Western Courier | September 11th, 2019 by The Western Courier

Opinions: The Bachelor franchise is receiving too much attention.

Sports: Men's soccer sets eyes on Northwestern.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019 - Vol. 120 Issue 10

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Students reflect on summer of service By Marc Ramirez news editor

COURTESY OF KYLE RAMLOW

Three Western Illinois University students, leaders and members of Pi Kappa Phi lived a summer of service as they participated in a cross country bicycling philanthropy event. Kyle Ramlow, Justin Brown and Derek Lahey packed their bags and said goodbye to their families as they prepared to ride a bike from San Francisco to Washington D.C. The three seniors participated in the fraternity’s philanthropy event Journey of Hope, run through The Ability Experience. According to Ramlow, who served as the fraternity’s Philanthropy Chairman for the Spring 2019 semester, The Ability Experience was founded in 1976 by fraternity brother Thomas Sayre and was originally known as PUSH. PUSH had a couple meanings over the years, originally meaning Play Units for the Severely Handipcaped then later being changed

COURTESY OF DEREK LAHEY

to People Understanding the Severely Handicapped. The organization's name was even changed to Push America before receiving the current name The Ability Experience in 2014. “Now, every summer, members of Pi Kappa Phi cycle from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle to Washington, D.C. while delivering a message of understanding,” theabilityexperiience.org reads. “This past summer our route, along with two others, stopped at organizations that share similar messages as to that of our philanthropy while promoting the abilities of all people,” Brown said. “By being inclusive and making a change in the way people perceive those with disabilities is truly the first step to making a difference. Disability truly doesn’t mean inability and that's the message we hope to share with the world.” The three Western students cycled and crewed alongside 23 other fraternity

brothers from all across the United States. Each participant pledged themselves to raise a minimum of $6,000 in efforts to present give grants to camps on their way across the country. When speaking with each participant, it became clear that the purpose of their summer wasn’t to better themselves or have something incredible they could say they did that summer, it was to create a community where the abilities of all people are recognized and valued. Lahey spoke about how he met a boy named Travis from Salt Lake City, UT. The two bonded over their love of NASCAR and the fact that they shared the same favorite driver, Kyle Busch, and had many other similarities, like how their favorite movie is Cars 3. “We would sit together at every event and meal over those two days in Utah,” Lahey said.

Journey of Hope page 2

COURTESY OF JUSTIN BROWN

Justin Brown, Derek Lahey and Kyle Ramlow reflect on their time spent traveling the country raising awareness and support of people with disabilities. The three completed the Journey of Hope, a national philanthropy event run through The Ability Experience and their fraternity Pi Kappa Phi.

2 NEWS

Journey of Hope

from front page

“On the morning we were leaving, Travis surprised me by showing up at 5 a.m. to our morning circle up just to see us all one last time. It was a great morale booster that motivated myself and the whole team in that 125 mile day.“ Lahey also spoke about how his newly found friend was constantly on his mind and encouraged him to continue to push on, even on days where the ride was tough on his brain and his body. “I had some mechanical issues with my bike, causing a struggle for the whole day,” he said. “I wanted to quit, but pushed through the frustration. As I finished the day, I laid down unmotivated to do anything and was very angry. That was when my phone buzzed with a text from Travis. He texted me, keep pedaling hard! And then sent a selfie in the T-shirt our team gave him. Travis was constantly cheering me on throughout the summer and I would have never made it without him.” The men spoke about how the trip is outlined for the Pi Kappa Phi members to make a difference in the lives of the people they come in contact with over the course of their trip; however, it quickly becomes the people at friendship visits who make the trip unforgettable for the college students, making them wish the trip would never end. Brown spoke about his time

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019 spent in Grand Island, Neb. and how he was able to meet and get closer to a participant named Bradley through their extended two-night stay. “Seeing him smile as we danced for hours or seeing him laugh at me when I missed the frisbee just made me so happy,” Brown said. “It’s truly a time where we take our cool caps off and just get to be ourselves and through that, make life a little brighter for someone else. I quickly learned that there is so much more than just completing the ride; making a difference in small ways like sweating through my shirt dancing to make a participant laugh truly was the highlight of my summer.” Ramlow shared similar memories, specifically, the time he spent at Spina Bifida Omaha in Omaha, Neb. He shared the instant feeling of pride in knowing what he was dedicating his summer to was something he could and would never regret, simply by the way participants welcomed the team. “We would step into every visit and see that we didn't know anybody, but they instantly loved us,” he said. “We make their lives better for those two hours we are there, better than some birthdays or Christmas for some people. The impact that we make and relationships created still carry on to this day.” The three reflect back on their time this summer and also recognize the fact that they had some unforgettable moments

with guys they only knew a little over two months and the life lessons they taught one another. “Being crew, I was on the road a lot and it made me realize to enjoy the little things in life,” Ramlow said. “Stop and smell the roses. I had a lot of time to reflect on my life and there are many more things to life and the trip than the big picture.” Ramlow also added that he learned to stay humble by serving others. He said that he wishes to continue serving people with disabilities through The Ability Experience to ensure that every person gets the chance to be accepted. “If I can put a smile on one person's face a day, then I know I’m doing something right,” he said. Brown built upon that, explaining that some of the best memories were also times spent with brothers, getting to know them better. He reminisced on walking around Western Michigan University for hours, having late night conversations with some of the guys, sharing memories and lessons with one another. “I learned that people may not understand that our lives are impacted by the individuals we meet along the way,” Brown said. “We were able to see the impact our organization has and the work that still needs to be done. It is important for us to not only continue to share that message of acceptance, but to recruit others who do the same.”

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu

proofreader Jacinda Martinez

news editor Marc Ramirez

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MA-Ramirez3@wiu.edu

photo editor Becca Langys

opinions editor Allison Young

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assistant photo editor Sara Remar

sports editor Bradley Piros

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production manager Jimmy Pierson

assistant sports editor Chris Bean

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business manager Janiya Haynes

edge editor Rachel Greene

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assistant business manager Nash Miller

copy editor Amanda Wandachowicz

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COURTESY OF DEREK LAHEY

COURTESY OF KYLE RAMLOW

Students travel the country and create a community one relationship at a time where the abilities of all people are recognized and valued.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019

NEWS 3

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Notice of Examination Macomb Police Department The Board of Fire & Police Commissioners of the City of Macomb, Illinois hereby gives notice that examinations will be offered to all eligible applicants to create an Eligibility List for hiring for positions within the Macomb Police Department. At time of application, applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no more than 35 years of age. Military veterans may extend the age limit one year for every year of active duty, not to exceed ten years. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent; must have completed 60 semester or 90 quarter hours from an accredited academic institution; must possess a valid driver’s license. To move forward in the hiring process, applicants must pass physical and written exams, medical and psychological evaluation and background investigation; must have visual acuity 20/20 each eye corrected (minimum) with normal color vision and depth perception; must have good habits and be of moral character. Proof of U.S. Citizenship and if hired, McDonough County residence required.

STARTING SALARY as of 05/01/2019, $48,020.34 per year. Forty-hour work week with time and a half for all overtime. Application packets may be obtained at the Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 232 E. Jackson St., Macomb, Illinois 61455, Phone (309)-833-2558, or on-line at https://cityofmacomb.com/employment-listings/ All applications and attachments must be completed, signed and on file by 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2019. If submitting the application packet in the mail, it must be postmarked on or before the application deadline date AND received at the Mayor’s Office with five (5) calendar days of the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Testing date is October 26, 2019. Applicants should report to Brophy Hall on Western Illinois University campus at 7:30 a.m. The City reserves the right to require reimbursement of training expenses on a pro-rata basis if an officer resigns within the first two years of employment. The City of Macomb is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer Minorities and women are encouraged to apply

OPINIONS

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

WesternCourier.com

The Bachelor franchise is overrated I am a very dedicated Bachelor fan just as much as everyone else. I have watched the last few seasons of The Bachelor, Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. I know, so much wasted time on a TV show, but what can I say, it is a guilty pleasure of mine. Though, as I watch more and more seasons, I can almost predict what is going to happen and it is starting to get old. I also know that there are several stipulations that come along with being on one of The Bachelor series. So, this might be news for a few of you, but there are several similar patterns seen

through each season of The Bachelor. There is almost always one person that comes off as a little too much for viewers to handle. If you are a dedicated Bachelor fan, you could probably pinpoint a few of the individuals I’m talking about. I personally believe that these people are selected to make the show more interesting to watch. Even if the bachelor or bachelorette would like to get rid of this person, the show most likely will not let them until a certain point in the season. From what I have observed, it is typically when there is a two on one date. This is

where two contestants and the main person on the show go on a date. In the past, this is when that individual that everyone comes to despise gets released from the show. Of course the point of the show is based around the drama and “finding love,” but there are so many small things that contestants are required to follow throughout the show that I am surprised that people are willing to follow. First of all, contestants are all required to come up with their own wardrobe for the two months the show is on. I know that may not seem like much, but if you think about the day to day outfits, swimsuits, formal wear and date outfits, it can add up to a lot of things to bring. The other very surprising thing I found out is that the star of the show

is paid over $100,000 to be on the show, but the contestants are paid absolutely nothing. Some people leave their jobs for two months, while some even quit their jobs and they do not get paid a single dime. I guess if you are looking for love, it might be worth the risk. Honestly, I find The Bachelor franchise to be very amusing, but there is no way I would be willing to do half of the things that the contestants do. But, we all have our own cup of tea. So, if people want to go through all of that drama and follow the rules to find “love” in eight weeks, then maybe The Bachelor series is something for you. In my personal opinion, the series is very overrated, but it won’t stop any time soon because they just keep making money.

The violence needs to come to an end soon ANDRE WHITLEY courier staff

We must stop killing each other. If you ask me, I get tired of waking up to a headline across my phone saying somebody has been killed. I am from St. Louis, where we have been placed near the top of the list of most dangerous cities in the world every year. There are people out there that are not only killing random people, people with kids they have to take care of and innocent bystanders, but they are out there killing children. These children haven’t been able to experience high school or even their 10th birthday because they are dy-

ing at the hands of somebody who simply doesn’t care. The most recent situation that I heard about was at a high school football jamboree in St. Louis. On a nice Friday night on Aug. 23, an 8 year old girl was shot and killed while at the game. Three other people were also wounded from the shots, which tells me that the little innocent girl was a bystander and just got caught in the crossfire of bullets. I feel that since guns have become such a problem in the world today, we need to make changes to the gun laws. We

need to regulate who can have these guns, where they are allowed to have them and who should be allowed to carry them. Things like this can’t continue to happen if we want a safe and friendly environment for our kids to grow up in. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about picking up a phone call to the news that their child has been killed while at a football game. Parents also shouldn’t have to worry about their children going to school and somebody coming into the school and shooting. The thing about that is that when things like this happen, the shooter can simply claim they are mentally ill and/or insane and they get a lesser punishment than somebody who was selling marijuana. I feel like our justice system

is crooked and that is one of the main reasons things like this continue to happen. Killing an innocent person should carry a maximum punishment offense. We need to do better as people and citizens of this country. There is no reason why we should have to watch or backs when we go somewhere, or limit the places we can go because they have been deemed unsafe for us. As people, we should be able to go anywhere and do anything we want knowing that we will be able to make it home to our families following the event or function. All in all, as a law abiding person and somebody who wants to be able to grow as a man in the world, I say, we must stop killing each other.

Interested in writing

NEWS? contact Marc Ramirez News Editor

@ ma-ramirez3@wiu.edu

OPINIONS 5

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

@WesternCourier

Trying to stay to a budget in college It’s no surprise that college is super expensive no matter where you go. Community college could be just as expensive as going to a university or private college. Everyone’s financial standing is obviously different, but there are many ways to budget and save. A big thing about universities is the social life; there are a lot of things to do at each different campus. Specifically, here at

Western, there aren’t as many things to do as schools in the city, but there are still some things to do that cost money. It’s really hard for a college student to do everything that they want when they don’t have a lot of money. A difficult thing about saving money is that you have to make sacrifices. Sometimes, you can’t go out on the weekend, or if you do go out, you can’t buy

drinks. You might not be able to go to the movies, go bowling or go to Walmart and spend whatever you want; you have to budget. Budgeting can be very difficult whether you’ve budgeted your whole life or if you’re just starting, but for the most part it can be very beneficial. The cool thing about Walmart is that you can order your groceries online and pick them up, which might save some people money. Writing out a list before you’re going to buy stuff can also save a lot of money. If you work or have some form of income, figuring out your bills and priorities ahead of

time can be beneficial to saving money as well. Another idea that can help is starting a money jar where every time you get a chance, you put your money into the jar. Every penny counts when it comes to saving. If people actually put in the effort, they will be able to save. For people that live in the residence halls, they may get tired of the food and spend a lot of money at restaurants. Once in a while, it is good to go out to eat just to treat yourself, but if you are tight on money, you might need to utilize what you have and try to find something you like in the residence halls. There are many budget-

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ing tools online that might be helpful if someone is serious about wanting to budget and save money, but it’s easier said than done. If someone is in a super budget crisis, they will do all that they can in order to save money. Budgeting can be very beneficial in the long run. Starting to budget early in college can help when you start a family and career outside of college. It could be helpful when you start to have kids, want to buy a house and other grown up stuff like that. Starting to budget early is never a bad idea because you can’t go wrong with saving money.

Contact Allison Young

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The editorial views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editorial presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editorial board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.

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2019 Fall Semester Editorial Board

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

September 11, 2019

SPORTS

Men's soccer welcomes BIG 10 conference giant Northwestern

By Michael Harms courier staff

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois men’s soccer team welcomes the Northwestern Wildcats on Thursday. Looking for their first win of the season, head coach Eric Johnson will look to bring his best against the Big 10 opponent. The foe from up north is currently holding a 1-3 record with only one goal on the season. This in-state matchup will be another out of conference matchup for the Leathernecks. This game is also the first game of their longest home field stretch. Both teams are still attempting to find their stride and see what does and does not work. During this test, the Leathernecks need to focus

Paul Kirdorf sprints up field.

on two factors: keeping a clean sheet and playing in the lead. Not once has this team held the lead. The Purple and Gold have put up four goals on the season, but never has one of those goals taken the lead. Last game against the University of Illinois Chicago, the ‘Necks came out swinging but couldn’t find the net early. Johnson should also be looking for Tim Trilk to record his first clean sheet on the season. Letting up three goals in every regular game this season is not a stat to be proud of. As the Wildcats are struggling with up front attacking, the Leathernecks should pounce on their weakness and make sure their defense is the best it can be. For Northwestern, they need to focus on getting the

CONNAL DUFFY / PHOTO STAFF

ball in the net. Look for a strong up-front attack with many balls into the box. They need to learn how to score and will look to capitalize on a Leatherneck mistake to counter-attack. This will be the Wildcats’ first attempt in enemy territory. Losing two games at home and going 1-1 at a neutral site means that they have yet to play in a hostile environment. With a strong home field advantage, the Leathernecks can use this inexperience to put the ‘Cats on their heels. Players to watch for Western are Paul Kirdorf and Daisuke Otsuka. The two foreign players, from Germany and Japan, respectively, both have one goal on the season, but they’re looking for a winning goal. Otsuka is second on the team with five shots, and

also scored the winning goal in a preseason matchup for the Leathernecks. Kirdorf needs to be the player to watch because he is the leader and captain of this squad. In trying times, it will be his job to lift his team above the noise. A player to watch for Northwestern is Bardia Kimiavi. He has the only goal on the season for the Wildcats. He has a team high three shots on goal and is a strong offensive weapon for the wildcats. Although he has only started one game this year, he is an off the bench player that brings a spark of energy and life onto the field. He has won one game for Northwestern and will look to do it another time against Western. Kickoff at John F. Mackenzie field is4:30p.m.on Thursday evening.

Jonah Dancer gets back into position.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

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Women's golf kicks off fall season

By Brendan Reidy courier staff

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois University women’s golf team opened up their season over the weekend. Expectations are high for this team. They have plenty of players returning, and have a bright young group that are only beginning to hit their stride. This past weekend, they traveled to Illinois State to compete in the Redbird Invitational. All eyes were on Senior Cassidy Jurkaites as she teed off her senior year campaign. The leader for the Leathernecks both on and off the course showed out in the start of her farewell tour. She shot a career

best +13 in 54 holes. However, the big story from the weekend was the debut of the promising freshmen Katie Tanner and Natalie Hooper. The two wasted no time demonstrating the talent they bring to the table. Tanner collected a solid third-round tally of 79 for a 244 (+28) total, and Hooper shot a 237 score (+21) in their collegiate debuts. The Leathernecks finished the tournament in 16th place with a combined team score of 945. Xavier ended up winning the team event with a score of 885, just three strokes ahead of Bradley. Western Illinois will compete next weekend in the Cardinal Classic in Yorktown, Ind. Twitter: breidytv

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Cassidy Jurkaites makes a chip shot.

CLASSIFIEDS

For Rent

Spacious 2-5 bedroom homes for rent. 10 month lease available. Great locations, close to bus stops, plenty off street parking, all new windows, AC, energy efficient furnace, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, free washer/dryer. Well maintained (24 hrs.) by local landlord. Call 309-255-1233.

LARGE STUDENT RENTALS 5 and 6 Bedroom Homes are still available!! Ask for our $1000.00 Discount program! Firsrt come first serve for the last large homes that are open for the fall.

Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished. Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets. Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com

Submit a classifieds ad to Micour@wiu.edu

Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122. FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!. NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565. Westen Investments has only two 4-Bedroom brich houses available. Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing! We will show to 2-3 person groups as well! STC Investments now leasing for the 18/19 school year. We have 1-6 bedroom apartments/houses ready for you to call home! Check out our selection at www.stcinvestments.com. You can also find us on Facebook to see daily posts!

NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2017-2018 Our houses have wood floors, ceramic tile, W/D, central air, and are close to campus with plentry of parking. We offer low rent and a 10 month lease to save you money! Call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Small 1BR apt near campus and downtown. All utilities included. (Electric, Water, DISH, Garbage) $500/month, $300 deposit. Available immediately. Also have 2BR, you pay electric. $600/month, $350 deposit available September 1st. Please contact 309-255-4367 for a showing. Timbercrest Apartments 1587 Riverview Drive Now showing 1 & 2 Bedroom Units. Very clean, close to WIU campus with bus stop in front of building. Washer/dryer available in most units, all other appliances included, FREE INTERNET, ceiling fans in every room, pet friendly. All units have off street parking and private decks overlooking campus. Both 10- and 12-month leases are available. Openings for Summer 2017 and school year 2017/2018. Deposit required. Phone (309)833-3192 and leave message. Westen Investments has just one 3-Bedroom ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED (Water, Sewer, Trash, Gas, Electric, and Internet) Apartment left! That’s right you just pay for rent, and the rest of it is on us! Call our office at 309-833-5995 to check it out. The nicer apartments are going fast, excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. Reasonable prices. Studio, 1-3 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

RATES $5.50 per issue (open rate) $4.00 per issue (campus rate)

ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site. No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment. For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo. (309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime. 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.

Sports 7

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

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MLB playoff races heat up before October

Football may be dominating the sports world headlines, but the race for the playoffs in the MLB is still going. With the closing stretch happening, some teams need to find a groove (and some luck) if they want to continue playing come October. If you take a look at the divisional races that are happening, you’ll see that all but two are out of reach. The Yankees lead the AL East by nine games, the Houston Astros lead the AL West by 10.5 games, while in the National League, the Atlanta Braves lead the NL East by 9.5 games and Los Angeles Dodgers lead the NL West by a whopping 17.5 games. The only two divisions that remain somewhat contentious are the Centrals. In the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins are looking down at the Cleveland Indians, sitting five games ahead of them. However, that

doesn’t mean they are home free yet. The Twins still have five divisional series left, with one of those series being against the Indians. In the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals are leading the division by four games with the Chicago Cubs looking to catch them. Same as the AL Central, the Cardinals aren’t a lock-in yet to win the division. Three out of six of their remaining series come against divisional opponents, and two of those divisional series are against the Cubs. Most MLB analysts and writers predict that the current leaders of these divisions will end up holding their lead and winning the division. I couldn’t disagree more. With both of the Centrals’ current leaders having plenty of division games left, there is no way that either the Indians or the Cubs won't creep up and take the division. And the team that I think has the bet-

ter chance to do exactly that is the Cubs. Even though the Cubs have racked up the injuries as of late with Craig Kimbrel, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant and their star Javier Baez, they have the talent and the depth to make the push. Their starting rotation, while not as good as they have been the last couple of seasons, has the talent and ability to go there over the last couple of series and make big outs. Names like Jon Lester, Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks are what the Cubs have going for them on the mound, and opposing batters know that when these guys have their grade-A stuff going, that they are hard to hit off of. The position players for the Cubs are probably the biggest key item for them to make their push. Talent and depth are not an issue for the Cubs. With both of their middle infielders out, the team called up prospect Nico Hoerner to play shortstop and have Ben Zobrist, who just returned himself, and Tony Kemp to play second base. The team added a key piece in their depth chart over the sea-

son, trading for outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, who has been on a tear since joining the team back in July. Castellanos will be teaming up with Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward to keep a fairly consistent outfield together during the team’s division push. Another factor that could really help or hurt the Cubs is the remaining schedule for the team. After a four-game series against the San Diego Padres, which started on Monday, the remaining five series are all against division opponents. If they can find their groove and stick with it, the team can make up a lot of ground, given that the Cardinals don’t sweep every series. However, if they lose those series, not only will it hurt the Cubs’ chance to win the division, but it could knock them out of the Wild Card spot. Both Wild Card races are tense. In the NL, the Nationals currently hold the top Wild Card spot, up two and a half games on the Cubs. The Cubs, who currently hold the second Wild Card spot are up two games

on the Brewers, who are hot right now and show no signs of letting that stop, with the Diamondbacks only half a game back of them. The Phillies are only half a game back of the Diamondbacks and three games back from the Cubs. In the AL, the Wild Card race is a lot less crowded, but still super tight. Currently, the Rays hold the top Wild Card spot, up one and a half games on the A’s, who hold the second Wild Card spot. The Indians are only half a game back from the A’s, with the Red Sox a distant eight games away from the A’s. Like I said; less crowded, but still up for grabs. So, while everybody starts to think more and more about the NFL, remember to take time to sit back and watch how the drama in the MLB works out. With the NL Central being the one of the most contested and interesting divisions left, who knows? Maybe the last game of the season between the Cubs and the Cardinals could be for the division and that would be way more exciting than week four of the NFL.

From nightmare to euphoria Devon Greene Editor-in-chief @Starewaytodevon

On Monday night, the New Orleans Saints made their triumphant return to the Superdome after the heist of the century that took place last January. Saints fans showed out early showing up to the stadium dressed in referee gear in order to taunt the people who stole every Saints’ fan’s soul and stomped on it a billion times and then laughed in our faces while we curled up in the fetal position and wept silently. The Saints have had a tough time with home openers the last couple seasons putting together uncharacteristically poor performances including last year ’s dud against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where your local 24 Hour Fitness owner, Ryan Fitzpatrick, laid 48 points on what was supposed to be one of the best defenses in the NFL. This year, the Saints had a much more difficult challenge in the Houston Texans who only improved over the offseason. When 6 p.m. rolled around,

Saints’ fans around the country sat down eagerly in front of their TV screens, waiting to see one of the most anticipated matchups of week one, except for me. I was stuck wearing a uniform making pizzas. Now, I’ll tell you a secret that we don’t have to tell my employer. I set up my phone in a corner of the room, played the Saints’ game and caught every possible second I could. Deshaun Watson and the Texans looked fantastic early in this game and they took an early lead with a crowd that was yelling louder than Jamie Lee Curtis on Halloween. The Texans dominated the majority of the first half, but the Saints were looking to gain a little momentum before they headed into the locker room before halftime. Then, the referees struck. Brees was putting together a potential scoring drive and on a 3rd and 17, Brees completed a 17-yard pass to Michael Thomas with 48 seconds left resulting in a 4th and 1. The

Saints were able to get up to the line of scrimmage with 26 seconds left to spike the ball and stop the clock, but the referees wanted to stop the game and take a look at the play. The spot of the ball was advanced forward, resulting in a Saints first down, which is all well and good, but then the referees decided to stab Saints’ fans in the heart and enforce a 10 second run-off because they stopped the game and reviewed a play that absolutely no one from either team wanted to review, leaving Brees only 16 seconds to work with. The Saints were unable to move the ball any further due to the lack of time and were forced to attempt a 56-yard field goal that Wil Lutz was unable to make, leaving us down 14-3 at halftime. Coming out of halftime down 14-3, I was beginning to believe that New Orleans hadn’t gotten over the blown pass interference call and we were going to be the team that was stuck in a rut all season. Yet, when my hope started weaning, the new addition to our team, Latavius Murray injected life into my veins with a 30-yard touchdown run to inch the Saints a little closer to the lead. After a couple traded

touchdowns, the score was 21-17 and the Texans had the ball with Watson looking nearly untouchable, but Marcus Williams, who was the man who caused the entire state of Louisiana to sob uncontrollably two years ago, intercepted Watson and gave Brees the ball with all the momentum in the world. Brees took the ball and ran with it, converting on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tre-Quan Smith, giving the Saints their first lead of the game. The Saints kept a 24-21 lead for most of the fourth quarter and extended the lead to 27-21 on a 47-yard field goal from Lutz leaving Watson only 50 seconds to conduct a 75-yard drive and take the lead back. Then Watson did it. One 38-yard pass to Hopkins and a 37-yard pass to Kenny Stills and the Texans found themselves in the endzone. But there was still the extra point to kick. As Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked the extra point, the ball sailed off to the right, missing and leaving the game tied, but then Houston was granted a roughing the kicker call, allowing them to retry the field goal which they then made, putting them up by one with 37 second left in the game.

At this point, I was hiding in the back of an undisclosed location getting ready to quit my job and leave all the responsibilities of my life behind and go find a cave and never leave again. I couldn’t take another loss like the Minnesota Miracle or the Referee Robbery. My nightmare was becoming reality, until it didn’t. Brees got the ball and completed three straight passes to put us in field goal range. With the recent barrage of missed field goals around the league and Lutz’s miss in the first half, I put the entirety of Hancock County under flash flood warning with all the sweat that was dripping from my body. Lutz lined up with two seconds left on the clock and absolutely nailed a career long 59-yard field goal to capture the Saints’ 30-28 victory over the Texans. It was an amazing week one victory that might go down as the best game of the season, but New Orleans can’t celebrate too long because the Boogeyman is hiding around the corner. The Saints have the highly anticipated rematch with the Los Angeles Rams next week and the entire sports world will be watching to see how they respond.

Women's soccer faces tough weekend road trip against UWM and ISU

By Bradley Piros sports editor

After a two-game home stand for the Western Illinois University women’s soccer team, they fall to 2-2-1 on the season. The team beat the University of IllinoisChicago Flames 2-1 with a brace from sophomore forward Amy Andrews, but fell to the Northern Illinois University Huskies 1-0 handing the Leathernecks their first home loss. It was a tough loss for Western, best described by assistant coach Josee Primeau: “Northern Illinois came out ready to play today; we started out a little flat but eventually got back into the game,” Primeau said in an interview with WIU Athletics Communications. “Unfortunately for us, they were the better team today. We can certainly learn from today and try to improve for our next match against Milwaukee next week.” In the loss to NIU, Andrews led the team with four shots (three SOG) followed by senior forward Emily Bollman with three and sophomore defender Zoe Clarke with three as well (two SOG). Also, senior goalkeeper Ines Palmiero became just the fifth Leatherneck to reach the 200 career save mark with four on the day. With a bad break to end the home stand, the Leathernecks now have to go back on the road to take on two of their toughest opponents yet: University of WisconsinMilwaukee and Illinois State University. Last season, t he Leathernecks lost to the UWM Panthers 3-1 at home,

with the lone goal scored by Bollman coming in the first half to quickly tie the game at 1-1. Junior midfielder Lauryn Peters picked up a shot along with Clarke but two second half goals from the Panthers led to their 3-1 victory and the fourth straight loss for Western last year. Western will have to watch out for sophomore forward Haley Johnson, who leads the team with her five goals and one assist, as well as redshirt junior Gaby Schwartz and sophomore Jelena Sever who each tallied three goals this season. UWM’s offense is lethal and Western’s defense will have a big task to shut that attack down. When the Leathernecks are done dealing with the Panthers, they’ll head home to the great state of Illinois to take on the ISU Redbirds. Western also played them last season and lost 4-1 on the road. The Purple and Gold are faced with the difficult task of playing on the road in a pretty tough environment again this season. The Redbirds got on the scoreboard first in the fifth minute back on Sept. 19 of last year to take the early lead. Western showed the resilience to tie the game back up seven minutes later with a goal from Clarke that was assisted by Peters. Unfortunately, ISU scored three unanswered goals to end the game at 4-1, part of a six-game losing streak for the team last year. The Redbirds have arguably the best offense in the MAC Conference, led by senior midfielder Kate Del Fava. She’s been lighting it up so far this season with eight goals and an assist to her name in only six games

played. Right along with her is senior forward Mikayla Unger with a goal and three assists. The two are a deadly duo up top and Western will undoubtedly have a hard time slowing them down. It’s no secret that Western will be going up against two very well-rounded offenses this upcoming weekend. If the Leathernecks come out flat like they did against NIU, they’ll find themselves in a one or two goal hole early on that they might not be able to dig themselves out of. Assistant coach Primeau is confident that the team will have their opportunities: “We head to Milwaukee Thursday to face a very talented side that has been scoring at will as of late,” Primeau told WIU Athletic Communications. “Our girls will have to put the NIU game behind them and be very organized defensively throughout the match. If we're defensively sound our chances in the attack will come. It's imperative we're clinical in the final third. The weekend doesn't get any easier, as Sunday we travel to Normal to take on Illinois State. Another road test will be a great way to measure just how far our team has come since last year. I think we're a much better side and I'm excited to see the girls rise to the occasion.” The game against UWN kicks off tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and on 1 p.m. this Sunday against the Redbirds. The Leathernecks will return to Macomb and kick off a five-game home stand against the Drake University Bulldogs before starting Summit League play against Omaha on Oct. 3. Twitter: bradjp08

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Lauryn Peters jogs back into the play.

Ines Palmiero Herrera punts the ball.

Amy Andrews runs to recieve a pass.

Natalie Nagle leans into a shot.

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Zoe Clarke settles the ball.

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