September 2010 Insight Magazine

INSIGHT U N R I N S I G H T. C O M

[ The Universit y of Ne vada, Reno’s student MAGA ZINE]

+World Cup +Roller Derby +Bike Culture

The Alternates September 2010 Volume 3 • Issue 1

First copy free second copy $3.50

Contents SEPTEMBER 2010

Photo by courtney spangler

4 | LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 5 | BEHIND INSIGHT 6 | PACK PROFILE 8 | ROLLER DERBY 12 | WORLD CUP

2 | Insight | September 2010

BIKE CULTURE | 14 FITNESS | 20 GOLF | 24 ATHLETIC CUTS | 26 INHINDSIGHT | 30

2010 September | Insight | 3

LETTER {

FROM THE

} EDITOR

L

U N R I N S I G H T.C O M

[The University of Nevada, Reno’s student magazine]

Katie Goodwin Editor-in-Chief

ife imitates sports. Forgive me, for I use that term loosely — many of this issue’s stories do not feature the typical “sport”. We cover everything from roller derby to golf. They may be unpopular or not physically taxing, but if the World Series of Poker is on ESPN, I don’t mind calling yoga a sport. Undeniably, sports embrace the same kind of camaraderie and competition that in many ways define the American spirit.

Soccer, as we know, is not America’s past time, except maybe for 8-year-old kids in their AYSO jerseys. Is it loved? Sure. Not like football, and certainly not like baseball, but plentiful fans exist. Insight’s own Rachel Wright spent three months in South Africa, interning at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. She relates in her story how an entire country rallies behind the country’s soccer team much like Los Angeles supports the Dodgers or Dallas supports the Cowboys. But you’d never see people across the country rooting for just one team. But that’s okay. The differences between fans demonstrates the vast cultural diversity in the United States.

South Africa is a country, though, where sports have historically played a large role in uniting dissimilar groups. In 1994, the then-president, Nelson Mandela, observed that while white South Africans supported the country’s rugby union team, the Springboks, black South Africans cheered against the team. While struggling with high rates of unemployment and crime, he made it a priority to make the Springboks a symbol of a post-apartheid country. A year later, South Africa won the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup after hosting it for the country’s first time. While rugby obviously did not solve the country’s problems, it gave two completely different groups of people something in which to mutually believe and be proud.

Across the country and at the Nevada campus, sports of all forms bring together heterogeneous groups for fun, competition and friendships.

Katie Goodwin - Editor in Chief editor@unrinsight.com Jay Brissenden - Online Managing Editor jay@unrinsight.com

Michael Gjurich - Multimedia Editor mgjurich@unrinsight.com

Sam DiSalvo - Print Managing Editor sam@unrinsight.com

Jessie Gray - Assistant Multimedia Editor jessie@unrinsight.com

Geoff Roseborough - Design Editor geoff@unrinsight.com

Rachel Wright - Story Editor rachel@unrinsight.com

Sebastian Diaz - Photo Editor sebastian@unrinsight.com

Tara Verderosa - Story Editor tara@unrinsight.com

Courtney Spangler - Web Photo Editor courtney@unrinsight.com

Caitlin Thomas - Story Editor caitlin@unrinsight.com

Derek Jordan - Webmaster webmaster@unrinsight.com

Jazzmine Hudson - Publicity Director jazzmine@unrinsight.com

4 | Insight | September 2010

Contributors: Scott Barnett, Lucas Combos, Vicki Tam, Charlie Woodman, Mark Zaski The opinions expressed in this publication and its associated Web site are not necessarily those of the University of Nevada, Reno or the student body.

www.unrinsight.com

Assistant multimedia editor, JESSIE GRAY, interviews ASUN student body president LEISSAN SADYKOVA. PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN DIAZ. Head photo editor, SEBASTIAN DIAZ, observes Northstar at Tahoe while shooting for the cover. photo by geoff roseborough

BEHIND [insight]

2010 September | Insight | 5

PACK PROFILE INTERVIEW BY JESSIE GRAY PHOTOS BY SEBASTIAN DIAZ

{

Leissan Sadykova Leissan Sadykova was born August 7, 1990 in Ufa, Russia. She moved the United States with her family when her mother came to work on research at UNR. Leissan is a triple major in International Affairs, Economics, and French.

Your name is really unique, what does it mean?

My name means “spring rain.”

Why did you choose UNR? Just because my mom was here. She works here, so I just wasn’t ready to leave my mom yet.

How and why did you get involved with ASUN? I got involved because my big sister in my sorority was really involved with ASUN. She was club commissioner and senator, and then she ran for vice president, so she got me really interested in it. I started by joining lots of clubs, I was club commissioner and there was such a wide opportunity of things to do. You can basically take the position in any way or direction you want to, so I started getting more involved with unity commission, and then I just really liked helping students out. That’s why I ran for vice president.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

I’ll probably just go straight to law school, and then I also want to work on getting probably my doctorate in international affairs or international economic policy because I want to work for the government.

What got you started with cheerleading and dancing?

Well I’ve been dancing since I could walk, so dancing has always been a part of my life. In high school, I did the McQueen dance team, and I took a year off as a college freshmen because I wasn’t sure how the course load was

6 | Insight | September 2010

going to be. My friends that I actually danced with in high school did the Bighorns dance team, so they got me involved through that, and since the Bighorns and Aces are owned by the same people, I got involved in the Aces and just loved it.

What’s your favorite thing about working with the Aces?

I just love interacting with people, you know, just seeing little kids and how happy they are to see you. A lot of people really look up to us. It’s just cool to just make them happy and to be able to make them smile. I just love doing promotions and interacting with people. It’s my favorite part.

What advice would you give someone looking to be an Aces cheerleader or someone trying out for a high school team?

Definitely just do it for you—do it because you want to do it.

Also, just love what you do, because if you don’t like interacting with people, or doing promotions and stuff, you’re obviously not going to have fun with it.

This is a fun job, so do it because you want to do it! Just be yourself. Also, during try outs, don’t try to put a fake smile on or be better than the person next to you. Just be you and let your personality shine through. And that’s how you make teams like that, so, that’s the biggest [piece of ] advice I would give.

What’s your favorite part of working with the team?

Well, I love working with Archie, our mascot, because I worked with him for the Bighorns and it’s the same person who does both the mascots.

I just love working with him because I think he’s a lot of fun. He just makes my day better so even if I’m having a bad day and I have to come into work and I have to be happy, it’s just easier having Archie there as comic relief. It really helps.

What’s your favorite memory from working with the Aces?

I guess just being with the girls that I’ve known for so long, because I’ve known all of them since I was a freshman in high school. Just being on the same dance team with them is a lot of fun. So we kind of create our own memories.

What does a typical day look like for you working with ASUN, the Aces, and going to college?

Well, my day starts really early! I get up at like 6:30, get ready, go to class, do ASUN stuff and then in the evenings just go straight to a game. So, it’s always back to back. I mean, I don’t really get a break in my day unless it’s after Aces, so it’s just busy busy. I always find something to do.

So what do you do when you get a moment of free time?

Free time? Well, my first day off is going to be tomorrow, so I’m really excited! I don’t know, I love going to the lake

and being around friends.

Usually on my days off I try to do as little as possible, you know, just kind of hang out at the house. I try not to do anything, unless it’s like, go to Tahoe and lay out and relax.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced with dancing?

When I first made the Bighorns dance team, the only people I knew there were the three of us from the McQueen dance team.

But then, the other girls that were on it, I didn’t know them at all, and I’m kind of shy if you don’t really know me. If I’m in intimate situations, I’m not going to be the first one to tell you my whole life story, you know? In the beginning, it was just kind of hard for me since I didn’t know the other girls. They all seemed like they were best friends, and then these girls over here were best friends, and I just knew the girls that I danced with in high school. But they knew everybody, so it was just kind of, not necessarily cliquey, but it was just hard for me to open up. I think that it definitely affected my dancing because obviously I was a little bit more on the shy side. So, just getting over that and opening up to people, or opening up to my teammates, was one of my biggest obstacles.

Is there anything you would like to add about the Aces?

I love the Aces. It’s my favorite job. I just love seeing people.

It’s really funny because I’m also a hostess at Cadillac Ranch, so people would come in all the time and be like, “Oh, I saw you at the Aces game last night,” or something. It’s just funny to see people recognize you. It’s really cool.

Visit us online to see Leissan in action.

2010 September | Insight | 7

B eolnl e s Wheels words by katie goodwin Photos by sebastian diaz

W VICGORIA, member of the MAFIA MOLLIES whips around team members of the BANG-BANG BETTIES.

K

ellogg defended it, explaining how derby is a fun and social sport—to no avail.

Stereotypes plague this sport. People say derby girls are violent, aggressive, tattooed, drunk lesbians. Mess with one and she’ll knock your teeth out with her fishnet-covered legs and pinklaced skates. What’s more likely is that she’ll fiercely shake your hand, but if you piss her off, watch out.

“Half of us are nurses,” says Tiffanie “Ginger Snatch” Olsen, a player for the Battle Born Derby Demons and a nurse in real-life. She goes on to list teachers and business managers as other common professions. Karin “Pistol Whip” Hefington, another player for the BBDD, is studying and training to be a firefighter.

The players are moms, wives, college stu8 | Insight | September 2010

hen Erin Kellogg told her family that she started playing roller derby, she knew how they would react.

Her mom laughed. Her brothers jokingly asked when Kellogg would be bringing her lesbian girlfriend home to meet the family. Her father sat in silence, or rather, disbelief that his daughter, now “Bashlee Boom Boom” would be playing roller derby.

dents, home-owners, renters, and so on.

BBDD players range in age from 21 to 47. Reno Roller Girl players are as young as 18. The girls are of every race and ethnicity imaginable. No single life-style or demographic defines derby, just like any other hobby.

Similarly, derby in Reno is largely a volunteer activity, if not something the girls have to pay for to be a part of.

BBDD charges $30 per month in dues.

Decent equipment including roller skates, pads and helmet can set a girl back hundreds of dollars. The sport has little room for free-loaders. Derby is a serious game for serious girls.

Derby Identity Identity is everything in this game.

Girls are not known as a number for a team. They are individuals, from the

customized team outfits to the name on the back of their shirt.

The average roller derby spectator usually underestimates the work that a girl employs while picking a name. The names are usually comical and involve violence, sex or a vice of choice. While the creative process, like most creative processes, is difficult, it is finding a unique name that is really challenging.

All the girls that are considered “serious” league players must submit their names to a national roster. It is at the roster-keeper’s discretion if the names are exclusive enough to be added. The rules are stringent. No two names can be pronounced similarly, such as “Paige Burner” and “Paige Burna”. No two names can be distinguished only by spelling such as Vicgoria and Vickgoria. Names cannot

begin with a posTwo Reno Roller Girls sessive: your, her, teams, the MAFIA MOLLIES my, and so on. The compete against the industry standard BANG-BANG BETTIES roster, hosted by twoevils.org, already has nearly 20,000 names from teams across the country.

The leagues universally support these strict regulations.

No roller girl wants another girl to have the same name as her.

When Katy “Green Eggs and Wham” Arias was picking her name, she originally wanted it to be Mallory Knocks, an fishnet tights. Some girls fabricate bruises allusion to a character with make-up. Some girls don’t need the from the film Natural Born Killers. The name was already taken though, by a girl make-up to have a badass bruise. Whatever her look is, she owns it. on the Carolina Rollergirls team. Her Derby Devotion next choice, Green Eggs and Wham, is Vicki “Vicgoria” Alvarez got her start in spirit of her profession. She’s a chef. with RRG nearly three years ago. In the Many girls find a quality or trait that RRG world, this makes her a seasoned speaks to her and base their names on veteran.

She estimates that most playthat. ers in that league last on average nine Even when a girl retires, her name months before moving on.

Within two stays on the list in recognition of her months of joining, she was the Executive derby identity, making a roller girl’s Director. name the most important decision she “I get shit done,” says Vicgoria. makes. When joining a league she had After her stint as director, she was better choose quickly and wisely because elected the vice president of the board the pseudonym will never change. Ligia for RRG. Now she is the President of the “Whoop That Trick” Angeles, a player board. for the Bang Bang Betties, can relate “I do this instead of work,” she says, only too well. Her first day at practice, estimating that she devotes more than the other girls had trouble pronouncing forty hours each week to RRG. her first name. Instead of learning it, In addition to her derby obligathey instantly dubbed her “Fred”. By the tion, she is studying accounting at the time Angeles chose a derby name, it was University of Nevada, Reno. She plans to almost pointless. She was already Fred. It graduate in the spring of 2011. Vicgoria took four months to convert most of the acknowledges that balancing derby, a full girls. Her helmet still says “Fred” above class load and a family is difficult but “Whoop That Trick“. undeniably rewarding.

Developing an identity does not stop “Everyone loves this fucking sport,” at the name. A girl’s style must also be she says. one-of-a kind. Some girls wear tutus over Wham describes her dedication to their spandex shorts. Some girls wear

derby as an addiction. Ginger Snatch calls derby the thing that was missing in her life and says that feeling is extended through many other players.

Vicgoria says that sometimes the attachment to derby sparks conflict in relationships. This is coined as “derby jealousy”. While the boyfriends, husbands and other family members who experience this sentiment tend to move on and ultimately become supportive, not all do. Vicgoria’s boyfriend and his children are supportive of her high level of involvement, which she says is necessary if a girl really wants to succeed in derby. Lindsey“Buckeye Beefcake” Millen, secretary of the board, says that her husband loves that she is involved with derby. They have not experienced any “derby jealousy” but she says they are lucky because their schedules have worked out so that while he is at work in the evenings, she can practice without derby cutting short quality time for the couple. Not all couples have that luxury.

RRG requires attendance at least 75 percent of practices in order to play.

Practices are held three times a week for about three hours each. There is a 90 day probation period before a girl is assigned to one of the three intra-league teams: 2010 September | Insight | 9

10 | Insight | September 2010

warehouse, or as RRG calls it, the Wreck site of Rink on the River during the late Center, has proven to make the RRG spring and summer. Recently they had more visible to the public. Prior to the their first bout at Lawlor Events CenWreck Center, the RRG girls were practer, a double header against teams from ticing and bouting at Roller Kingdom, a Bend, Oregon and the Bay area. Beplace that Vicgoria lovingly describes as cause of its success, BBDD will host its smelling like sweat and puke.

“Project Mayhem” bout at Lawlor again At Roller Kingdom, RRG never had on May 22. The downtown location more than 350 attendees at a bout, interests passers-by who normally would despite the amount of promotion. not consider attending a derby bout.

Participation in the league was low. After Additionally, BBDD’s type of play has a moving to the Wreck broader appeal than “I don’t even say sorry say the RRG, at least Center, located at 3800 Lakeside in public anymore,” says more family-friendly.

Court, the league BBDD follow the Vicgoria. “People probably rules established by noticed a dramatic increase in attenthe Women’s Flat think I’m an asshole.” dance. The previous Track Association. two bouts had 600 RRG follow the “old and 680 attendees, school” rules, which respectively. Vicgoria attributes this to a includes some elbow throwing and some negative stigma of youth associated with hitting. BBDD allows none of that.

Roller Kingdom. The Wreck Center is a Exclusive supporters of the Battle Born venue that speaks to the punk, Do-ItDerby Demons claim that their girls play Yourself attitude of derby. a more competitive, athletic sport. They BBDD has had an easier time gaining also say that Reno Roller Girls play dirty. exposure to the public. The vast majorMore often than naught, the BBDD ity of the league’s bouts are at the empty girls and the RRG are judged not on a

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the Bang Bang Betties, Mafia Mollies or Stiff Broads. These requirements help keep the girls trained and physically fit enough for the intense level of competition on the track. Most girls don’t have trouble meeting the attendance requirements because derby is just as much a social gathering as it is an athletic event.

The friendships undoubtedly keep the girls involved if nothing else does. Kristine “Suzy Lee Killing Spree” Pangilinan says that she was unsure at first about getting involved, but after meeting the other girls, she was hooked. Some girls have what they call a “derby wife”. These are two girls whose bond is instant.

“She’s the girl who’ll bail you out of jail, if she’s not sitting next to you,” says Vicgoria.

Reno Loves Derby The cult-like derby following in Reno is clear, as the community successfully supports the two leagues. While the leagues have a close relationship with each other, they have definitive differences. They share a warehouse (and the rent) where RRG practices and bouts while BBDD just practices there. The

singular basis, but rather, in comparison to one another. Fans of BBDD often describe RRG as the WWE of roller derby.

Vicgoria hates being called that. To her, old school derby is nothing compared to renegade derby—a game in which no rules apply. She says she would jump at the chance to play that way though.

Old school derby is significantly different from the more modern flat track leagues because most old-school leagues are raising funds to skate on a banked track, if they don’t already. A banked track is angled between 35 and 45 degrees. This type of track gives skaters more speed. A banked track is a hefty investment easily totally a cost of $20,000.

RRG diligently saves the funds raised from bouts, and Vicgoria says that the league has about $10,000 already.

Excitement overwhelms the girls when speaking of skating on a banked track.

Those who have nearly worship the experience, gushing about the speed they had or how easy it was to fall and get back up. Those less fortunate listen intently with envy.

When “Whip It”, a film starring Ellen Page as a reluctant pageant participant turned derby girl, was released in October 2009, the girls of RRG were excited.

As a league they went to the sneak preview so they could share the experience together. The team identified with the “Whip It” team, the Hurl Scouts, mostly because the film used a banked track.

“I gave up my Brett Michaels tickets to see it,” says Vicgoria.

She first learned about the film in an online derby forum, at the time it was still a rumor. Vicgoria proceeded to investigate the possibility of a major motion picture about the sport that she loves dearly. Upon learning that Drew Barrymore was to be the director, Vicgoria joined Barrymore’s online fan club so she could receive updates. She laments missing the casting call for derby girls as stunt doubles but still loved the film.

“The plot was cute and all,” she says.

“But really it was all about the banked track.”

Many of the girls of BBDD were less enthralled with the release of the film.

For BBDD, there was no organized trip to the early release.

“It was a Hollywood movie,” says Pistol Whip. “Of course it was exaggerated.”

Ginger Snatch wishes the film was more about the sport and less about the romance. In the film, Ellen Page’s character, Bliss Cavendar, falls for a boy in a rock band but eventually employs the self-confidence that derby gave her to leave him when he is unfaithful.

While the romantic sub-plot of the film is arguably cliché, the theme of selfconfidence is real.

No Sorry In Derby A whistle blows and dozens of roller girls stop a practice drill and drop to the ground. They assume a push-up position, skates and all, and wait for the next whistle to blow. Some poor “fresh meat” has uttered the one phrase prohibited in roller derby—“I’m sorry”. The referee leading the practice sounds the whistle five more times and each girl completes five pushups, the punishment for apologizing.

“I don’t even say sorry in public anymore,” says Vicgoria. “People probably think I’m an asshole.”

Not allowing girls to apologize prepares them for the sentiment on the track. Every girl has to fight for herself in order to succeed, much less survive.

Fighting for oneself impresses itself. Killing Spree says derby changed her.

When she joined, although typically considerate and friendly, she was scared and nervous about it, a feeling she knew all too well.

After months of what she calls

“playing football on skates” she saw her self-confidence really blossom. Soon she was actively standing up for herself more often in public. She issues one warning though, if derby is taken too much to heart.

“Don’t drive like you’re playing derby.”

Before Whoop That Trick joined derby she had a high level of self-confidence.

That was clear when she decided to join.

Most girls drag along a friend, a way to lessen the pressure and anxiety of breaking into a group as intimidating as derby girls seem. Whoop That Trick arrived alone, unafraid. Even for her though, the positive reinforcement of strength and confidence has increased her esteem.

Derby reminded her to not fear trying something new alone. This is a lesson she hopes to pass on to her three children.

“If they take anything away from me, I want it to be for them to go after what makes them happy,” says Trick. She can only hope that one day she can watch her girls knock some unsuspecting rival face down to the track.

2010 September | Insight | 11

Story and Photos by Rachel Wright

[perspectives]

From Sparks to South Africa

I

used to hate soccer. Watching men kick a ball around a field for ninety minutes to maybe score one whole point was torture for me, and nothing exciting ever seemed to happen. I didn’t even find soccer players all that attractive – not even Ronaldo.

T

en months ago, though, I got an internship with a suit, but by the time you actually arrived, could be decked the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I out in your team of choice’s jersey, scarf or even a giant flag packed my bags, finished the semester early, and fashionably tied as a cape. took off halfway around the world still secretly And these street vendors made sure this could happen. If hating soccer. After living in Johannesburg for three months, you flagged them down in your vehicle at a stop light, but and immersing myself in a culture that worships the “beauti- they couldn’t complete the purchase in time before the light ful game,” it became a lot harder to keep hating the sport. changed, they would RUN to meet you at the next light to It’s not uncommon to see people wearing At Soccer City, WRIGHT and another intern football jerseys or baseball hats in the United attend the Brazil vs. Ivory Coast match.

States, but you never see EVERY American supporting the New York Yankees or the Dallas Cowboys (especially me). While I was in Joburg, every South African got behind Bafana Bafana, the South African team meaning “the boys” in Zulu (the Bantu language of the area). Fridays became “Football Fridays,” and no matter where you went, bright yellow jerseys were everywhere. Flags were flying all over the place, and side-view mirror decals featuring flag designs for almost every team became really popular.

The best part was the street vendors, selling all sorts of memorabilia at every “robot,” or street light. You could leave for work wearing 12 | Insight | September 2010

finish the transaction. It was a sight to see. If people were going this crazy before the World Cup had even started, I knew things were going to be wild at the actual games.

Soccer City, the host stadium for the opening and final matches, can hold almost 95,000 fans.

That is 95,000 drunk, screaming fans who are ready to kick some ass if their team, and their country’s pride, get sent home early. I was one of those fans twice, and it Fans wave flags during the opening match was awesome. People went nuts at the live matches, even of the World Cup at the Sandton FIFA Fan Fest. though the only alcohol you could buy in Soccer City was Budweiser, oddly enough. converted me. Soccer fans love their teams like it’s their son Hundreds of flags were draped on every hanging surface out there on the pitch. When a goal is scored, they scream fans could find. Riot police dressed like Robocop were out and hug strangers, dance and start parades. When their team in full force. Fans came dressed in ridiculous outfits and loses, it is devastating. covered in face paint. At the Uruguay vs. Ghana game, two I wanted Ghana to win the World Cup, and yes, that men were dressed in full Santa Claus costumes and another means I wanted USA to lose. I was at Soccer City for the three were in full body suits and masks creating the Ghana heartbreaking match when Uruguay beat Ghana in overtime flag. Nine guys showed up all in orange, complete with wigs, penalty kicks, and I can promise you that Uruguay received to root for Cote D’Ivoire against Brazil, and another woman the quietest victory celebration in the history of sports. I had her entire face painted with the Brazil flag. almost cried, and almost got into a fight with another intern Looking outrageous and going all out with your outwho took that chance to say, “It shoulda been USA here!” fit made you a photo opportunity, which ended being a Me, a former soccer hater, almost crying over a game and fantastic way to meet people. I wasn’t even dressed up in ready to punch this guy in the face. I hadn’t even had that team colors and an East many Budweisers. That’s what African man bought me happens when you live in a a beer and a candy bar country hosting the World in hopes of making me Cup and end up lucky enough his wife. Epic isn’t epic to work in the sport. You end enough of a word to up drinking the Kool-Aid. describe the stadium’s Will I start watching soccer atmosphere. games now that I am back And, of course, there home? No. I still think soccer were the vuvuzelas. is kind of boring in compariRemember the annoyson to baseball, my favorite ing buzzing sounds sport (and yes, I know how you constantly heard ridiculous that sounds to some while trying to watch of you). Like most Amerithe matches on TV? It cans, my attention will only came from thousands shift back to soccer when the of people blowing the 2014 FIFA World Cup rolls air horns over and over. around. However, I will pay At first, I hated them, more attention to Ghana and too. If they are loud South Africa by reading the news to see whether or not they on TV, they are much louder in person, and people will not have a chance to make it to the Brazil, the next host country. hesitate to blow them right in your face. But then, someI’ll tell people how seeing a soccer match in person can be one gave me my own vuvuzela. There’s no way to say this pretty fun and how easy it is to get psyched when everyone without it sounding wrong, but I’m really good at blowing a else around you is excited. I’ll make sure people know what vuvuzela. I lost my voice for about two days from a combian amazing country South Africa is and do my best to connation of being sick, screaming for Ghana and blowing my vince them to vacation there if they get the chance. vuvuzela for hours. It was totally worth it.

Thanks to this experience, I can now say that golf is the All of these things helped change my opinion of soccer, worst sport in the world instead. but it was the overwhelming passion in the stands that really 2010 September | Insight | 13

Strides for Cyclists words by sam disalvo photos courtesy of erica greif

I

t seems bicycling has morphed from a mode of transportation to a status symbol, marking one’s place in social hierarchy: a pseudo branding of who’s hip and who’s not in certain social settings. Even Wikipedia has deemed fixed gear bicycles and their lack of a freewheel or an ability to coast for the likes of “bicycle messengers and hipsters,” and we all know bicycle messaging went out of style years ago. Or maybe you were just doing it before it was cool.

14 | Insight | September 2010

s

A

select few bikers, however, still do it to get around, And for good reason: they averaged about 60 miles a day, or for the pure joy of biking. Music education major making the trip faster than many of the other tourists, they Paul Brizendine and nutrition major Erica Greif said. However, the path was not without complications, nor biked from Seattle to San Francisco this summer, was it always under 60 miles. Sometimes, it wasn’t even a path proving that their interest in cycling is far from fascination with for that matter. Brizendine recalls a treacherous 85 mile ride a trend. from Bodega Bay through the Marin Headlands on their final Brizendine began biking out of necessity in high school. day of the trip.

Having totaled a car, he had no other choice. Greif also started “We had to be home at a certain time, so we didn’t follow the riding frequently in high school. bike route,” Brizendine says. “There were huge climbs and no “I rode all the time, but I rode a Huffy,” says 18-year old shoulder. I was thinking, ‘Please don’t ride off the edge of this Greif. cliff.’”

The two have since upgraded to fixed gears: a Motobecane for Brizendine and Paul brizendine (right) and a 2009 Jamis Aurora Elite for Greif. They erica greif (below) riding also decided to upgrade their terrain from through the Avenue of the streets of Reno to the Pacific coast.

Giants in Redwood Forest, Brizendine and Greif took a Greyhound CAlifornia. bus to Seattle, and embarked on their three-week trek to the Bay on the first of June with a copy of “Bicycling the Pacific Coast” and without much physical preparation.

“I rode the McCarran Loop once,” says music 19-year-old Brizendine. “I’m in pretty good shape, but even if you weren’t, you were after the first week.”

The coastal weather also played a part in some lackluster parts of the trip, sometimes raining so much, Brizendine and Greif would have to resort to other ideas for transportation.

The day the two spent in Newport, Oregon, they found a place that catered to touring cyclists specifically. It offered internet, coffee and a shower: all for free. After spending three hours there from 11 at night to two in the morning, they noticed clouds were coming in and figured they should start heading towards the campsite. They had 60 more miles to go, and it just began to pour.

“Three hours later and we’d gone 20 miles,” Greif says.

Upon reaching a small town 15 miles later, the two decided they would hitchhike the remaining 25 miles to the campsite.

“It was quiet and kind of awkward,” Greif says of the car ride.

Finally reaching the campsite, the two attempted to cook a meal, but it was met with little satisfaction.

“The low point was when we camped in the rain,” Greif says.

“We’re sitting in the tent, cooking. I’m eating 99 cent discount biscuits with stolen packets of butter.”

The following day, the two decided to spring for a sit-down 2010 September | Insight | 15

Taking a break on the california coast.

meal and get a motel for the next few rainfilled days.

“We woke up, went to the next town and sat in a diner for four hours,” Greif says. “It was really draining.”

Despite the occasional setbacks and disappointments, Brizendine and Greif found encouragement in other cyclists making similar bike tours. Many people they met were going to the Mexican border from Seattle; some had been biking for years. One couple from Switzerland had been riding for six years. They picked up odd jobs along the way to sustain and even had a child while on the road in South America. Brizendine and Greif specifically connected with a couple from Vancouver who they stuck with for most of the trip. Greif thought the diversity of the people they met significantly enhanced the trip.

“We mostly talked with [the Canadian couple], but there’s always other people,” Greif says. “It could’ve been really boring. We bought a deck of cards, but we only used it one night.

There’s always someone to talk to. It’s cool to see how far people have come and where they’re going.”

In addition to the people they met, Brizendine says there were high points in simply riding his bike.

“On top of a gigantic cliff, I’d think, ‘I get to start the downhill,’” Brizendine says.

16 | Insight | September 2010

CYCLING FOR CULTURE

The two rode through many notable areas on the coast, from the Avenue of the Giants, surrounded by the massive trees of the Redwood Forest to the Bodega Dunes on the last night spent with 15 other cyclists in the campsite. The culture of cycling really became clear to Brizendine and Greif, and it is something they say is lacking in the city of Reno. This culture was especially detected in San Francisco and Seattle.

“No one has a big ego about having a bike because everyone has a bike,” Greif says.

Brizendine adds that there is a more receptive attitude towards cyclists in these cities than what he is used to.

“There are bikers everywhere in Seattle and they would talk to us even though they didn’t know who we were,” Brizendine

says. “There’s a bike culture in Reno, but it’s not very big.

It’s more, ‘I ride my bike to look cool at bars.’”

Bicycle Bananas sales associate Derek Cano points out that one of the reasons cities like Seattle do have a booming cyclist population is because incentives are offered. Although Reno’s Bike to Work Week offered incentives such as entering one’s name into a drawing for prizes, Cano says this type of attitude needs to be continued all year long to build a stronger bicycle community.

“Here there’s no need for people to ride as much,” Cano says.

“It’s not as fun. It’s more work. You don’t get anything back for it.”

Women With Wrenches meets every Monday at 7 at Reno Bike Project through October 25th.

541 E. 4th Street, Reno, NV 89512 Wed. - Fri. 11:00am - 6:00pm Sat. 11:00am - 5:00pm Phone: 775-323-4488

CYCLING WITHIN LOCAL BOUNDARIES

Greif agrees there is definitely something to be gained from expanding the bike culture in Reno, but it’s going to have to be a collective effort in the community.

“It’s a really good outlet,” Greif says. “It’s a very wholesome thing. People don’t expect bikers down here. Drivers are kind of unaware. Cycling enforcement here is excessive considering how much change needs to come from the other side.”

Brizendine agrees that drivers are not receiving the same repercussions as cyclists, even though their offenses appear to be much worse.

“Cyclists are getting ticketed, but drivers hit cyclists all the time and there’s nothing happening,” Brizendine says.

Currently, cyclists are to comply with basically all the same laws as motorists: they must signal when turning, stop at stop signs, in addition to making themselves visible at night with the use of reflectors. Bicycles also must have a working brake. Bicycle Bananas sales associate Jed Spangler agrees that a mutual understanding needs to emerge in order to make riding smooth for both motorists and cyclists.

“People think cyclists should be like pedestrians, or cyclists should have the same rules as cars,” Spangler says. “I think we’re somewhere in the middle. Bikes certainly don’t belong on the sidewalks, but it doesn’t make sense [for them] to be in the middle of the lane.”

Bicycle lanes have been added recently in certain local areas such as on Arlington, California, Wells and Victorian Avenues and Mill St., but Spangler believes there are still more areas that could use a bike lane.

“We don’t have a lot of bike lanes on roads that’d be really nice to ride,” says Spangler. “I ride McCarran home and there’s construction, but they just have a sign that says, ‘Bike lane ends.’ I still need to get home.”

Greif hopes to inject some of the bicycle culture and education she found on the Pacific coast into Reno, but reminds bikers that it takes their support to get these movements off the ground. Greif is organizing Women with Wrenches, an ongoing class that teaches women how to fix their bikes with a new topic addressed every class.

“The more you know, the more interest you gain,” Greif says. “Be part of the bike community; don’t just own a bike.”

Local support organizations: Bike Reno Nevada Bicycle Coalition Muscle Powered Poedunk Reno Bike Project Reno Riders Reno-Sparks Kiwanis Bike Program Procrastinating Pedalers of Reno!

Reno Wheelmen (women welcome) UNR Cycling Team

Log on to view an interactive bike map and watch a few clips featuring some quick fixes for your bike.

2010 September | Insight | 17

[perspectives]

A Modest Suggestion

One student’s crusade against bikes.

words by charlie woodman PHOTO by geoff roseborough

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wo days after I met my current roommate, Demp, I indirectly caused him to have a bicycle crash (indirectly can be a pretty loose term, right?). When the accident occurred, he was testing a bicycle from Scheels outside the store. I called him, and upon answering his phone, he crashed his bike into my car. They gave him $100 off his bike, which was great because he would later have to put that money towards replacing his front teeth..

photo courtesy of charlie woodman

18 | Insight | September 2010

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hile pulling Demp, bleeding and blind (and dirty), through the department store, I made a life changing decision to start a crusade (the violent kind) to prevent bicycles from ever denting my car again. Some would call me a hero. I would. The point is, I hate bikes.

In fact, bicycles are so bad, I had to scour the Internet to find a word foul enough to describe them: vomitrocious. Say that out loud once. It’s excellent isn’t it?

The main reason I personally every red-blooded American patriot should hate bikes (besides the fact that they make very uncomfortable speed bumps) is the culture that has developed around their use. First and foremost, it’s comprised almost entirely by mopey twenty-somethings acting more emotionally scarred than Super Glue Man (the only thing he can’t fix is his broken heart).

Now I have no problems with people who cry while simultaneously operating machinery, but bicycles aren’t like wrecking balls or bulldozers, where someone could actually get hurt.

Beyond the fact that most of them are sad-sack Bukowskiwannabes, bike users have something of an attitude. And I mean that in a very condescending Teenage-Mutant-NinjaTurtle-sorta way. You see, much like the Turtles, bike riders are superficially artists. The Turtles were named after renaissance painters and produced performance pieces. Bikers, on the other hand, are named after their tax consultant-uncles and attempt to appear generally ‘artsy’ in a way that I can honestly say is worse than most of George Lopez’s career. Also like the Turtles, they could accurately be called mutants.

These Teenage Mutant Bicycle Appreciators are under some sort of illusion that, because they only buy bikes from small multi-national corporations, they are fighting the capitalist’s regime. That way, they can whine about world affairs while writing more vomitrocious poetry and not be expected to do anything about the issues they care about - “I’ve got a bike so duh, you know, the apartheid was bad, but I helped.”

Really, that’s the biggest problem with the bicycle enthusiast’s mindset: their belief in political ideals, and arguably, the bicycles they ‘love’ so much, when it is really just a fashion accessory. It is to be shown off at parties, but never put to any sort of practical use. It’s like a hat you could ride, but somehow less cool. Actually, no—I would ride a hat, provided it was a giant sombrero and had a nice stereo.

So after carefully deliberating on all of my argument topics, I can safely state that bicycles are only kept around to be used as a last-resort form of transportation after the machines betray us at the start of the apocalypse. Still, I suppose they may be a better form of travel than the toboggan, but even that may change come nuclear winter.

2010 September | Insight | 19

[perspectives]

Fi t f o r a Na p words by caitlin thomas Photos by scott barnett

I

don’t like going outside on hikes. I don’t care for the gym.

The peak of my physical excellence came in the seventh grade while playing soccer. I scored the game winning goal and also put a girl in the hospital. Suck it, Tigers!

I’ve never connected with athletics- the blood, the sweat, the notgiving-up. I didn’t see a point in stimulating my body with running or kettlebell swings (I’ll explain later). I’d much rather read a book and exercise my mind. Inside. With the air conditioner running.

20 | Insight | September 2010

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hough a regular laze, I never back down from a challenge. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to conquer three thrilling workouts: yoga, stripper aerobics and CrossFit. I was going to meditate, strip tease, and kill myself, and I was successful at all three...almost.

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with yoga.

I loved the idea of mentally exploring your psyche with meditation, yet I hated the idea of staying in uncomfortable positions. How was I supposed to relax my mind when I was about to fall over? You’d think since I’m a vegetarian I’d fit into the hippie cliche of doing yoga and saving the environment, but no. I prefer to lay around my house and eat peanut butter out of the jar.

I checked out my parent’s athletic club schedule. “Sunrise Yoga, 6 a.m.”

I wanted to go when all the die-hards would be there, the professionals. Actually, I prefer to call them “Yogards.” I dragged my body out of bed in a fever of regret. “I’ll learn something from this,” I assured myself.

I arrived at the club a few minutes early to watch people warming up. The sun was rising, the Yogards were laying out their mats and blocks. Mats and blocks? I wasn’t aware I needed either of these. Luckily, the club provided both. I laid out my mat and thought about just lying down and taking a nap, but I didn’t think the Yogards would approve.

Soon, a petite little lady came in and focused the class. “Alright class, let’s put it in Lotus Position,” she instructed. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. I looked to my left Yogard for instruction. She sat peacefully, legs crossed in the heart of her mat. I mirrored her. The instructor, Erin, stressed the importance of breathing. “You should feel your breathing rising up, inhale, exhale.” I breathed slowly. I noticed the Yogards had their eyes closed. I closed mine, feeling a bit silly, but I was trying to center my chi!

The next thirty minutes were hellish.

I was so out of shape, but I didn’t realize it until now. With each position my legs would shake. I don’t think this was normal. The Yogards had each position down. They were naturally flexible and centered in their psyche. I was battling each stiff muscle, try-

ing to find some peace in my chaotic body.

My struggles didn’t go unnoticed. Erin came to “adjust” my stiffness every so often. This was appreciated. And embarrassing.

When the class finally came back to the lotus position for closing, I breathed a sigh of relief instead of the focused breathing. I was ready to go back to sleep.

I did learn a few things: first, the blocks are your friends. You will use them to keep balance in the most ridiculous positions. Second, there is this pose called “child’s pose.” It is awesome.

You basically just lay down with your knees to your stomach. I find this to be the best position to take a nap in.

With yoga being a complete fail, I was looking forward to having fun with stripper workouts. I had a few different videos for these workouts.

The first was Carmen Electra’s “Stripper Aerobics.” The second was “The S Factor.” Both these are marketed towards people who’d like to lose weight.

I also had a good friend who was an exotic dancer who agreed to come over and show me what athletic stripping was really about. I practiced the videos up until she came over.

Thrusting a chair for ten minutes with Carmen Electra is a great way to spend a Tuesday afternoon.

My friend finally came over. We will call her “Sapphire.” I made her walk me through her routine before she goes to work. Surprisingly, she laid a mat out. Did I miss the memo about always having a mat? I should really invest in one of those She started stretching immediately claiming it was very important or you would pull something.

I had no idea extreme exotic dancing could be so strenuous. Sapphire then showed me a whirlwind of moves. My favorite? The “Hello Kitty.” This move requires you to squat on the floor, legs together but knees apart. It’s suggestive, but you can definitely feel the burn in your legs.

She also said the words “B.L.T” over and over. I thought she just wanted a sandwich, but Sapphire was merely pointing out my “breasts, legs, and thighs.” These are three very crucial points during the stripper workout.

The things I learned from stripper aerobics were pretty rewarding. Of course, this can spice up any love life. As sexy 2010 September | Insight | 21

as it may be, it’s grueling. I actually broke a sweat multiple times.

Like yoga, it can really stretch out your body. Personally, stripper aerobics was much more thrilling then sitting in “lotus position” for ten minutes.

The next workout I participated in is very popular, especially on our campus. I wanted to do it, then I didn’t want to do it.

I read the horror stories that said, “I had an anxiety attack and passed out during CrossFit again this week, man.” Spectacular.

CrossFit isn’t so much about losing weight, but more your performance. It’s a strict concentration on your core strength. You don’t just sit on a machine—you are drilled through the workouts. I knew I was going to fail. I can’t even carry my textbooks to class.

I walked into the gym. There was a board on the wall that showcased people’s times. Some people were in the middle of their work-outs, sweating like mad and making funny noises. I think I saw one guy crying.

Intimidation was on overload. I thought about running away.

I thought about just faking an injury five minutes deep into the workout. I filled out some paperwork, signed a waiver. I was positive there was a solid chance of me perishing mid-workout.

Yet, this didn’t stop me. We started with some light warmups. The trainer told me to start with jumping jacks, then we progressed to squats. I’m not sure how many I made it to. The trainer made me keep going. I was shaking; my body was freaking out.

We went to one of the various stations. These stations ranged from pull-ups to tire jumps. You were supposed to drill through each, one minute per station, if I recall correctly. I completely dropped shortly after we started. I don’t remember much. The trainer told me not to worry and that it’s normal for newcomers to not complete the workout.

I walked around and observed other CrossFitters. Some were lying on the ground. Some were kicking ass. My legs were shaking again. I felt a bit sick in my stomach. I said goodbye to everyone and went to my car.

That’s when I felt it.

That’s right. I puked in the parking lot. I puked in the CrossFit parking lot.

Though something told me I wasn’t the first, and I probably wont be the last.

Am I a changed person after “conquering” these athletic trends? If anything, this experience taught me so much about my body; the breaking points and the things I need to work on. Am I going to work on them? Maybe one day. Well, when I decide to, I’ll know what kind of training I need. So, I guess this experience was quite helpful for the future. Things I’ll always remember include the lotus, the “Hello Kitty,” and throwing up in the CrossFit parking lot.

Interested in trying out CrossFit or Yoga?

Check out these local favorites!

University of Nevada CrossFit and Yoga Classes Lombardi Recreation Center (775) 784-1225 University of Nevada’s Art of Living Club Various locations around campus Email theyellowleaf626@gmail.com for more information Mind Body & Pilates 670 Alvaro Street (775) 745-4151 The Yonic Lounge 100 North Arlington Avenue (775) 303-7366 Yoga Shack 190 California Ave. Suite 201 (775) 324-1977‎ Crossfit Sierra Nevada 121 Woodland Avenue (775) 742-1453 BattleBorn CrossFit 1335 Airmotive Way (775) 745-5144 CrossFit Initiative 9410 Prototype Drive (775) 233-1875 ...or try out a stripper class The Exotic Workout Studio 600 South Center Street (775) 691-0625

22 | Insight | September 2010

2010 September | Insight | 23

Drive on a Dime words by mark zasky Photos by michael gjurich

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round of golf in Reno doesn’t have to drain your bank account—especially if you schedule a tee time when the sun is on its way down.

Most area golf courses offer twilight specials, where players can receive discounted golf for playing in the afternoon. Sierra Sage Golf Course, located in Stead, starts its twilight special rate after 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

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or 18 holes of golf, one player will pay $15. Cart rentals are available for $14 per person.

This rate runs from now until October 31. The course offers scenic views of the backside of Peavine Mountain and plenty of wildlife. Its wide fairways and limited water hazards make it a good course for beginners and amateurs. Sierra Sage also puts forth various monthly specials.

“We typically will be doing something a little different each month,” Sierra Sage’s Steve Brandon says. “We have a sage club where we will send emails when we have specials coming up. We do a lot of different specials and try different things.”

The sage club allows players to sign up 24 | Insight | September 2010

a for a quarterly news letter via email that informs them of special offers before they are made public and a complimentary round of golf on your birthday. For the month of July, the course’s monthly special was entitled “The More The Merrier,” where the more people you had tee off with you, the cheaper the rates were. For this month’s and future specials, Brandon said to call the course or check their web site at www.sierrasagegolf.org.

For the more advanced golfer, or an amateur not afraid to lose some golf balls, try Rosewood Lakes Golf Course, located at 6800 Pembroke Drive in Reno. The marshlands that surround each hole may seem unforgiving because they swallow up every ball you slice or pull, but the course’s low prices and

variety of water fowl make up for it.

Rosewood Lakes offers half priced golf every Thursday, where all rates are cut in half. Instead of paying $33 for 18 holes of golf, you’ll pay $16.50. Nine holes will cost you $12 instead of $24. Thursday’s half price rates do not include a cart, which cost $8, and do not apply to Rosewood’s super twilight rates.

“We don’t see an end to it at this point,” Rosewood Lakes PGA pro Bob Forse said of their Thursday special. He also said the course is looking to reduce the price of their overall rates, but it hasn’t been approved yet.

If you can’t make it out for golf on Thursdays, Rosewood Lakes offers affordable twilight specials everyday of the week. After 12 p.m., 18 holes of golf will

cost you $24. This does not include a cart. After 5:30 p.m., Rosewood Lakes offers super twilight golf, where you can get in as much golf as you want before you run out of daylight for $12. This does not include a cart.

Affordable golf can also be found 20 miles south of Reno in Carson City at Eagle Valley Golf Course, located at 3999 Centennial Park Drive. Eagle Valley offers a more challenging west course that twists through sagebrush along a mountainside and an east course that’s great for beginners. The east course has wide-open fairways that aren’t constricted with sagebrush. A hook or slice on this course will put your ball on the adjacent hole’s fairway, while a slice on the west course will land your ball in the thick sagebrush.

No matter which course you want to play, both are reasonably priced, especially if you join Eagle Valley’s 50-mile club. If you live within 50 miles of the course, you can receive cheaper rates and specials for a $50 initiation fee. For enrolling, the course will offer you a free

round of golf and buy you lunch every time you play from Monday through Thursday. A regular round of 18 holes of golf costs $40 on the east course with a cart included and $55 on the west course with a cart included for non 50-mile club golfers Monday through Thursday.

Rates go up by $5 to play Saturday and Sunday. 50-mile club members will pay $28 to play the east course and $38 for the west course, carts included.

Eagle Valley offers twilight rates that begin after 2 p.m. where 18-holes of golf costs $25 to play the east course and $28 for the west, both prices including carts.

If you join the 50-mile club, twilight starts at 12:30 p.m. and costs $5 less to play the east course. Super twilight is also offered for 50-mile club members only and begins after 4 p.m. During super twilight, players can golf the east course for $15 with a cart included.

“We offer the best product at the best price,” Eagle Valley pro shop manager John Gradert says.

Affordable golf can also be found at Washoe, Wildcreek, Empire Ranch and

Wolf Run golf courses. Washoe costs $30 to play nine holes and $47 to play 18 holes with carts. Twilight golf begins on weekdays after 12 p.m. and costs $36 to play 18 holes with a cart. For $20, golfers can play nine holes, including a cart, from 4-6 p.m. everyday.

After 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Wildcreek charges $30 to play 18 holes and rent a cart.

Empire Ranch, located in Carson City, offers two twilight rates. The first one begins after 1 p.m. and allows players to golf 18 holes for $25 with cart Monday through Friday. The price goes up to $30 on weekends. After 3 p.m. nine holes costs $15 with a cart included Monday through Thursday and costs $20 on the weekends.

Wolf Run, which is Nevada’s home course for the men’s and women’s golf teams, offers twilight rates that begin after 5 p.m. where players can golf 18 holes for $25 daily.

2010 September | Insight | 25

LACK of the PACK story by vicki tam Photos by courtney spangler

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rom ePaws to the Wolf Den, the blue and silver Nevada Wolf Pack is not just a mascot, but a tradition that every student is a part of as they attend the University of Nevada, Reno. But, even if every student is a part of it or is in engaged in seeing these wolf-themed events and places, not all of them embrace that tradition.

26 | Insight | September 2010

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alking around Reno, it’s obvious you’re in Wolf Pack territory. Whether you’re eating at the Wolf Den, shopping at the local stores, or hopping on a campus computer, the sign of the pack is everywhere. The silver and blue, along with the symbol of the wolf, represent both campus recognition and tradition. But even if every student is a part of the pack and engaged in seeing these wolf-themed events and places, not all students are embracing that tradition.

Since 2009, the student section at sports events has slowly been becoming vacant. Not only are students going to fewer games, but the attendance from sports fans in the community is diminishing as well.

“You know, you come to school, but it’s not just about the school,” Charlie Jose, Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) President, says.

“There’s also a campus community you’re a part of, and going to Wolf Pack athletic games is a part of that campus unity.”

While community members have to pay for tickets to attend Wolf Pack games, students can get tickets for free (within a certain allotted ticket amount) or for a discounted $5 fee.

“It seems to me [that] other universities have more school spirit than we do here,” business management major Ryan Whitesitt says. “It’s kind of a personal

interest here. We just don’t show up to events. I know this isn’t a big university like it is in the East, but there has to be a way to find school spirit.”

Accounting major Yurie Kuroda says she is interested in basketball games and would like to see athletics continue doing well.

“As UNR students, we should go to more games and cheer them on,” Kuroda says.

Some students say they don’t feel sporting events are advertised enough, which leads to poor attendance.

“This last year when it came to sports events, there weren’t a lot of advertisements,” biology major Charles Cullison says. “The only time I found out about them is from my [fraternity] brothers. I don’t think they advertised it enough to have people go to them.”

Psychology graduate student Sarah Scott would agree with Cullison that the sports games should be better advertised.

“Football is pretty advertised, but the other games aren’t,” Scott says. “If they advertise it more, I think I would be more provoked to go to them. … I did go to some football games last year and I do plan to go to some more next year.”

To criminal justice major Leon Blundo, he believes athletic performance plays a part in bringing fans to games.

“If your team sucks, then no one’s going to support them,” Blundo says.

“I believe, in my sense, it’s not worth going to. I see a lot of kids go pour their hearts out. I think a lot of kids have other things to do. The games are more of a social event. I’m not really social.

You’re kind of in the in-crowd if you go to games.”

Wolf Pack gear such as t-shirts, sweaters, and hats are more likely to sell in the ASUN Bookstore when athletic performance is ranking high in the university’s divisions or in the nation, according to Jose.

“Right now, we’re thinking of an incentive program to get students to go whether it be like handing out free bookstore certificate or things like that – just another incentive for students to come,” Jose says. “Another thing is we’re focusing a lot on the freshmen and trying to get them to embrace Nevada tradition and being a part of the Pack. You know, going to a game is like a right of passage.

It’s a part of the Nevada tradition and being a Nevada student. We’re trying to instill that into new students so they can take that with them as well.”

With less students and community members attending games, the athletics department is working on an intense marketing campaign to get more fans to fill the seats in the stands and on the courts.

“We like to participate in year activities - help in anyway we can whether it’s 2010 September | Insight | 27

{

the Homecoming parade or any other their money very carefully.” functions,” Athletics Director Cary Jose believes a lot of the community Groth says. “There are lots of things supports the Wolf Pack, but the economy we can do and we do, do [it]. We just plays a large role in attendance. have to continue to do those outreach “Typically when I go to games, it’s programs and stay involved because we just about the same amount since I was can’t forget that our student athletes a freshman,” he says. “Not only is the are students too. … We’re out in the athletic department suffering, but pretty community more, talking about student much every department on campus is tickets and promoting [games].” suffering as well. I think it’s just a hit Due to state cuts and shortfall in gate from what’s going on from the econoreceipts, the athletics department is my.” dealing with an approximated $840,000 Mackey Stadium holds nearly 30,000 deficit, according to Groth. fans, while Lawlor Event Center has “When we did the reductions across 12,000 seats. campus, we did “When you’re only them at a heavier at 70 percent capacity, “You know, going to a reduction than know, you have game is like a right of pas- you almost everyone a ways to go,” Groth sage. It’s a part of the Ne- says. “That’s a lot of else, so we reduced their budget by vada tradition and being a seats to fill. We’ve two percent,” done better each year.

Nevada student.” - ASUN We’ve kind of stayed UNR President Milton Glick says. the same last year so President Charlie Jose “The two biggest we’re hoping with this things are reduced year’s schedule we’ll fan attendance do much better than and the fact that we cut their budget by we did last year.” more than a million dollars. We are also Glick proposed three options to help finding that with the economy the way it pay the deficit, but none of them are set is, we’re having a number of donors who in stone just yet. Options include selling cannot contribute as much as they have more tickets, creating a student athlete in the past.” fee or cutting another sports program Football and both basketball programs similar to how ski programs were cut for are significant sources of revenue, and at- this coming year. tendance has been quite lacking in these “It doesn’t seem fair,” chemical engisports in the last year. neering major Greg Heck says. “It would “The last couple of years our teams be sad to see [another program] go. It’s haven’t done as well as they did three just the economy isn’t good right now. or four years ago,” Glick says. “And the Tough decisions need to be made. It’s a fact that with the recession [going] on, bad spot to be in.” people are watching where they spend Cullison says he supports the sports

program and doesn’t want to see it be diminished.

“If we sell more tickets, then we wouldn’t have this problem to begin with,” Cullison says. “They cut programs that they think no one uses, but it’s important to some people.”

Board of Regents members are waiting for student input on the matter before they make final decisions. The Board has “a very open dialogue with” students, believing they are part of the family, according to Glick. The regents never bring increases without consulting the students first, he says.

“I do think athletics serves an important function on this campus and we would really like to see our students more engaged in it - not just for money,” Glick says. “We think its part of building a community in the campus. Having a lot of students in the stands really helps the teams. It’s more fun being around a lot of students. I wouldn’t want to do anything to decrease student attendance.”

Like other departments on campus, the athletics department is making the best out of their situation from the state budget cuts as well as the deficit, according to Groth.

“Everybody’s going through this all across the country and you know, in our state especially, everybody’s struggling a little bit,” Groth says. “We need to take our fair share too. It’s just a little more difficult because we have set cost. You have to compete at these places so you can’t really cut a competition. It’s not very easy to cut another sport because you have requirements you have to meet … so we live by rules that are often times a little more challenging for us.”

Editor’s Note re: Mountain West Conference The University of Nevada accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. This change will result in more media coverage, more revenue brought into Nevada Athletics and renewed conference rivalries. It is our hope that all of these factors will increase student attendance at Wolf Pack football games in the years to come.

“The Mountain West is a strong conference, and this will enhance our natural rivalry with UNLV [University of Nevada, Las Vegas] and continue our rivalry with Boise State,” University President Milton Glick said.

28 | Insight | September 2010

2010 September | Insight | 29

In Hindsight

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mong the mood rings and shag hair cuts of the ‘70s, the University of Nevada, Reno found there was a need for a uniformed mascot to help represent the Wolf Pack. Wolfie, the Nevada Wolf Pack’s first mascot, was then brought to life, and this aptly named synthetic canine would go on to lead cheers and amp up school spirit throughout the following decades.

Words by Lucas combos

O

ne of the great things about Wolfie was his uniquely alarming features. He was not a mascot meant to only evoke cries of joy—take one look at his face and you knew he meant business.

Winning was his goal, and if the Wolf Pack lost, maybe the opposing team would find themselves with a new fear of rabies. Wolfie’s mouth was presumably crafted into a smile, though it easily looked more like a snarl.

Artemisia’s 1993 edition contained some especially disquieting pictures of the Wolf Pack’s chief leader of cheers.

How the kids in these photographs maintained smiles on their faces is still a mystery.

30 | Insight | September 2010

While Wolfie would have only fit into a children’s book as the bad wolf, Alphie actually stars in a children’s book at the campus bookstore. In it, he journeys around the Reno/Tahoe area looking both adorable and huggable.

By 1999, times had changed, and Wolfie was replaced with a friendlier looking mascot named Alphie. Gone were the features that struck fear into the hearts of children and lesser men. Angry fangs were traded for soft, furry dimples.

He was succeeded by a fluffy, affable and more youthful wolf.

Jumping forward to 2007, Alphie was joined by Wolfie Jr. While Alphie is said to be the nephew of Wolfie Sr., Wolfie Jr. is supposed to be Alphie’s younger

brother. Admittedly, the family tree gets a bit hazy here. In February 2010, however, ASUN passed a bill that would allocate $8,000 to purchasing new suits for both Alphie and Wolfie.

Though the replacement mascots wholly do their job, it is hard not to mourn the retiring of the original Wolfie.

He had that Brothers Grimm scariness that is often lacking in today’s fabricated critters. But, the future may not have room for sharp teeth. Even vampires only get acceptance if they provide romantic sub-plots. Whatever people think of Wolfie Sr., it goes without saying—that wolf knew how to rock a hat.

Photos courtesy of the the 1993 Artemisia

2010 September | Insight | 31

GEOFF ROSEBOROUGH

This publication is made possible by the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, Reno.

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