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Setting a standard

Noriana Radwan made a really poor decision. No, she didn’t hit someone like Joe Mixon. She didn’t punch a pregnant lady like Tyreek Hill. Radwan was a freshman in the UConn women’s soccer team and the Huskies had just defeated the University of South Florida to win the American Athletic Conference championship on penalty kicks. She flipped the bird to a TV camera — an ESPN camera, no less. You can’t hide those things. Head coach Len Tsantiris said in a statement released by the school that she had been “indefinitely suspended from all team activities, including ...

It is more than a punch

Joe Mixon punched Amelia Molitor. Knocked her down and, basically, out. On July 25, 2014, Mixon walked into Pickleman’s Cafe on Campus Corner at the University of Oklahoma one day after his 18th birthday and walked out 24 seconds later. During his short visit he got into an altercation with Molitor. She told police that Mixon aimed a homosexual slur at her friend. She shoved Mixon, who feinted at her with a closed fist. She then put her left hand on his chest and slapped his neck with her right hand. He responded with a right cross that knocked her down and, basically, ...

What’s in a name?

Until the Cleveland Indians reached the World Series, the hottest topic surrounding the team for the past five seasons has been their incriminating mascot, Chief Wahoo. Love him or hate him, he’s been thrust into the national spotlight for his potentially offensive demeanor. Native American groups and supporters of change have protested outside of Progressive Field, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has even stated that he will look into banning the logo permanently. The Indians took a step on their own to limit the use of Chief Wahoo. On Tuesday, the team announced that it will ...

There are worse ways a football game could end

I still have people talking to me about the 24-21 win by Bishop Hartley over Steubenville in the Division IV state championship game. “What do you think?” they ask “It was a great high school football game.” Too many people want to find a scapegoat. “Big Red should have won” I have been told. Tell that to the Hartley players, coaches and fans. There are mistakes in every high school athletic contest — coaches, players and referees. Just the way it is. Eventually, one team makes one more play than the other team. That’s the bottom line. Of course, you ...

The BCS was more fair than current system

Six years ago, as a junior in college, I took a public speaking class. The twice-a-week course allowed us to brainstorm ideas for a speech on Tuesday, then deliver it on Thursday. One week, though, the assignment was amped up. For a de facto final exam, we had to write and present two persuasive arguments in the same week. Some of my classmates were dreading this part. I couldn’t wait to offer my opinions on a pair of topics I was, and still am, passionate about. My speeches were on why college kids should subscribe to a newspaper and why the Bowl Championship Series is an ideal ...

Can the Pirates be the Pirates without ’Cutch?

Most fairweather fans and national baseball writers can agree that the Pittsburgh Pirates became legitimate contenders by playing in the 2013 Wild Card Game. By defeating the Cincinnati Reds on Oct. 1, 2013, the Pirates proved they belonged at the top of Major League Baseball. Personally, I felt that the Pirates “made it” earlier in that season. Say, May or June. Then, inside the team store at PNC Park, one could find multiple T-shirt jerseys with various players’ names on the back. I was actually taken aback when I saw a Clint Barmes No. 12 shirt available for purchase. ...