it to school policy. Still, it is clear to students that these policies are counterproductive, so why do we still have them?

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

@WesternCourier

OPINIONS 5

WIU should have a student thrift store  Many college students are broke and cannot afford to buy brand new clothes that they may need for interviews or just for class. There is a local Goodwill in Macomb but its very small. I think Western Illinois University should implement a student thrift store, where students can donate old clothes or dorm accessories to be sold to other students at discount price.

Another way the thrift store could help students is by buying old and used textbooks from other students.

Buying used textbooks is a great way to buy books without breaking your bank. The thrift store could be placed in the Union so it is in a convenient location. If students donated.

The clothes would be more aimed toward our age range. If someone donated some old business casual clothes, that could be bought by a student who can not afford them at full price. It would also make more

jobs on campus by having the store be student-ran.

I think this would be a great idea because students can feel good about donating their things and know that it will go to good use to someone else on campus. Dorm decor could also be donated and reused, because let's face it once you graduate you do not need half of the stuff that you decorated your dorm with. Freshmen could save a lot of money on decor for their rooms if they just reuse old room decor, as well as past students textbooks. I think the store would be good for Western. I think it would be a positive thing for students to interact with. If students have an hour between classes and just need something to do they can go look around the store. The bookstore in the Union now is great but let's be honest, it is very pricey. The store could make the University more money as well.

All the money made from the thrift

store could benefit other aspects of the university. This thrift store would also bring students closer together. We all could just make sure everyone has what they need.

A senior could tell freshmen what books they actually need for classes, and which ones they did not really use in the same classes. Upperclassmen could also help students with clothing recommendations for job fairs and interviews. The store could give away free notebooks and school supplies as well if it is donated, so students who can not afford some items for their classes do not have to panic. Students could also get discounted Western Illinois apparel for games and events at a lower price then the bookstore has them listed for.

I believe this store would benefit the students and the school. I think it would make quite a profit while still having discounted items and great quality items and textbooks.

Students could have leadership roles in running the business and also the great feeling of knowing they are helping out students in need and students who just want to save an FLICKR.COM extra dollar or two.

Thrift stores are often a good place to find deals on clothes.

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Edge Editor - Marc Ramirez Editor-in-Chief - Devon Greene Opinions Editor - Allison Young

6

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Sports

Basketball from back page

Higginbotham once again saw herself move up on the school’s all-time scoring list, passing Zane Teilane for second place.

Higginbotham’s strong impact has paced this inexperienced squad all season long, but it was junior guard Avery Hamm who turned out to be the X-factor in this one.

Her three-point prowess proved to be the difference in this one, as her 18 points (all three-pointers) off the bench provided a much-needed spark. Kaufmann also had a career night of her own, finishing with 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Coming off an impressive victory, the Purple and Gold aimed to take their momentum into their Summit League opener on Dec. 28, against a tough opponent in South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits came into action as the reigning Summit League champions, proving that Western would need to bring forth their best effort yet.

Although South Dakota’s offensive firepower gave them the upper hand in a hard-fought 93-84 victory, Western’s Elizabeth Lutz did all that she could to keep things close, pouring-in a career-high 28 points.

Junior guard Kyra Washington placed second on the Leathernecks with 14 points of her own.

The final result against South Dakota State may not have been ideal but should’ve been seen as a moral victory that would allow the team to hold their heads high going into their contest against Denver. They were able to do just that, riding an offensive hot streak into their second consecutive matchup at Western Hall, defeating their opposition 87-78. It was none other than Higginbotham who led the charge for the Leathernecks,

posting 23 points to pair with a career-high 17 rebounds. It was a well-rounded win that included contributions from several key players. Sophomore guard Grace Gilmore (14), along with junior guards Annabel Graettinger (17) and Kaufmann (13), finished the game with double-figure scoring totals.

The Purple and Gold ended the 2018 calendar year on the right foot but would need to quickly turn their attention to Oral Roberts University, where they would play their first road game of the new year on Jan. 5. Oral Roberts was able to narrowly edge the Leathernecks in a 68-64 nail-biter, where Western was forced into comeback mode in the waning moments of the contest. In another close loss, ORU out-boarded the Necks 45-37. Their defeat moved them to 1-2 in Summit League play.

Things didn't get any easier for Western in their last contest before the beginning of the spring semester, when they traveled to North Dakota State last Friday. After a strong first half by the Leathernecks, they managed to come up with just 25 points in the second half, allowing the Bison to walk away with a 68-60 victory. Finishing the evening with her third-straight double-double, Higginbotham did all that she could to keep things close. Gravina acknowledged that the root of the team’s faults may have come from their inability to get to the free throw line.

“We just weren't doing a great job of going to finish. We didn't get to the free throw line as much as we normally do, which says something about our aggressiveness, but really it's mostly about our spacing,” said Gravina. “That's a huge thing for our motion offense, and when you don't have it, it's tough.”

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On the heels of another uninspiring team performance, the Coach Gravina seemed to have a ignited a flame amongst his inexperienced roster. In their final matchup before the 2019 Spring Semester last Sunday, the Leathernecks secured a 12-point win against the University of North Dakota in their first-ever matchup in Grand Forks, defeating them 92-80. For Higginbotham, it was just another day in the office, continuing to make her mark on the school’s record books. This time out, she found herself as the lone-standing all-time leader in 3-pointers made at Western Illinois. However, her ongoing dominance wasn’t enough to overshadow contributions from the rest of the team. Kaufmann dropped a career-high 28 points in the win, with both Graettinger (11) and redshirt freshman guard Danni Nichols (17) finishing with double-figures in the scoring column. Nevertheless, this game was a bright spot for the team to build off.

As classes on campus resume this week, the Purple and Gold will look to work on the holes of their game that have led to an up-and-down season thus far.

Currently sitting at 6-12 with a 2-3 record in Summit League play, this team will continue to search for their identity outside of the standout Higginbotham, the lone senior on this year’s squad.

Better days should be in store for the Leathernecks, but they’ll have to figure things out quickly with their next contests right around the corner. The team will have the benefit of a home-court environment in their upcoming matchups with the University of Omaha at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Purdue University of Fort Wayne at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

WesternCourier.com

Swimming from back page

When Saturday came along, the seniors were celebrated not only for senior day, but also for their impressive races. Three seniors really gave it their all against South Dakota and Eastern Illinois.

Almhiemid, McQuigg and Erica Hagen each came out with individual wins in the 200-yard medley relay, 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard breaststroke. Prior to the events, these three and several others were recognized for their four-year commitment to the program.

Since Bladel, Peterson, McQuigg and Almhiemid did an outstanding job the day before this event, Naumann had the four men team up once more in the 200-yard medley with an overall time of 1:36.31.

Later at the same event, Almhiemid and McQuigg both went on to

post more times in the 100-yard backstroke (53.21) and 100-yard breaststroke (59.01), each coming out victorious.

Throughout their season, the Tigers have had some highs with individual performances and lows with overall team scores. In their last event (Wheaton Invite) back on Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Iran Cavalcante, Xavier Bordes Adell and Seth Cripe each recorded two NAIA qualifying times at the two-day invite.

However, both the women and men’s overall teams were on the lower end with fifth and sixth place finishes, sixth being the last rank at the Invite.

It’s getting down to the nitty gritty for Western, as they have two more meets before the big Summit League Championship event on Feb. 20-23. The Olivet Nazarene event begins this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Twitter: boxin_breicoder

Brennan Bladel competes in the backstroke event.

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Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message Still have some nice large locations available at reasonable prices. Excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. 1-8 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Pets at some locations. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

Looking for 2 roommates to share a 3-bedroom furnished house beginning in August for 2018-19. 10- to 12-month contract. New carpet, air, garage w/ storage, laundry. $300 each per month, plus utilities. Call Sharon at 309-338-3888.

@WesternCourier

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Sports 2

Wishing upon a star in the MLB As we look past the holiday season that was, we are now left yearning for the dead, frozen ground around us to transform into a spring paradise full of life. Meanwhile, executives of Major League Baseball are hoping that the two most premier free agents in its sports history can bring life to the currently mundane offseason. After almost two months of the MLB offseason has passed, only 30 of the 50 top free agents have agreed to contracts with major league teams. Looking at the top of the list which traditionally is full of stars that can make an immediate impact, only three of the top eight free agents have signed.

Leading this list of hopeful high earners are the duo of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The league hasn’t had such a premier player enter free agency as young as these two (26 years old), since Alex Rodriguez in 2001. Both young sluggers have mesmerizing talent and polarizing personas; Machado dazzles with spectacular plays at third and has the ability to anchor a lineup. He has also managed to enrage baseball fans in both the AL and NL due to his constant problems with American East foes during his time in Baltimore, and with his dirty plays with the Dodgers this last postseason.

Harper has the good looks, a shampoo commercial and the greatest hitting season in his 2015 MVP campaign, since Barry Bonds’ dominant tenure in San Francisco.

He has also drawn ire from many fans, opponents not to mention teammates. His ruling passion caused a brawl in the Nationals dugout a couple seasons ago when he and pitcher Jonathan Papelbon let their personal differences spill out in front of the crowd and national TV cameras. On more than one occasion, he has missed games due to injuries that he caused himself due to rage fits after failures on the field.

Whether you like them or not, there is no denying their talent. According to Fangraph’s WAR player evaluation statistic, Harper and Machado have been the 12th and 15th most valuable players in baseball respec-

tively over the last six years.

Harper has the aforementioned MVP trophy to go along with six all-star selections. Machado has four AllStar nods, two Gold Glove Awards for his defense and has finished in the top-10 in MVP voting three times.

Bringing in such an immense talent at such a young age has fans drooling over the thought of future October baseball if their teams could find a way to sign one of these stars. It’s not hard to imagine these gentlemen getting your favorite team over the hump by blasting bombs over the fences. It seems that signing these perennial all-stars guarantees you a franchise cornerstone that will carry you to the promised land.

Those front office executives who run your favorite teams, however, do not seem to be as star struck

by Harper or Machado. With only a little over a month remaining until teams reconvene for spring training, less than a handful of teams have confirmed their interest in either of these two superstars. Last week, the Yankees offically ruled out on signng Machado, and yesterday the Phillies said they will not sign Machado, but plan on siging Harper. The Nationals are still in contention for Harper, along with the Dodgers when they traded away Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood to the Reds last month to clear up cap space. The White Sox seem to be the front runners for Machado, but there is also a mystery team that wants in on Machado. This seems preposterous considering how valuable the players have been in the past and how many prime years the players should have ahead of them, considering their relative youth to other free agents.

Part of the lack of expressed interest could stem from the enormous salaries that the players’ agents are surely asking for from the front offices around the league. It has been rumored that agents of both players are hoping to secure deals for their clients that exceed the largest contract in baseball history; $325 million dollars over 13 years, signed by Giancarlo

Stanton in 2014. While adding over $325 million to the future expenditures sheet would give most team owners second doubts. It’s hard to believe that most sensible front offices can’t see past the debt to the value that the players would bring to any franchise that ultimately signs them.

Having high-caliber players helps teams win more games. Teams who win more games make the playoffs.

Playoffs mean extra revenue for the team; a minimum of roughly three and more likely around $5 million per home playoff game. As I mentioned before, six of the top eight free agents of this offseason remain unsigned.

Last year in 2018, teams who added one of the top eight free agents that were not on their team the year before won an average of 6.8 more games than in 2017. While signing one guy is not going to ensure that your baseball team is playoff caliber, having one of the top 15 players in the world will surely help.

Even if Harper or Machado only helped your team play in three home playoff games over the next decade that you wouldn’t have otherwise played in, that could be $15 million of revenue for the team beyond the value of their production on the field. When you also factor in the marketing advantages of both players and the sure uptick in jersey sales that will come with signing them, I think front office executives that are reluctant to offer a record breaking commitment are not properly judging the value of these superstars.

One entity that does not forsake the value of superstars is the league office of MLB. MLB has witnessed the star-driven leagues of the NFL and NBA enjoy a boost in popularity over the last decade, which has been accompanied by revenue explosions in both leagues.

Meanwhile, popularity of baseball has continued to dwindle since 2014, especially among young people.

While there are many reasons for this, one reason MLB has put forward is that in the age of the Internet and social media, people can follow and consume content pertaining to their favorite stars. Since MLB is not a stardriven sport, baseball has a tough time giving the casual observer something to follow or a reason to be interested. I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.

During the 2018 MLB AllStar Broadcast, MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, became critical of the league’s most talented player Mike Trout.

Manfred’s words suggested that he thought the popularity of Trout and subsequently, MLB was being inhibited because Trout was not willing to be more active in marketing himself and the game of baseball. “Player marketing requires one thing for sure – the player... you need people to engage with those to whom you are trying to market in order to have effective marketing.”

When asked about how Trout chooses to market himself, Manfred responded, “That's up to him. If he wants to engage and be more active in that area, I think we could help him make his brand really, really big.” There’s no doubt that when Manfred says “his brand” he is referring to baseball’s brand as it is specifically Mr. Manfred’s duty to worry about the future of baseball, and not that of Trout.

Circling back to Harper and Machado, it is obvious that there is a huge disconnect between how the league wants its stars to be seen and marketed and how baseball front offices try to assemble baseball teams.

Based on Manfred’s critical comments of Trout, his ideal world for this baseball offseason would consist of over a dozen of teams locked in a bidding war for the two available stars’ services. The league would then create massive hoopla surrounding the free agency process, with media outlets documenting the speculative process the two stars are going through to select their future homes.

Yet after two months, only four of the league’s 30 teams have announced the slightest bit of interest in employing a franchise altering player.

As a fan of baseball, I wish that Harper or Machado’s trip through free agency was as much of a spectacle as what we have witnessed in other sports. Think about the excitement and anticipation brought on by Deandre Jordan Mavericks/ Clippers free agency saga, Lebron James’ decision, or the 48 hours of endless action that is the beginning of NFL free agency. Even college football has signing day TV coverage where pimple faced 18-year-olds hover their hand over a grouping of hats before selecting one that will be their future

alma mater.

I know baseball is different, and that its uniqueness, pace, and traditions are what make it so special to me and millions of other fans. Yet I can’t help but wonder if the lack of excitement from the media, fans, and even worse; the majority of MLB teams, over two of the highest profile free agents in baseball history, is a signal that baseball is no longer and will never again be America’s favorite pastime.

When news of Harper and Machado’s possibly record-breaking contracts finally does break, there will be those who express either excitement or contempt. Some fans of the new employer(s) will dream about the records the players might break and the hardware the player and team might acquire in the coming years. Analytical fans who think along the lines of the front office executives might question if the players will live up to the mega contract and if those teams would have been better off spending their money on different players or to save up for contract extensions they could offer to the young talent currently on their roster.

As someone who has never been fond of Harper or Machado, or any of the four teams listed above, I hope that any team who signs one of these two, not only finds a star, but that these stars transform into supernovas for the team who has the courage to sign them.

I hope the hot shot, half a billion dollar bad boys give the league, the media and most importantly the fans (both current and hopefully future) something that baseball desperately needs; which is something that captures their attention. Harper and Machado’s play after signing this contract has the potential to dramatically shift how those inside the game view the importance of stars in the MLB. If Harper and Machado continue to rack up awards, playoff appearances and commercial appearances, they can prove that stars in baseball can mean just as much to their teams and to America as stars in other major sports. It is only fitting that baseball will continue to be revered by children several generations from now. I find myself once again on my knees in front of my bedroom window wishing upon a star (or two).

Women's basketball looks to break even

By Jacob Vanzuiden courier staff

Olivia Kaufmann shoves off a defender while dribbling inside Western Hall.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

While many of their fellow students traveled home for the holidays, the Leatherneck women’s basketball team stayed busy.

Coming into winter break, the Purple and Gold managed a respectable 5-6 record, looking to climb the Summit League Standings and put themselves over the .500 mark for the first time since early November.

On Dec. 7, the ladies traveled to Carbondale to compete in the Inaugural Compass Challenge hosted by Southern Illinois.

Western was outlasted by Eastern Illinois in their first contest, losing by two points. The game was knotted-up at 60-all with just 36 seconds remaining before the Panthers’ clutch free-throw shooting secured a 64-62 win over the Leathernecks.

The team then struggled to get anything going in their next appearance as Northern Illinois University knocked them out of the tournament with ease, beating them 86-61. Junior guard Olivia Kaufmann did her best to help keep the Purple and Gold afloat, leading the team with 18 points and six rebounds. Freshman guard

Elizabeth Lutz also chipped in with 11 points. While their efforts came up short, head coach JD Gravina saw plenty of positives from his young squad.

“It may be hard to see in the stat line, but I think we took a small step forward today,” said Gravina.

“We played harder, rebounded a little harder, and honestly, offensively, we got a ton of good shots, especially early.”

As Christmas inched closer, the ladies found themselves in the heart of Nevada, competing in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic on Dec. 21. Their first action against UTEP proved to be a memorable game for senior guard Taylor Higginbotham, who moved to third on the Western Illinois women’s basketball all-time scoring list after a 24-point effort. The Leathernecks came up short again as their late rally wasn’t enough, losing the battle 72-84.

The team’s fortunes began to change in the following game, however, as they managed to top Furman University 85-78.

Basketball page 6

Swimming comes back strong from break

By Brie Coder copy editor BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — After getting a head start last weekend against South Dakota, Saint Louis and Eastern Illinois, the Western Illinois men and women’s swim and diving teams are back and more ready than ever to take on Olivet Nazarene University Tigers this Saturday.

Prior to their comeback last weekend, Western has not competed since Dec. 1 against Truman State University.

Head coach Greg Naumann, like any coach was worried that his team would still be on break mode when they came back. He, however, was very happy to see his team prevail once again and shake the winter break cobwebs they might’ve had during their four week layoff.

On their first night back last Friday, six of the men and women Leathernecks highlighted the event against both South Dakota and Saint Louis in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Junior Miranda Mathus, freshman Alexis Dreyer, senior Marissa Purdum and

junior Casey Roberts came out with 3:39.80.

The men’s relay team of junior Brennan Bladel, freshman Adam Peterson and seniors Chance McQuigg and Samir Almhiemid raced to the finish line a few seconds ahead of the women’s relay team at a time of 3:11.08.

Along with the freestyle relay, the Purple and Gold men came together once more in the 400-yard medley, where they picked up a first place finish at 3:30.13.

Not only were the four men powerful as a team, but individually as well. Two of those teammates Bladel and Peterson each received victories in the 200-yard backstroke (1:58.19) and 50-yard freestyle (21.66). From the women’s relay team, Mathus came in at 1:58.67 in the 200yard freestyle, concluding the first day of competition.

Swimming page 6

Chance McQuigg swims in the breast stroke event.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM