Sports Archive

Retired heavyweight champion boxer, Mike Tyson - “The Baddest Man on the Planet” - will come out on July 20th to fight against social media influencer turned boxer Jake Paul. Tyson retired from competitive boxing in 2005, but he will soon be in the ring again. The match will be streamed on the popular service, Netflix. 

With their 33 year age difference, nobody knows why Paul would want to fight Tyson, as he is considered one of the greatest professional boxers there is. Tyson has brutally warned Paul numerous times, and it isn’t looking good. Tyson has uploaded multiple videos to the internet trying to alert Paul that the fight isn’t going to end well, and he is in danger. Multiple other professional boxers and even Paul’s ex-trainer has alerted him that this is not just a fun, entertaining fight, and he will most likely not win.

Tyson’s last professional boxing match was nearly two decades ago, and he fell to Kevin McBride. Tyson won his first 19 fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. Even though Tyson has had his time away from fighting, he is physically and mentally better than Paul, who has only started boxing a couple years ago. Tyson is still a major threat and could cause Paul many injuries if he isn’t smart during the fight.

Over the Internet, multiple doctors and specialists are saying that Tyson getting back in the ring is a big health risk. Fighting against a young boxer like Paul will put him at the risk of a traumatic brain injury. “One is that the head trauma you have when you are younger tends to hang around, even subtly, sometimes for many, many years. But as we get older, we also have many other separate issues that have to do with brain function, brain structure, cognition and so forth,” says Art Kramer, professor of psychology and Director of the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health. Also, if Tyson is taking any medication, that gives him risks too. Even if it isn’t a prescribed medication, it will still hurt him if he gets into the ring and gets hit in the head. This could potentially cause bleeding in the brain.

A Tiktok creator “More Pick'em Petey” recently shared a video of the supposed rules of the fight; Paul will be required to wear headgear and is able to tag team Tyson at any moment with his older brother Logan Paul. Also, Paul can approve the judges of the match. Obviously these are rules made out for the TikToker's clout. He was previously sued by NFL player Travis Kelce for spreading false rumors about him. 

The fight will be streamed on Netflix on July 20th, 2024. Who will win? Who will get injured? Is Jake Paul safe in the hands of Mike Tyson? 

Calling all golf fans: one of the four men’s Major golf tournaments is coming to Louisville, The PGA Championship. Valhalla Golf Club will host the championship for the 4th time this May, but preparations have already started.

Construction around Valhalla has skyrocketed as they prepare to welcome the stars of the golfing world into Louisville. As a resident of a neighborhood barely 5 minutes away from the golf club, I have seen the progress of the construction firsthand. Huge tents, a small horse barn, an extension of the front gate, and the addition of many fences are just some of the add ons to the parts around the club. 

Although it is approximated that around 200,000 spectators, with 50% of attendees being from outside of Kentucky, will be present at the Championship, Valhalla is no stranger to large golf tournaments. From hosting the PGA Championship 3 times already to hosting the 2008 Ryder Cup and the 2004 and 2011 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships, there isn’t an event Louisville golfers aren’t ready for. It is predicted that the PGA Championship will have a huge economic impact, exceeding $100,00,000, on the city and the surrounding areas. 

If you want to attend the Championship, or even the practice rounds, you can find tickets on StubHub, the PGA Championship website, Seatgeek, Vivid Seats, etc. Prices range from in the $50 to the $1,000, depending on what day you attend; the practice days are significantly cheaper than the actual Championship. You can also buy a weeklong pass. 

The entire event lasts 7 days, with the first 3 being practice rounds. The starting times for all the days differ; the first 3 days start at 7:00am, the 4th and 5th days start at 6:45, and the last 2 days start at 7:15.

Rise, a 2022 film, covers the true story of five young Nigerian-Greek brothers. The movie highlights the early life of NBA stars Thanasis and Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with their brothers Kostas, Alex, and Francis. 

In my opinion, this was a really great watch. The brothers and their story was very accurate. I enjoyed this movie because Giannis is my favorite NBA player, and it allowed me to learn more about him and his family since at first I was unsure. The movie was really well put together, including characters, directing, music, and more. Everyone was cast well-- they looked exactly like the Antetokounmpos. 

The film describes Giannis’ evolution from being a skinny, unknown teenager playing in the streets of Athens, to becoming one of the greatest and dominant forces in the NBA. It explores the challenges he faced and the support of his family as he pursued his dreams. 

In 1990, Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo were forced to leave their eldest son, Francis, in Nigeria while they traveled to Greece for a better life. They were unable to get visas due to the political climate; because of this, they had no identification and had to remain in hiding. However, by 2004, they were settled and had four more sons.  

Thanasis and Giannis are invited to go to Filathlitikos to use the gym for free. At the gym they meet coach Takis Zivas, who sees promise in the two. Even though at the time Thanasis proved to be good, Giannis still needed a lot of work on his skills. By 2007, Thanasis was a star player and Giannis had improved significantly. Shortly after this, they would encounter many issues with being drafted to certain teams because of their money problems and relocation of the family. After a couple of years, Giannis was invited to the 2013 NBA Draft in New York. He decided to bring Thanasis since they couldn’t bring the whole family. Giannis was drafted as the first round 15th pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.  Giannis is thrilled to hear that the Milwaukee Bucks chose him as their fifteenth pick, securing his family's future.

In this film, the brothers are not actually featured. Although it wasn’t them, the movie felt very real. I think those actors are truly overlooked and they should be cast for major movies or projects. Especially Uche Agada, he represented Giannis well, and he is a great actor. Rotten Tomatoes rated Rise 91%, and IMDb gave it a 7/10. These are fair ratings. Overall, Rise is a sports movie you should watch. 

Did you know that you can hike trails with picture-perfect views without having to leave the state of Kentucky? Many might think you need to travel far to a large mountain range to find scenic views and difficult hikes, but they would think wrong; you can find plenty of those trails in our home state, so here is a list of the top 5 trails/hikes in Kentucky according to AllTrails, an app/website where you can find info, photos, and detailed reviews of over 400,000 trails. 

All of the trails in the top 5 are marked as “Moderate,” but the lengths, time, and views are all different.

Starting at #5, the “Pinch Em Tight, Rush Ridge, Rough Trail, and Gray's Arch Loop '' trail is rated a 4.6/5 with 2,028 reviews, and it is 3.4 miles long. The route is a loop, and on this trail, you will gain 580 ft of elevation. You can find it in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. This trail is widely popular with hikers, but you can find runners and campers as well. The best times to visit this trail are March through October to ensure you get the best views and scenery. The highlight of the hike is Gray’s Arch, and it is said to complete the route counterclockwise. A 5-star review from Laura Busch stated, “Beautiful fall colors!! The trail was just a carpet of beautiful colored leaves. Loved this trail. There was some nice elevation but not crazy…Gray’s arch is awesome. Just a great trail.” 

At #4: the “Auxier Ridge Trail to Courthouse Rock” in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. It’s a 4.2-mile out-and-back trail with a 731 ft elevation gain. With 1,983 reviews, it has a 4.7/5 star rating. For the “average” hiker, it is estimated to be a 1 hr and 58 min trip. There are views of cliffs, valleys, and ridges, but the highlight of the trail is Courthouse Rock: a colossal sandstone formation that resembles a courthouse, hence the name. Rob Newman left a review that said, “One of the best hikes in the Gorge. The Ridgeline views along Auxier Ridge are second to none in the region. The colors are super close to peak and the weather was perfect!”

“Original Natural Bridge Trail via Lask Side Trail” is listed as #3 of the Best Trails in Kentucky because it is home to the most popular arch in the Natural Bridge State Park in Red River Gorge. It is an out-and-back type trail with the round trip being 2.5 miles, and it has an estimated completion time of 1 hr and 21 min. On this trail, you will gain 606 ft of elevation, and although it’s a shorter hike, it is quite strenuous. Once you reach the arch, you can either stay in it, or you can take a short trek to the top. Whether below or on top, you can see immense views that include the sight of Battleship Rock. A 5-star review from Lex Melton said, “Very beautiful, scenic trail. Not a hard route and every flight of step or small rock scramble is well worth [it].” 

You can find the runner-up for Best Trail in Kentucky in the Red River Gorge Geological Area, and it is deemed the “Rock Bridge Trail.” Although this is the shortest trail on the list at 1.4 miles, there are several connection points to other trails in the gorge. The path goes in a loop, and for the majority of the hike, you have an opportunity to walk alongside a creek. A waterfall can also be spotted on the trail. At the highest point of the trail, you can find a natural arch formation that gives the trail its name. During this trail, you can expect to gain 308 ft of elevation. The best months to hike it are March through November, but the trail is open to visitors all year round. David Burson left a review that stated, “PHENOMENAL views. Really great hike for the body. I had a super calming and peaceful day on that ridge. Wonderful memories!”

The award for Best Trail in Kentucky according to All Trails is the “Double Arch, Courthouse Rock, and Auxier Ridge Loop” trail. Like a couple on this list, this hike consists of a few different fractions of trails combined to create a 6-mile trail. Out of the top 5, this trail has the most elevation gain at 1,036 ft, and the route type is a loop. You can find it in the “Red River Gorge Geological Area” near Stanton, Kentucky. Throughout the trail, there are several rock formations to see, along with many arches. Long descents and big climbs are common on the trail, but the views you get in return are worth it. The trail has a rating of 4.8/5, and there are 3,289 reviews. A hiking review from Joe Steinhaus said, “Excellent trail. Plenty of overlooks and rock formations. Beautiful place to hike with [a] good mix of elevation gains with stretches of level grades. One of my favorite trails.” A second 5-star review from a hiker, DeAnn Gilkey, stated, “Always like going to Court House Rock via CourtHouse Rock Trail then on to Double Arches. The view is amazing! This trail never bores us.”

Feel free to bring your dogs along with you on these trails (except Original Natural Bridge Trail via Lask Side Trail), as they are allowed but are required to be on a leash.

As the month of March unfolds, the world of sports gears up for one of its most exhilarating events: March Madness. For basketball enthusiasts and casual fans, this annual tournament captures audiences with its high-stake games and a large bracket. 

March Madness is the nickname for the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament, featuring 68 college teams across the United States. The tournament kicks off with Selection Sunday, where teams are seeded and placed into brackets. From there, it’s a bunch of games, eliminations, and unforgettable moments as teams battle their way to the championship title. 

Every year, lower-seeded teams, affectionately known as “Cinderellas,” defy the odds and upset their higher-ranked opponents. These upsets not only add an element of unpredictability to the tournament, but it also reminds us of the true spirit of competition and determination. 

March Madness is also a stage for rivalries to play out on the court. Whether it’s historic matchups between powerhouse programs or regional show downs between neighboring schools, the tournament never fails to deliver drama and excitement. Fans eagerly await the chance to see their favorite teams go head-to-head and settle scores from the regular season.

March Madness traces its roots back to the early 20th century when college basketball began to gain popularity across the United States. The inaugural NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament took place in 1939, with just eight teams competing for the championship. Since then, the tournament has grown rapidly, evolving into the iconic event we know today. 

The first-ever tournament was held in 1939, when the University of Oregon saw their victory. The university, coached by Howard Hobson, won the championship by defeating Ohio State University with a score of 46-33. The Ducks were able to make the tournament 17 times and won the championship a total of 8 times.

As the tournament unfolds, the excitement only builds with each passing game. From the opening rounds to the Final Four, every matchup brings new twists and turns, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. Whether you’re a basketball fanatic or casual observer, March Madness offers something for everyone to enjoy. 

From its start in 1939 to its current status, the NCAA was very successful with this tournament and they will continue to brighten the fans’ month of March. As the month approaches, definitely look into watching some of the tournaments, or even doing more research on the competition.

The Olympics is a competitive event between countries and their athletes to see who's the best at what sport. And, just like every sport, there's someone who tries to shortcut their way to success. The Olympics is no stranger to cheaters, as is every sport, but what has been the history of cheating? How did people cheat? And who has cheated?

If we were going to explain Olympic cheating, we should also explain common methods. The first and probably most obvious is illegal substances, like drugs and steroids. From 1968 to 2020, there have been 442 cases of "doping" in Olympic athletes. Now, another common method of cheating in the Olympics is something called blood doping, which is the practice of oxygenating your blood to improve stamina.

Moving on from methods, here are a few of the actual players who have cheated. In the 2000 Australia games, track runner Marion Jones won 5 Olympic medals, which was very impressive. However, 7 years later, she admitted to using anabolic steroids and was stripped of all 5 medals she had won: 2 bronze medals and 3 gold medals.

From a single individual to an entire team’s cheating, let's look at Tunisian’s pentathlon team. For those who don’t know, a pentathlon is an event in which a team’s players need to excel in many sports. There are 5 parts: fencing, swimming, horse riding, then combined shooting and cross country racing. The Tunisian’s team had the idea of only sending their best player in during fencing without sending in other players, thinking the mask would help. They presumably tried the stunt due to their embarrassing losses in earlier competitions. As a result of this, the team was disqualified from the fencing event and did not get any points for it. They ended up 5,000 points behind first place and did horribly in the individual cross country race, scoring all the last place spots in that race.

These incidents are rare but very noticeable and should always be faced with punishment. The goal should never be to cheat, but to be good enough to be a top competitor. Like always, do more digging yourself and let's hope 2024 Paris will be a good Olympic event!

As Black History Month has started, let’s take a look into the history of African American players in sports. Since 1947, Black athletics and sports have taken off majorly. Before 1947, it was very hard for Black athletes to get the recognition that they deserved, but Jackie Robinson made history. He reached out and went above and beyond so that he could show his greatness on the field. 

Before 1947, there are recorded documents that William Edward White was the first African American to play major league baseball. White was recorded to appear in one MLB game for the Providence Grays. They were a national league from 1878-1885. According to the dates, White had MLB experience 68 years before Robinson. 

Robinson is known widely around the world to be the official first African American professional baseball player. Robinson was not only a professional baseball player, but he also excelled in track, tennis, basketball, and football.

Since all of this happened in the 1940s, Black history in sports has majorly increased and Black people are on the road to getting all the recognition they deserve. Right now, professional leagues such as the NBA and NFL are 50-80% black. 

Being Black in these professional leagues sure isn’t easy. It is not easy to live and be in the moment of racism. NBA player Lebron James says, “No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being Black in America is tough. We have a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African Americans until we feel equal in America.”

Disregarding sports, African Americans have never had the easy way in America. Black people are receive discrimination against them the most, whether it’s how much money they have, how athletic they are, or where they live. It has never been simple. Success for African Americans is very fragile. Many people believe that if you want to go far as a Black person, you need motivation, and that isn’t simple in the United States. 

Over the years, younger athletes of color are starting to flourish. 26 year-old gymnast Simone Biles is a celebrity. Biles has been earning money and winning awards since she was very young. Biles has worked so hard and has grown up to be the #1 gymnast in the country. 

In 2020, at the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson were being headlined-- but for all the wrong reasons. A lot of people said that the two were being mistreated during that time. Richardson was in the middle of Olympic suspension for smoking marijuana. Many were obliged to the fact that in 2008 swimmer Micheal Phelps was held to smoking marijuana as well, but he was still able to compete in the 2008 Olympics. Both athletes were given time away from the Olympics, but Phelps never received the hatred and unfairness that Richardson did. 

As a result, African American athletes are still fighting for their justice and equal opportunities to white and other races. Even though many of those athletes have made history, there could be more made if they were given the opportunity, time and patience.

Tetris is a timeless game. Created June 6, 1984, it is proven to be one of if not the most recognizable and popular games of all time, having 425 million downloads across the world and all platforms. Although being old, people love the game for its simplicity and fun nature. 

However, the competitive scene of tetris is hardly ever talked about, as it's very niche and doesn't see much media attention. Surprisingly, though, it has recently been very popular due to one event that took place.

Tetris is a game about pieces falling to the bottom of the board, varying in shapes from a square piece to an L piece to a line piece to an S piece. When a piece reaches the bottom of the board or stops being able to go down, a new piece spawns at the top. The goal is to live by completing lines by filling in all the squares on one line. To do this, you need to move your pieces into spots so that then you can get these lines and progress through the game.

Willis Gibson is a 13 year old kid who has a passion for Tetris, as he has been considered a young prodigy in the competitive tetris community. He was placing well in his play at many competitive tetris events, where the way to win is to outlive your opponent. But to grasp the difficulty of this, it should have a clear explanation of its sheer difficulty.

Tetris was always presumed to be impossible to truly win because of the game's level 29, which made the speed of the blocks impossible to move with normal presses. The game was never truly designed to make it past this point, but people pushed the boundaries of what's possible with new techniques to move pieces. These techniques that developed only recently were what people used to extend the possibility of what's possible.

How would you even beat this? You may ask. On level 155, the game has the ability to crash which is naturally how people would beat the endless game. Although, getting to the crash was the hard part as it required you to not only do a single line at 9/10 for the next level, but it also required you to do it while going at speeds that would instantly ruin the run of a player who is not using any advanced tricks or techniques.

Hoping into Willis’s run, he is on good pace to make it, but misses the crash trigger on 155, with the next closest being on 157. He somehow recovers and makes it to 157. And finally, with one L piece to the very left of the screen, he has achieved the impossible and has beaten tetris.

Willis is one of the 3 people who have gone for this insane achievement and beat it, but he is the first one to beat it under the name Blue Scuti. The achievement was so massive that many articles have been written about this completion and has given the Tetris competitive scene the most media attention it has had in years.

The NHL All-Star Weekend is not an ordinary weekend in the hockey world; it’s a 4-day event where the best of the best compete in skills competitions and 3-on-3 games to win money for charity, and of course, bragging rights. The weekend is packed with fun festivities that won’t leave you bored, even if you are just tuning in on TV. 

You can purchase tickets on NHL.com (prices will vary), or you can watch on ESPN and ESPN+.

The 4 days include NHL All-Star Thursday, All-Star Skills (Friday), and the All-Star Game (Saturday). Although there is no major event scheduled on Sunday, the Fan Fair is open every day. 

The first day of the packed weekend starts on Thursday, February 1, in Toronto, Canada, and concludes on February 4th. Throughout the four days, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be converted into the 2024 Hyundai NHL Fan Fair where you can meet NHL mascots, All-Stars and Hall of Famers; engage in family-friendly activities and games; and you can even take a picture with the most prized trophy in hockey history: The Stanley Cup. The Fan Fair isn't where the actual All-Star events happen; it’s just a place to hang out, play games, buy merch and memorabilia, etc. 

NHL All-Star Thursday starts the weekend off at Scotiabank Arena (where the Toronto Maple Leafs play) with a bang as the day includes the Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Player Draft, the NHL Alumni Man of the Year, the Canadian Tire Professional Women's Hockey League 3-on-3 Showcase, and the honoring of the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs.

Day 2, featuring the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills competition, is the day when the most talented players across the NHL get to show off their skills—this exciting competition is not something you want to miss out on. This year, the NHL has made some changes to the format of the competition; there are now only 12 players competing to accumulate points during events with the chance of winning $1 million in the end. There are several exciting events including fastest skater, hardest shot, shooting accuracy, and there's even going to be an obstacle course. To find the full list of events, you can visit NHL.com/AllStar.

The final big event is the NHL All-Star Game that takes place on Saturday, February 3. Although it is deemed the “All-Star Game,” it is actually a tournament consisting of three games, 20 minutes each, between the four divisions in the NHL: the Atlantic, Pacific, Metropolitain, and Central. The game is played 3-on-3, which means there are three players on the ice plus a goalie for each team; a normal NHL game is played 5-on-5. The winning team in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game will be awarded $1,000,000 towards a charity of their choice.

This year, Tate McRae, a popular Canadian singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress, is headlining during the second intermission of the 2024 NHL All-Star Game. 

Don’t forget to tune in if you can, as it is one of the most exciting events during the NHL season. 

The 2023 Michigan University football team had an incredible season, ending with a bang by winning the national title. Throughout the year, they played their hearts out, showing off skills and teamwork. Facing many different and challenging teams, the Wolverines tackled every team as best they could. With many talented players and dedicated coaches, they worked together to bring home the title. 

Under the coaching of Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines exhibited a potent blend of offense and defense throughout the season. The team was in good hands, as Harbaugh has coached, assisted, and played on college and NFL levels. He was also able to turn around a Stanford program. Sadly, it was made official January 24, 2023 that he will move on to coach in the NFL.

Blake Corum, the #2 running back for the Michigan Wolverines, is an outstanding player for the team. He is able to create dynamic offensive strategies, and he has strategic decision making. Once, Corum said that Harbaugh had the secret formula for the Wolverines, but now it will be shared with the Los Angeles Chargers NFL team.

The regular season saw the Wolverines face tough conference rivals and emerge victoriously, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason. As the team advanced through the playoffs, their confidence and determination grew, reflecting the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. 

Defensively, the Wolverines were an imposing force, led by stellar performances from key players. The team’s ability to shut down opposing offenses and force 

turnovers played a vital role in their success. The defense’s unit resilience and adaptability were on full display, ensuring that the Wolverines remained a formidable contender in every matchup.

The national championship game itself was a spectacle to behold. Matched against Alabama, the Wolverines showcased themselves well in the high-stakes battle. Tensions ran high, but the team’s composure and execution proved decisive. In a dramatic conclusion, the Michigan Wolverines emerged as the 2023 national champions, etching their place in college football history.

The triumph was not only a testament to the talent and skill of the top players, but also a reflection of the unwavering fan support and great coaches. The fans, alumni, and the entire Michigan community celebrated this historic achievement, savoring the sweet taste of victory.

Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant, a professional American basketball player, has had quite the career in 5 years. The dynamic point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies has taken the NBA by storm with his incredible journey including his recent injury and his court trial along with a suspension. Morant has faced many major setbacks this basketball season, but nonetheless has proved to be a resilient player. 

Morant comes from a long line of great education and basketball players, He graduated college from Murray State in Kentucky, where he was a big star and leader for their team. Averaging 24.5 points and 10 assists per game, he became a leading scorer with 1,000 plus points. 

He was drafted to play for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019 as a 1st round pick and 2nd pick overall. He signed a four-year contract worth $39.6 million with the Grizzlies. 

Since Ja has played for the Grizzlies, he has done many incredible things in the NBA. When he first entered, he won rookie of the year. He has also won “Most Improved Player,”“All NBA 2nd team,” and “All Rookie 1st team.”

Besides all of those great accomplishments, Morant’s career came close to an end in March 2023. He was seen flashing a gun on Instagram live on March 4th. There was also another encounter posted where he was seen flashing another firearm in a nightclub. He was then suspended from the NBA during the investigation. 

Since the nightclub was in Colorado, their police department looked into the investigation. Their part of the investigation was opened on March 6th and closed March 8th, leading Morant to have no charges to his name. Even though he was not charged, the Grizzlies still stated he would be out through March 15th. During his time away, Morant joined a counseling program and met with NBA commissioner, Adam Silver. When he met with Silver, they had various conversations and brought Morant closer to getting back on the court. 

Yet, things took a sudden turn when the Grizzlies announced Ja would be suspended for eight games without pay. Morant's suspension included the six games he has already missed, meaning he will be eligible to return against the Mavericks on Monday, March 20. The NBA stated that, “Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the league did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period.”

Sometime after all of his problems and suspension, Morant returned to the Grizzlies on December 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans. His comeback was amazing. After being away for 8 months, Morant scored 34 points and 6 rebounds. 

However, soon after, he landed in another setback; he is currently suffering from a subluxation of his right shoulder, which is causing him to be out for the rest of the season. It was found that there is a labral tear on the shoulder. Before, the doctors confirmed he was just feeling pain from the previous game. Ja will not be seen until next season when he is hopefully healed and ready to play.

Many people know about the Olympics. It is an event once every 2 years that takes place in a major part of the world at random. The event could be in the U.S, it could be in Japan, it could be Europe. However, people don't often wonder or realize just how much it takes to be entered into these games. This is the process of how they get chosen and why it's so difficult.

On the official website for the Olympics, it stated that in 2024, 1,810 athletes will compete across the games, with an even split of men and women. However, according to the past president and co-founder of the International Society of Olympic Historians known as Bill Mallon, it is a roughly one in five hundred thousand (1/500,000) chance that you actually make it into the Olympics games. This would equal out to a 0.0002% chance of being on a team.

There are 2 ways of getting into the Olympics. The first is by achieving the entry standard for the Olympic games, and the second is based off of the world athletics ranking within the ranking period. Half of the athletes get in through one way, the other half gets in through the other.

Of course, training is what makes an Olympic athlete, but the amount of training an inexperienced person would have to do is staggering. On average, an Olympic athlete trains for 4 to 8 years to get to entry level Olympics.

While it may seem daunting to even try to do this, dedication will always win. If you want to learn more about this sort of topic, check the Olympics website and always do more research.

Picture this: it’s 1967, and the first-ever Super Bowl is about to kick off. Fast forward to today, and this iconic event has captured the eyes of millions of fans around the world. From football showdowns to unforgettable halftime performances and engaging commercials, the Super Bowl has become more than just a game. It has turned into a cultural phenomenon. 

This year, the Super Bowl will be celebrating its 58th anniversary, but how did it start 58 years ago? How has the game evolved since then?

Super Bowl I was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on January 15, 1967, although it wasn’t always called the “Super Bowl.” Originally, it was the AFL-NFL World Championships. The first game was a historic battle between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs; it was the game that started the merge of the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). The Packers were a part of the NFL, while the Chiefs were a part of the AFL. The game was a battle to see which league was better. The final score of the game was 35-10, with the Packers rising to the top. When the league officially merged a few years later, the NFL was able to keep the name, and now it is the most-watched sports league in the U.S. 

Over the years, 20 out of 32 teams in the league have come out victorious in the fight to win the Super Bowl title. In 2023, Super Bowl LVII was the battle of the Kelce brothers: Travis and Jason Kelce. After the hard-fought game between the Kansas City Chiefs (Travis) and the Philadelphia Eagles (Jason), the Chiefs prevailed by 3 points to win 38-35. That would end up being the franchise’s 3rd year claiming the trophy and the title. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are tied for the most wins in history: 6. 

Even though the Super Bowl is centered around the most prestigious football game of the year, you can’t forget about the remarkable halftime shows and hilarious commercials that go along with it. The top three most-viewed halftime shows in the history of the Super Bowl were Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. 

Super Bowl LVIII is set to take place on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium. This will mark the first time Las Vegas and the state of Nevada has hosted the Super Bowl. 

Have you ever thought about joining the Brown School Swim team? I did, and after my friends convinced me to join, I had no regrets. I’m a freshman and a new swimmer on the team, and here’s a little inside look into what competitively swimming for your school is like. 

When I joined, I knew I would have many friends on the team, but would I actually like the competitive swimming part? I swam for Blairwood when I was in elementary school, but I didn’t swim competitively, so I didn’t swim in a meet until a couple months ago. Sure enough I loved it, and it’s all thanks to my teammates and our coach, Coach William.

To prepare for the meets, we practice ⅗ days after school at the YMCA lap pool. It is fun to walk from school to the pool and hang out in the locker room with your friends. Coach Williaam makes sure our practices are effective while still being fun. Every once in a while we have holiday practices before certain holidays. So far, we’ve had a Halloween practice, Thanksgiving practice, and a Christmas practice. These consist of holiday related games, relays, and team bonding.  

Ellie Leonard, my teammate, said, “One of my favorite parts about being on the team is being able to do something with my friends almost every day after school, and I really look forward to holiday practices because they are fun and I get to bond with my teammates.”

Throughout the season we compete in meets at several different places: U of L, Shawnee, Central, etc. We also host our own meets for Brown called the Brown Bear Sprints. These are usually small, but very fun. Kate Kelly, a freshman on the team, exclaimed, “My favorite meet of the year is the Brown Bear Sprints because I like the fun events we do. [An example is] the t-shirt relay.” Personally, my favorite meets are the ones at U of L because you get to compete against a wider variety of schools and swimmers, and there is a separate warm up pool.

Lastly, the most enjoyable part of being on the swim team for me is getting the chance to extend my school day with my closest friends while still getting exercise. I’m so glad I made the decision to join, and I’ll definitely do it again next year. The team has been so welcoming to me as a new competitive swimmer and I couldn’t be more appreciative.

As the college football 2023 season is coming to an end, we take a look into our very own Louisville Cardinals. They started off strong with a straight record of 6 wins in a row, then fell to Pittsburgh. Head coach Jeff Brohm, who just started his Louisville coaching career this year, led the team to 10 wins and only 3 losses. Since taking over as the head coach, Brohm has instilled a winning culture and a relentless pursuit of excellence within the Louisville Cardinals. Known for his innovative offensive schemes and ability to maximize player potential, Coach Brohm has revitalized the team’s performance. Under his guidance, the players have embraced a new level of confidence and are eager to showcase their skills on the field.

Junior Keith Brown and Senior Jack Plummer have each gotten their star chance in games. They have shown to Brohm that their time is worth it and Louisville had a lot to prove this season. Starring in the Murray State game, Brown helped the team along the way with a 56-0 win. Averaging more than 100 yards a game, Jack Plummer became the star quarterback this season. Senior Brock Domann who also plays Jack’s position tried to get his chance on the field. Playing only three games, he averaged 34 or less yards in passing. Being a JUCO (Junior College) commit, Domann was given three years of eligibility playing at UOFL in2021. He still has one year left to prove himself after Plummer leaves. 

Over the last 111 years the UK Wildcats have continued to win most of their rival games, the Cards were not able to make a clapback this year. Disappointing many Louisville fans, Plummer will still continue to help his team in the Holiday Bowl. Coming from Purdue and Cal Universities, Plummer is ranked third in the Pacific Conference. He is a set star and completed the mission of a great season for his final year of eligibility. 

In this year's Cardinal vs Cats game, the Cardinals took over the first quarter leading the game 0-7. The game really started to sink in after the half-time talk. Ray Davis, a Vanderblit transfer, said the coaches “wanted them to be calm and stay with the game.” Brohm agreed with most of the fans that the team didn’t do enough to win and there were many mistakes that could’ve been fixed.

Recently, the Cardinals have decided to open their transfer portal to look for more players and opportunities. Brohm decided to do this because he will lose two players, Josh Lifson and Joey Gatewood, to graduation. They are both going to be graduates from the tight-end position. These players were key in the last 9 games, with being able to start and help the team offensively. Since the portal will close in January, Coach Brohm also has to prepare for the Holiday Bowl against USC for December 27, 2023.

The Nutcracker is a magical ballet that many families go and see around the holidays. During the performance, you are transported to another world with all the props, costumes, music, dancing, and acting, which is why it’s so popular.

The most commonly known story of the Nutcracker begins with a girl named Clara, who receives a Nutcracker as a Christmas present from her godfather Herr Drosselmeyer. This event happens during the Party Scene where many kids can be spotted dancing, along with some life-sized dolls (The Columbine Doll and Harlequin Doll). When Clara falls asleep that night, she enters another world where the Nutcracker comes to life. He helps her fend off the Rat King in battle and then takes her to the Land of the Snow. Throughout those scenes, you might see the use of wooden guns, fake cannons, fake snow, and whatever else the studio/company wants to use. While in the  Land of the Snow, Clara and the Nutcracker are greeted by the Snow Queen and immersed in the Snowflakes. Snow is usually the last dance of the First Act. 

In the Second Act, Clara and the Nutcracker travel through the Land of the Sweets ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Along the way, they will meet many residents of the Land of the Sweets. During this act, you can see the beauty of the detailed costumes and props. To close out the show, Clara and the Nutcracker say their goodbyes, and then she re-enters the real world as she wakes up from her dream. 

The first Nutcracker Ballet premiered a week before Christmas in 1892.  E.T.A. Hoffmann created the Nutcracker–although his interpretation was a bit darker and creepier than how the modern ballets perform it. The original ballet was choreographed by Marius Petipa and was put to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. As time passed, many composers have written their own version of Tchaikovsky’s work. The original costume designer, chosen by Balanchine, was Barbara Karinska. She had the job of creating over 150 looks for dancers ranging from about 8 to 40 years old. 

Though the Nutcracker was originally choreographed by Petipa, the most popular version was put on by George Balanchine. Many consider it to be the one that started the fun holiday tradition. Balanchine’s Nutcracker was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2012. Although the Nutcracker is traditionally ballet, some companies and studios have put a little twist on it. You can watch “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” on Netflix choreographed by Debbie Allen. It showcases ballet/pointe, hip-hop, modern, and jazz. 

Overall, the Nutcracker is a wonderful performance to go see during the snowy season. All the costumes, music, dancing, and props are sure to put you in the holiday spirit. If it wasn’t for E.T.A. Hoffmann and all the hard work put in by many, who knows if the famous performance beloved by many would even exist today?

In the dynamic sport of women’s college basketball, notable stars such as Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith, and Flau’Jae Johnson are taking the lead. These athletes bring a wave of anticipation and curiosity about what lies ahead for them and their respective teams. As fans dive into the intricacies of these transfers, we unravel the narratives shaping the upcoming season, exploring the impact these skilled players may have on our WNBA’s future.

With winning the championship last year, the LSU Tigers are still on the move, recently gaining a former Louisville Cardinals basketball player. Hailey Van Lith decided to go her own way and leave the Cards. Van Lith says, “It came down to my ability to be happy, and I had to put myself first. I had done my part, and I had sacrificed myself and given my all to that program. But at the end of the day, I just wasn't enjoying everyday life. It was a situation where I chose that I deserve happiness.” She will join rising players Angel Reese and Flau’Jae Johnson in hopefully winning another championship ring with the Tigers.

Angel Reese comes from Maryland University and averaged 23.0 points per game there. She spent her 2021-22 season at MU. Reese now averages 21.3 points per game at LSU. Her game has drastically improved over the last year, and her fame has increased. Angel is also a prospect for the 2024 WNBA draft among several others. After winning their national championship, her ads were everywhere, and Reese became the highlight of the summer. Her career has already taken off, and it’s likely to grow exponentially from here on.

Flau’Jae Johnson, hailing from Mississippi State University, brings a unique blend of finesse and tenacity to the game. Being a sophomore guard with lighting fast moves and a sharp basketball IQ, Johnson has become a key playmaker for her team. Bringing inspiration, and demonstrating resilience and effort, Johnson shows that it is possible to do all of this and succeed very well. 

The three of these women coming together to form a ring-winning championship team is effortless. Each of them have proven themselves significantly over their high school years and still doing so in their college years. Shortly after LSU claimed their National Championship title, Van Lith decided to request a transfer to LSU. Head coach Kim Mulkey has taken a liking to Van Lith. Mulkey says that she knows what potential Hailey can bring to LSU. Hailey was looking for an opportunity at a title and she believes that can be accomplished at Louisiana State.

As their season openers have already started, LSU has only lost one game of four. Falling to a 92-78 loss against Colorado State, despite getting hatred in the media, the LSU Tigers are pushing through. Next, the ladies will play SE Louisiana who currently holds a 2-1 record. With their outcome of last year, the Tigers are expected to have a great season. 

The Brown Bears High School cross country team, coached by Matt Davis and Jelly Green, finished out their season on Oct. 28. The girls team got 2nd in the region and 15th in the state, while Elijah Borders qualified for state individually in the boys regional race and placed 128th out of 263 runners in the state.

At the start of the season, cross country practices started in July, although school didn’t start until August. The coaches felt that starting training for the season as soon as possible was crucial to success. Practices were held either at George Rogers Clark Park or Joe Creason Park 4 days a week. A normal day at practice would consist of a warm-up jog, stretches, a few mile run, and more stretches afterward. On some days, sprints, hill work, and relays were added on top of the normal workout. 

The team did get their fair share of easy days, along with plenty of difficult ones. Davis and Green find it very important to take the slow days slow, and when it comes to hard days, they expect you to push yourself and your limits. As one of Brown's retired coaches, Dave Jaggers, always said, “you can rest tomorrow.”

The team ran their first meet of the season at Charlie Vettiner Park on August 19, 2023. The race was the Fleet Feet Relays, which consisted of teams of 2 running mile relays until the team totaled 6 miles. The first individual race was run on August 31st at Champions Park: St. X Champion Series Part 1. 

Erin Rogers, a freshman on the girls team, gave her opinion about a couple meets this season. “My favorite race is the 5k course at Tom Sawyer because it doesn’t have any repeating loops, and it has a really good finishing stretch. My least favorite course is the Capital Hill race in Frankfort, KY because it’s made of mostly steep hills with barely any recovery time.” 

As the high school team finished out the regular season, training started to get more difficult as they prepared for the postseason. More mileage, more sprints, and longer practices. One of the cross country parents, Kristen Rogers (Erin Rogers’ mom), said, “I always bug the runners about hydration and stretching. I know Brown cross country trains and runs hard; I just want them to be safe.” 

The first postseason meet was the JCPS Championships on Oct. 12 at Tom Sawyer Park. The second postseason meet was the Region 3 1A race. The team went into the race knowing that this was their only chance to make it to state. They had to lay it all out there, and that’s exactly what they did. The hard work paid off, and the girl's team placed 2nd in the Region (qualifying for state). Taylor and Trista Morris came in Top 10, while Elijah Borders qualified for the state meet individually with a time of 19:38.50. “Going into the race, my thoughts were along the lines of simply doing the best I could, rather than focusing on the immense amount of runners. Being the only boy [from Brown] at the starting line was intimidating in light of the number of runners,” said Borders.

Coach Davis stated, “The most exciting part [of the season] was regionals, where our girls got runner-up and the boys almost qualified for state. I am really looking forward to next year when both teams qualify for the first time in Brown history.”

The State meet took place on Oct. 28 at the Lexington Horse Park. This is one of the most challenging races the team has run due to the muddy/wet conditions and the hilly terrain. The girls team finished 15th in the state, while Borders finished 128th in his race with a time of 20:18.

To close out the season, there was a Fall Sports Banquet to celebrate all the accomplishments of the Fall Sports this year, including cross country.

 The Brown School is very appreciative of all of our sports teams, but the cheerleading team tends to be left out of appreciation despite playing a crucial role in the success of our basketball team. Being on the cheerleading team is very challenging; having to keep up with all their work along with taking time out of their days to motivate our team is a lot of work. The cheerleaders are very passionate about school spirit. They practice after school so they are ready and prepared for games.

Cheerleading can be a lot of fun, but it can also take up a lot of time, just like any other sport. “We are all very hard working. Everyone on the team this year is very inclusive, and the upperclassmen are really helpful,” Matilda Wissig, a freshman on our team states. “The people on our team are good at balancing their academic life and their after school life.”

Many say cheerleading is not a sport because “it does not contain strategy or a ball” The definition of a sport is, “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” To that point, Azaleah Cadett, a Sophomore on our team says “anything that requires physical activity and athleticism is a sport.” Plus, our cheerleaders do entertain with their amazing stunts. 

Cheerleaders need to be able to hold others' weight and have enough strength to throw someone up and catch them when they come down. No average person would be able to perform that. Many online resources argue that cheerleading is not a sport, while cheerleaders themself would say differently. Jay Cummingham, a junior on the team, replies, “Just like other sports, we compete and train. It requires working out, energy and time that we need to build that muscle up to be able to support each other.” Cheerleaders put in a lot of effort and energy into their games; they go home just as tired as the players. Most cheerleaders start to receive muscle pain, or can have sprains, strains, and fractures during practice and performances. In serious situations they can even suffer head injuries or dislocations. Just like any other athlete, they can get seriously hurt. In response Cadett says, “They don't see all the time and effort we put into our cheers, along with all the injuries we could get.”

 “Though we may not be competing, we take time out of our day to practice and cheer on our sports teams. . . we compete, go to championships, practice non stop and put in the same amount of effort as the players, if not more.” Calise Williams, another Sophomore on our team says. As you can see, cheerleaders are really no different from any other athlete. Our team works very hard to cheer on our basketball team. 

Cheerleading is a sport because it involves physical exertion, competition, difficult routines and a lot of work and effort. They also practice, train and perform like athletes. Cheerleaders are just as skilled and talented as any other athlete.

Connor Bedard has caught the attention of many ice hockey fans around the world with his talent. Will he be the next generational player? At only 18 years old, Bedard has taken the NHL by storm not only for his skill but for how well he has taken all of this fame.

Growing up in Canada, Bedard developed a love for hockey at a young age. At just 13 years old, he was deemed “The Future of Hockey” by The Hockey News when he played with West Vancouver Academy Prep Under 15 team. He went on to be a 14-year-old playing with the Under 18 team, and he ended up leading the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in points and goals. Bedard was also named MVP of the league both years. His dad stated, “From the age of three on, Connor always had a ball and a hockey stick. That’s what he always seemed to be doing - not on the ice, but around the house. He would be stickhandling in our open kitchen, ruining the floor, and doing it for hours.”

Since he started to make a name for himself at such a young age, agents couldn’t keep their eyes off him. Referring to agents, Bedard stated, “I think we can handle it,” on behalf of himself and his family. “It’s just people.”

 In March 2020, Hockey Canada awarded Bedard “exceptional status,” which allowed him to join the major junior-level Canadian Hockey League component leagues. He was granted this opportunity a year early, and he was the first player to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL) that had been given that status. He ended up being drafted first overall to the Regina Pats in the WHL. Bedard scored 12 goals and 16 additional points in just 15 games, and he was awarded rookie of the year in the WHL with the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy. In his second season with the Pats, he was the youngest player to ever score 50 or more goals in the regular season in the WHL. He ended the season with a total of 100 points; only two other 16-year-olds were able to accomplish this. The next year, Bedard became the first player in the WHL to record a twenty-game point streak in consecutive seasons in over a decade, and he was the first WHL player to have a 140-point season since 1995–96. 

As well as being in the WHL, Connor has played internationally with Team Canada. He won a Gold Medal while playing for the Canadian Under 18 Team in the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships. He returned to the team the following year and was the only one from the previous year to do so. On December 12, 2021, Bedard became the seventh 16-year-old to be selected by Canada to play for the Junior World Championships. At the 2023 World Junior Championship, Bedard strengthened his status as a top prospect by leading all players in goals, assists, and points. At the World Junior Championship competition, he was selected as a Tournament All-Star, Best Forward, and Most Valuable Player.

Many already assumed Bedard would be in the 2023 NHL Entry draft, and when he was drafted 1st overall by the Chicago Blackhawks, it was no surprise. He was only the 2nd player born in British Columbia to be a first-overall draft pick. A 3-year, entry-level contract was signed with the Blackhawks on July 17, the day of his 18th birthday. “It's an unbelievable feeling to be here with my family and friends, and get to hear my name be called and experience that, especially with such a storied organization,” Bedard said. “Very thankful (the Blackhawks) put their faith in me.”

His NHL debut was against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 10, which resulted in a 4-2 win. He recorded his first assist that night and ended up scoring his first NHL goal the next day against the Boston Bruins. Because he is said to be the next generational player, Bedard’s first two games were the most streamed NHL regular season games in ESPN and TNT’s history. In addition, The Blackhawks’ merchandise sales have more than doubled from this same time last year. Thousands of his jerseys have been sold since the announcement of him being the first overall draft pick. People are calling it “The Bedard Effect.”