Dec 03 2020

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Trend Story Final – The Impact of Rising Three-Point Shooting

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Do you attempt a shorter two-point basket that you’re more likely to make, or do you attempt a longer three-point basket that you are less likely to make? This question has been debated ever since the three-point line was introduced to the sport of basketball in 1979. The game was changed from that point on, and we are still seeing the number of three-point field goals attempted grow higher and higher.

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is a good testing ground to show the gradual increase in three-point shots being taken. In the 2019-20 men’s basketball season, the total number of three-point shots attempted by GPAC teams was 9,338. This averaged out to 849 attempts per team for the season. In 2010-11, the GPAC teams attempted 6,446 three-point shots. This averaged out to 586. This is a 31% increase in three-point shots attempted in a little under ten seasons.

Why is this the case? Head coach Jim Sykes of the Morningside men’s basketball team thinks that a change in philosophy is partially the cause.

“I think what you’re seeing here is a change in the way basketball is being taught,” said Sykes. “When I was growing up, if you didn’t have a guy who was 6 feet 6 inches or taller, you were not going to do well. Now, you just need a prolific scorer that hit some deep shots with confidence, and you will do pretty well even without the priority of rebounding the missed shots.”

The change of philosophy is something the Morningside women’s basketball head coach Jamie Sale shows a change in interests as well.

“I think that it comes down to a change in the way fans enjoy the game,” said Sale. “Twenty years ago, it was more enjoyable to watch the back-to-the-basket post player play physically with another giant. Today, fans are more interested by great three-point shooting and watching smaller, and more relatable players dominate the game in that way.”

Whatever has caused the trend in basketball, it is evident that it is here to stay, and here to keep increasing. The crowd-dazzling change of basketball play will lead to more points, entertained fans, and a game of basketball that is accessible to everyone.

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Nov 24 2020

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Trend Story Draft #4 – The Impact of Rising Three-Point Shooting

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Do you attempt a shorter two-point basket that you’re more likely to make, or do you attempt a longer three-point basket that you are less likely to make? This question has been debated ever since the three-point line was introduced to the sport of basketball in 1979. The game was changed from that point on, and we are still seeing the number of three-point field goals attempted grow higher and higher.

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is a good testing ground to show the gradual increase in three-point shots being taken. In the 2019-20 men’s basketball season, the total number of three-point shots attempted by GPAC teams was 9,338. This averaged out to 849 attempts per team for the season. In 2010-11, the GPAC teams attempted 6,446 three-point shots. This averaged out to 586. This is a 31% increase in three-point shots attempted in a little under ten seasons.

Why is this the case? Head coach Jim Sykes of the Morningside men’s basketball team thinks that a change in philosophy is partially the cause.

“I think what you’re seeing here is a change in the way basketball is being taught,” said Sykes. “When I was growing up, if you didn’t have a guy who was 6 feet 6 inches or taller, you were not going to do well. Now, you just need a prolific scorer that hit some deep shots with confidence, and you will do pretty well even without the priority of rebounding the missed shots.”

The change of philosophy is something the Morningside women’s basketball head coach Jamie Sale shows a change in interests as well.

“I think that it comes down to a change in the way fans enjoy the game,” said Sale. “Twenty years ago, it was more enjoyable to watch the back-to-the-basket post player play physically with another giant. Today, fans are more interested by great three-point shooting and watching smaller, and more relatable players dominate the game in that way.”

Whatever has caused the trend in basketball, it is evident that it is here to stay, and here to keep increasing. The crowd-dazzling change of basketball play will lead to more points, entertained fans, and a game of basketball that is accessible to everyone.

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Nov 23 2020

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Non-fiction Text Review #2 – Odd Man Out

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Baseball fans in small markets know that the low levels of minor league baseball are sometimes best described as the wild west of professional baseball. “Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mount with a Minor League Misfit,” by Matt McCarthy tells the interesting story of the wild west of professional baseball as he recounts his time spent with the Provo Angels in the Anaheim Angels organization.

McCarthy tells stories about his time in the lowest levels of affiliated baseball that make you wonder how they can be true. He tells stories about his players that would just make you question who these guys were, and how they were able to play professional baseball at all. His teammates are depicted as racist, sexist, and potentially homosexual throughout his time in professional baseball, and it’s all for the fun of it.

This book does not follow one plot line, aside from the day-by-day continuation of a professional baseball season. Rather, this book seemingly regurgitates stories that come to mind in the moment as McCarthy is writing the story. It seems, at times, as if he remembers one part of his season in that moment and starts to write about it. This makes the book feel more like a group of fun anecdotes rather than one coherent storyline.

Overall, the stories are entertaining and will make you laugh, make you mad, or just confuse you at many different points throughout the book. This is a solid look at the antics, and silliness that takes place in the minor leagues of professional baseball. Overall, I give this book a 7.5 out of 10 stars for its entertaining stories, but it lacks on some coherent connecting points to give it a true storyline.

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Nov 18 2020

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Happy/Angry – A Newfound Respect

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Before the hum-drum activities of daily life were put on hold due to COVID-19, I got complacent. Complacent in the fact that my normal, everyday life would stay the same, and that I would be able to, for the most part, breeze through life.

On March 12, 2020, I was in the final stretch of my basketball broadcasting season. I had three games to broadcast at the women’s basketball tournament that day, the Morningside men’s game the next day, and was getting things together to start broadcasting the Bandits in a week and a half. Then, right as I was sliding into the chair to broadcast Avila and #6 Saint Xavier, my schedule was cleared in an instant. In the coming hours, I realized how important my consistent schedule, and routine of everyday life was to me. In those coming hours, I realized that my schedule would not be consistent, and my life would not be routine for the foreseeable future.

Moving to today, I am extremely happy that some of the routine, and some of the consistency has returned to my life. I am happy that I have the routine of classes, I am happy that I have the routine of my work, and I am happy that I have something to do. Things are important to me, consistency is important, and to have that coming back makes me happy.

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Nov 17 2020

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Story #4 Sketch

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Would you take a shot that is shorter for two points, or take a shot that is longer for the chance of three points? If you talked to basketball coaches 40 years ago, they would have said you take the shorter shot 100% of the time. That sentiment has changed, and the trend is very noticeable at all levels of the sport of basketball.

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Nov 10 2020

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The Package’s Heart-racing Experience – Movie Review

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Five friends leave on a camping weekend and one leaves without a very important part of him. “The Package,” tells this story about friends who are in a fight against the clock to get their friend an important part of him to make him complete again. This movie will take you on a fun rollercoaster of a ride as they try to get out of the woods and help their friend.

As with any movie about kids in high school, there comes your stereotypical love square as the film features Sean who is in love with Becky while also being Jeremy’s brother, and Sarah and Donnie who just recently broke up, but potentially have feelings for each other. This takes place while the teens are as awkward as can be to add some cringeworthy moments to the film.

By looking at the first couple of paragraphs, you might want to cozy down with your children and enjoy a nice wholesome family film, right? WRONG!! This is not the innocent film that it may seem on first glance. The whole point of the camping trip is to get drunk underage, and potentially lead to some sex in the woods.

The film is very erratic in nature, and that erratic style keeps you on the edge of your seat multiple times. I could find myself picturing what would happen next, and most of the time it would happen with a major twist that you didn’t see coming that kept you watching for more.

Overall, this is an enjoyable film on a weekend to laugh at, cringe at, and wince at as the five high schoolers navigate a serious dilemma with some not-so-serious drama sprinkled in. This movie earns a four out of 5 stars purely for its ability to keep me watching and waiting for more.

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Nov 05 2020

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My America Pictures

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Oct 28 2020

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Story #3 – Cheapskate Hill’s Spot in Morningside Lore

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Morningside College’s culture is rooted in its historic locations on campus. From Allee Gym to Charles City Hall, and Dimmitt Hall to Roadman Hall, Morningside’s culture is in its locations. One location, however, is very rooted in the culture of Morningside, but will not be shown on campus pamphlets.

Cheapskate Hill was a place for Morningside football fans to gather and enjoy watching the football game from a higher location overlooking Elwood Olsen Stadium. Admission to the hill was free, and its possibilities were endless.

Up on the hill, fans enjoyed the ability to tailgate, play games, and consume adult beverages without any worry for repercussion. It was a place for fans of Morningside football to create a party-like atmosphere while being physically at the game. It was the perfect place to be if you were a Morningside football fan.

“I remember seeing some fans toss a beer can down the hill, and they would run to chase after it. It was just a great hangout spot if you were a football fan,” said Mustang football fan Nelson Wilson.

Alcohol is not allowed on Morningside College’s campus property unless you are of age and partaking inside an apartment building. This did not stop Mustang football fans from enjoying some adult beverages during games anyway.

“If the hill was not shining by the end of the game, something was wrong,” said Morningside College alum Nathan Hoogland. “I went to a couple of games on the hill, and learned that beer was the only beverage allowed up there.”

Cheapskate Hill is a part of many great memories of gathering and enjoying Mustang or Chief football contests. Drink in one hand, and football being enjoyed with friends, some of the best athletic moments at Morningside were enjoyed through the eyes of the cheapskate fans on Cheapskate Hill.

“From the old NCC days to the success of the program recently, I can’t think of a better place to enjoy football and life than up on Cheapskate Hill,” said longtime play-by-play broadcaster Curtis Anderson. “It became synonymous with Morningside football, and I think everyone will remember that.”

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Oct 21 2020

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Story #3 Draft – Cheapskate Hill

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Morningside College’s culture is rooted in its historic locations on campus. From Allee Gym to Charles City Hall, and Dimmit Hall to Roadman Hall, Morningside’s culture is in its locations. One location, however, is very rooted in the culture of Morningside, but will not be shown on campus pamphlets.

Cheapskate Hill was a place for Morningside football fans to gather and enjoy watching the football game from the higher location overlooking Elwood Olsen Stadium. Admission to the hill is free, and its possibilities are endless.

Up on the hill, fans enjoyed the ability to tailgate, play games, and consume adult beverages without any worry for repercussion. It was a place for fans of Morningside football to create a party-like atmosphere while being physically at the game. It was the perfect place to be if you were a Morningside football fan.

This, however, was not the perfect place for the administration of Morningside. Because it was Morningside’s property, it was supposed to play by Morningside’s rules. This supposedly meant there would be no alcohol allowed. Yet, from Homecoming 2017, I learned that there were 3 colors to the hill in the fall. There was green when the weather was nice and there was no football, white when there was snow on the ground, and a glistening silver from beer cans strewn over the hill during a football game.

Whether Morningside’s higher-ups liked it or not, Cheapskate Hill is a part of many great memories of gathering and enjoying Mustang or Chief football contests. Drink in one hand, and football being enjoyed with friends, some of the best athletic moments at Morningside were enjoyed through the eyes of the cheapskate fans on Cheapskate Hill.

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Oct 15 2020

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Story #3 – Sketch

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Every Morningsider knows there were 3 potential colors for Cheapskate’s Hill in the fall: green for the grass, white for the snow, or silver for the beer cans that would line it after a football game.

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