By: Sidney Billings
Hey everyone! This edition’s topic is a problem that has been noticed lately in sports called athlete activism. Athletes, whether they are currently competing or former stars, have harnessed their platforms to advocate for various social and political causes. Their visibility and popularity allow them to reach broad audiences and shape public opinion. Athlete activism has sparked conversations on racial injustice and gender equality, inspiring change within the sports industry and society. Athlete activism has forced organizations, teams, and sponsors to address social issues and implement policies to support positive change. An example is Colin Kaepernick, one of the first activists in the Black Lives Matter movement in the NFL. During the 2016 postseason, in response to several incidents of police brutality, Kaepernick protested during the national anthem. Although it doesn’t directly impact performance in most cases, it is changing many parts of sports that are a big part of what makes them enjoyable. Our unique sport for this edition is ultimate frisbee or Ultimate. Ultimate is a fast-moving, non-contact team sport, similar in many respects to other invasion games. Players need to possess a degree of speed, stamina, and agility to play to a good level. The official pitch size is similar to a football pitch, but much smaller pitches are suitable for beginners and younger players. Ultimate Frisbee is played indoor 5v5 or outdoor 7v7. Each point begins with both teams lining up in front of opposite end-zone lines. The defense throws (“pulls”) the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team. Each time the offense catches a pass in the defense’s end zone, the offense scores a point. The teams switch direction after every goal, and the next point begins with a new pull by the team that just scored. The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc (“thrower”) has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower (“marker”) counts out the stall count. When a pass is not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception, stalled), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense. An interesting thing about this sport is that players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their disputes. The foundation of the rules in Ultimate is Spirit of the Game, which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.
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By: Sidney Billings
There have always been claims that NFL games were rigged, but after the Super Bowl on February 11, 2024, the conspiracy theory gained even more traction. The number of very questionable calls by refs, even on plays where they have been allowed to review the play in slow motion to make the right call, has been rising. While questionable calls rise, the NFL has been partnering with gambling companies and has increased the advertising for sports betting. To add to this, easy solutions are available to increase the quality of reffing, like sky judges. The NFL has refused to consider these. Lots of people don't see this as a coincidence. An example of a bad call was during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII. The score was tied at 35 points between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. With almost 2 minutes left in the game and an overthrown pass leaving the Chiefs to kick for a field goal, it seemed like the game would go into overtime. Yet Philadelphia cornerback James Bradberry was called for defensive holding on the 3rd down giving Chiefs a 1st and 10 at the Eagle’s 11th yard line. The Chiefs had ample time to stall the clock until eight seconds leaving almost no chance for the Eagles to tie or win the game. This call shocked many viewers. Most referees would have let it slide as it wouldn’t have meant the end of the game like making the call had. If you are interested in learning about why people think the Super Bowl LVIII was rigged, visit https://www.livemint.com/sports/news/what-is-taylor-swift-super-bowl-controversy-nfl-fans-say-it-s-rigged-as-kansas-city-chiefs-seal-3rd-win-in-5-years-11707794379897.html#:~:text=The%20rumours%20that%20Taylor%20Swift,t%20just%20about%20Taylor%20Swift. Our unique sport for the edition is called zorbing. Zorbing is rolling down a hill inside special transparent orbs that are generally made out of plastic. These giant inflatable balls are called Zorbs, and there are different types of them. Some have harnesses and straps to hold the rider in position. Others allow the rider to walk freely inside or be tossed around by the ball’s motion. Sometimes, people pour water inside Zorbs, and the rider just slides around freely while the inflatable ball rolls downhill. This is called hydrozorbing. All orbs can be used to float on water, but some are specifically designed for that, and they are called Water Balls. And last but not least, there is the less-known little sister of the Zorb, the Bubble Ball. Don’t let their smaller size fool you, because what you can do inside a bubble ball will surprise you! You can see for yourself at https://www.zorbingtime.com/human-bubble-ball/. By: Sidney Billings
As you might have heard, the Lions lost the Super Bowl semifinal match to the San Francisco 49ers, disappointing many fans as the last time the Lions made the playoffs was 2016, now imagine the SEMIFINALS! In the first half of the game, the Lions were relentless, and at halftime, were winning 24-7. In the second half, they lost all of their momentum and made many ridiculous mistakes that could have easily been prevented. The game's final score was 34-31, meaning that the San Francisco 49ers will play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl Final. Gender stereotyping has been a massive issue in sports recently. It goes back to the 1940s, with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Although holding strict standards for how women dress and act, it was seen as radical at the time. No one should be excluded from the joy, fulfillment, and lifelong benefits of sports. Women and girls deserve an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sports, which is why many charities are determined to tackle sexism in sports at every level. This includes challenging explicit cases of discrimination and harassment as well as addressing the underlying barriers to equality. Disregardful of this, gender stereotyping is alive and kicking. Girls as young as 5 years old feel they don’t belong in sports. There’s a mental health crisis in teenage girls. For the few who do commit to a sport, anxiety is spiraling upwards, along with self-harm and eating disorders. By the time they reach puberty, 1.3 million girls who once loved sports are disengaging. But this problem isn’t only directed toward children, as many middle-aged women are suffering from the cumulative impact of decades of gender stereotyping. A third of women aged 41-60 are not meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of 150 minutes of physical activity per week. 84% of inactive women at this life stage want to be more active, and yet are influenced not to. Playitforwardsport is one of the many charities that are fighting for gender equality in sports, and their mission is to create access to opportunities for women in sports, meaning not only athletes, but management, administration, and general leadership. Visit their website at https://www.playitforwardsport.org/ Our unique sport of the edition is Kabaddi, which is the national sport of Bangladesh. In Kabaddi, teams take turns sending players (called "raiders") across the midline to the other team's side of the court. The raider tries to tag members of the other team and run back to his side within 30 seconds — each player he touches equals one point for his team if he makes it back safely. However, the raider must start repeatedly yelling "Kabaddi" before he crosses the midline and cannot stop repeating this word until he crosses back over to his team's side. If he stops yelling or takes a breath on the opponent's side of the court, even momentarily, he must return to his side of the court, scoring no points. In this case, one point is awarded to the defending team for a successful play. Each member of a team must raid in sequence — if a team member raids out of order, the opposing team gets one point. By: Sidney Billings
Hi everyone! In this edition, we will discuss how futsal is played and how it contributes to developing critical abilities in soccer. Futsal is a soccer variant typically played indoors on a hard court that is slightly larger than a basketball court. There are two teams of five players each, including a goalkeeper. It uses a smaller, heavier, low-bounce ball and is recognized by FIFA as the official indoor soccer game. Soccer is normally played as an outdoor game on large fields, whereas futsal is a type of soccer that is played indoors on a much smaller court. The smaller field size makes futsal games more fast-paced and more intense than soccer, with more opportunity for goal scoring. Another difference is in the number of players. Futsal is played with touchlines as boundaries instead of the walls and boards that are used in indoor soccer. It is also faster than indoor soccer, allowing for more touches and generally resulting in higher scores. It is played in over 100 countries worldwide by 12 million players! But how does playing futsal make you a better soccer player? There are many reasons why, including a boost in confidence and skill development. With less space and fewer players, players have more touches on the ball, enhancing their dribbling, passing, and shooting abilities. This intensive practice naturally leads to increased confidence on the field, allowing young players to execute complex moves without hesitation. It also quickens your decision-making, which is a key factor in soccer. In futsal, players must make swift decisions due to the compressed playing space and limited time. This heightened decision-making translates a lot to outdoor soccer, where split-second choices can be the difference between victory and defeat. Futsal also enhances your leadership skills, which is a trait that improves not only you as an individual, but your whole team, as it will make you more liked, and more trustworthy; so, it enhances your skill set. It is also critical to having a successful team. In futsal, athletes must provide on both offense and defense, which helps to generate an overall understanding of the sport. This inclusivity boosts leadership skills as players must communicate, coordinate strategies, and assist their teammates. If you are interested in learning about the origin of the sport, visit https://futsal.com/history-of-futsal/. By: Sidney Billings
Hello everyone! I hope everybody had an incredible break and is enjoying their time back at school! On January 7, 2024, the Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-20, increasing their record to 12-5. In other news, the rise of pickleball has been a noticeable change for athletes recently (this will be the main topic of this edition). People who participate in playing this sport are found to be between the ages of 25 and 36 years old, although it is also enjoyed by those 18 to 24 years old and even those 65 years or older! There are several factors behind all this pickleball enthusiasm that I will be going over. An obvious factor is that it is a relatively easy sport to learn, and it is considered low-impact since it isn’t very well-known or watched professionally. This naturally makes it more appealing to those above 65 years of age and also to people around 18 years old as they can just sign up and do it for fun, rather than other sports that would be much bigger commitments. Pickleball’s rise in fame has even caught the attention of the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association's (SFIA) Topline Participation Report, as they recently announced that pickleball continued to be America's fastest-growing sport for the third year in a row (out of 124 tracked). If you want to learn how this peculiar sport is played, visit https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/. Our unusual sport of the edition is regball, because what’s better than one sport? Three sports combined! Regball is a hybrid sport that combines elements of basketball, Greco-Roman wrestling, and rugby. The game is seven versus seven unless a foul occurs, creating a hockey-like power play. As in basketball, the players have a ball that they try to shoot through a hoop. The game begins with a throw-in at midfield. You can pass, throw, hit, carry, or roll the ball in any direction. The player with the ball is allowed to run, and the game lasts two periods for a 20-minute clean time with a 5-minute break. By: Sidney Billings
Hi everyone! This edition will cover the latest news in the NCAA football division. On Saturday, November 4th, the Michigan Wolverines faced the Purdue Boilermakers, and, with a handful of long runs and passes, Michigan won 41-13. However, that’s not all that is happening with Michigan. Michigan is currently being investigated for allegedly sending people to opponents' games to record videos that would be used to decode their in-game signals, which goes against the relevant NCAA rule bylaw 11.6.1. The rule prohibits “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season).” The rule was passed in 1994 as a cost-cutting measure designed to promote equity for programs that couldn't afford to send scouts to other games. The NCAA’s investigation into Michigan’s football program has quickly developed into one of the most polarizing stories in sports. Connor Stalions, a 28-year-old former U.S. Marine known for decoding signals, is accused of purchasing tickets to games involving Michigan’s future opponents and forwarding them to contacts who filmed signals from the stands. If the reports are correct and Michigan has been hiring people to illegally steal play-calling signs, it will lead to several key questions such as: Who was responsible for hiring the independent investigative firm, and why? There is a sneaking suspicion within Michigan circles that Ryan Day is responsible for initiating the investigation, and he was asked about that accusation this week. Click HERE to see his response to the accusations. Thank you for reading the sports article! I hope that you enjoyed it! By: Rohan Pavuluri
Hi everyone! I hope that you are ready for some more sports news! This edition, I will be writing about a multitude of sports: football, basketball, hockey, and cricket. I will also write about our wacky sport of the week, chess boxing! First up, football. These past two weeks the Detroit Lions faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Baltimore Ravens. The Detroit Lions played a defensive game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that ended with a final score of Detroit 20, Tampa 6. This past week the Lions faced the Baltimore Ravens, and the Detroit Lions got destroyed 38-6. The Ravens QB, Lamar Jackson, threw for 350 yards and 3 touchdowns. He ran for 40 yards and a touchdown. The current Lions record is 5-2. Next up, we have basketball. As I am writing this article, the NBA regular season has not started, but by the time it reaches your eyes, it will be underway. So far in the preseason standings (which don't matter much considering it’s the preseason), the first place team in the Eastern Conference is the Toronto Raptors, and in the Western Conference, it’s the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both of these teams are undefeated in the preseason, but will their streaks continue in the regular season? Only time will tell. As promised, we will talk about hockey next. While the hockey season is still young, the Detroit Red Wings are sitting at a 4-1 record. This season they have beat the Lightning, the Blue Jackets, the Penguins, and the Senators, but they lost their first game to the New Jersey Devils. The Eastern Conference leaders are the Boston Bruins, who are tied with the Detroit Red Wings! The Detroit Red Wings could take the lead in the Eastern Conference if they were to beat the Calgary Flames. Meanwhile, the Vegas Knights lead the Western Conference. The Cricket World Cup, or the ICC cup, is exciting the cricket world. Team India is in the lead with a record of 5-0. Second place is New Zealand, followed by South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, England, and finally, Afghanistan. India has a 67% percent chance of securing the 1 seed; only the top 4 teams will qualify for the playoffs. India is the only undefeated team after their victory against New Zealand. Our wacky sport of the week is chess boxing. Chess boxing is a hybrid sport consisting of, as the name implies, chess and boxing. Chess boxing was created in 1993 by Enki Bilal, a Dutch performance artist; it was later adopted in 2003, and the first chess boxing match was held in Amsterdam. It was won by Lepe Rubingh from the Netherlands. The current world Chess Boxing Champion is Morgan Rose Johnson, and she has been the Chess Boxing Champion since January 7th 2022. Thank you all for reading my article! I hope that you enjoyed it! By: Sidney Billings
The world of sports has been abuzz with exciting events and competitions recently. Epic battles on the football pitch and thrilling matches on the tennis courts have given sports enthusiasts plenty of excitement. One of the most notable recent events in the world of sports, has been the UEFA Champions League. Soccer fans from all over the world have been glued to their screens watching their favorite teams battle it out for all of the glory. The quarterfinals of the competition were particularly exhilarating, with some of the biggest teams in Europe going head to head. In the world of tennis, the French Open has been the center of attention. Fans have witnessed some stunning performances from the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams. The competition has been fierce, with players battling it out on the clay courts to claim the coveted title. With plenty of action and drama to keep us entertained, it’s been an exciting time for sports fans. More competitions and events are on the horizon, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the sporting world. Now it’s time to talk about an unusual sport! Our unusual sport for today, is called bossaball. Bossaball is a sport that combines volleyball, football (soccer), gymnastics, and capoeira, a Brazilian martial art disguised as a dance that it is performed to traditional Brazilian songs. Bossaball is played on an inflatable court with a net in the center. There is a small trampoline on both sides of the net. Teams get five touches to get the ball over the net. There are different scoring zones, with more points awarded when the ball is scored in the opponent’s trampoline. There are also different ways to play: volleyball-style and soccer-style. It can be played volleyball-style with your hands, or soccer-style with any other body part. Athletes who play with soccer-style rules must control or score the ball utilizing a double touch that counts as one touch, meaning it is the same as if you had used one touch and it doesn’t give you an advantage or disadvantage. Scoring with soccer-style also awards more points. The point of soccer-style is that players must constantly perform acrobatic moves, such as overhead and scorpion kicks. A big part of the sport is music, which creates a fun atmosphere during the games. Speaking of fun, I hope you enjoyed this article, and we’ll see you next edition! By: Rohan Pavuluri
Hello everyone! My name is Rohan Pavuluri, and I am one of this year's Griffin Post Sports section reporters. Since there are a lot of different sports and sports leagues, I want to know what you are interested in. Which sports do you want my colleague and I to write about? Answer in the comment section below. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into some sports coverage. First off, the Detroit Lions. This offseason, the Detroit Lions were the major discussion point of the NFL. Everyone was talking about how well the Lions finished last season, and how good they were going to be this season. And then boom. The schedule came out, and during week 1, the Lions were going to Arrowhead Stadium to face the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Everyone started getting nervous, but when the big night came, the Lions upset the Chiefs 21-20. Everyone was talking about how good the Lions were and how they were bound to make it to the Super Bowl. Sadly, the very next week, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Detroit Lions. The hype surrounding the Lions started to die down; but, during the 3rd week, the Detroit Lions routed the Atlanta Falcons and are now getting ready to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Next up, we’re going to be talking about Michigan Wolverines Football. The Michigan Wolverines came into this season rated the number 2 college football team in the country, only behind the Georgia Bulldogs. Many people expected Michigan to be a contender for the final four. In the first 2 weeks, Michigan cruised to victory. But in week 3, Michigan was in a scare against the Texas Bowling Green, where they were only winning 7-6 at halftime. Thankfully, Michigan secured a 31-6 victory in the second half. Last week, the Michigan Wolverines were trailing for the first time all season against the New Jersey Rutgers. On the 3rd play of the scrimmage, Rutgers scored a 69-yard touchdown giving them a 7-0 lead. luckily for Michigan, it was the Rutgers' only touchdown and Michigan won 31-7. Michigan is 4-0 and is still the #2 team in all of college football. Michigan State, meanwhile, hasn’t been so lucky. They started the year with 2 wins, but they lost to Washington 41-7 in week 3. And in week 4, Michigan State got pummeled by Maryland 31-9, putting Michigan State’s record at 2-2. The Detroit Tigers completed a 3-1 series win over the Oakland Athletics; however, they won't make the playoffs this year, and the best they can finish the season is 78-83. I hope you enjoyed reading this sports article, make sure to check the other sections out too, and I’ll see you back here next edition! Thank you, Rohan Pavuluri |