"Spotted: Anthony Davis's Mom Wearing A Unibrow Mask, And It Looks Eerily Good"

     http://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaa-basketball/anthony-davis-unibrow-mask/

     This article is extremely funny as it makes fun of the fact that Anthony Davis of the Kentucky basketball team is sporting a unibrow, and not afraid to show it off.  According to the author of this article "true power comes from owning your brow, not banishing it".  Not only does Davis rock the unibrow, but his mom also wears a mask during games that has a unibrow drawn on it.  I found this article hilarious and if you would like to see funny pictures of his uni go to: http://www.thepowerwire.com/the-power-blog/2012/3/11/bow-to-the-brow-a-tribute-to-uk-star-anthony-davis-unibrow.html  (It's worth it).

     The author of this article doesn't use much rhetoric because this article was meant to be sarcastic.  Yet if I was forced to choose one rhetorical appeal, I guess I would say ethos.  The reason for this is that as Americans we like to look clean and groomed.  Also, athletes, especially college athletes are usually well dressed and clean cut so Davis is definitely going against the norm.

"Why African-American QB's Are Systematically Trained to Abandon Mechanics"

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1089725-why-african-american-qbs-are-systemically-trained-to-abandon-mechanics


     This article is about how African-Americans are often considered "dual threat" quarterbacks rather than "pro-style" quarterbacks.  The author suggests that this is due to stereotypes and what he calls "barriers".  "The barriers that African American quarterbacks must surmount to succeed in the NFL are no longer explicit. But, like in the rest of society, just because the barriers are hard to see doesn't mean they aren't there".  Within the article, there were pictures of the top 15 "Pro Style" quarterbacks in the 2012 college recruiting class and the top "Dual-Threat" quarterbacks in the 2012 college recruiting class.  Just as the author suggested, almost all the Dual-threat QB's were African-American, while all of the Pro Style QB's were white.  The author went on to say that this is due to bias and preconceptions.  i don't know if I agree with the author completely in this article but I liked this article because it covers a topic that is not often discussed in football.
     The author of this article used mostly ethos as a rhetorical appeal.  He did so because he was questioning the way in which we grade athletes and what the color of their skin has to do with it.  For example, he wrote, "The image of the Golden Boy quarterback is firm in our minds: tall, lean, cannon arm. Handsome, clean-cut, dates the cheer captain. Stays in the pocket, stays cool under pressure. Confident, outgoing, looks you right in the eye and shakes your hand. Well spoken. Makes good decisions. Smart. White."  Parts of the article, such as this, really make the reader question the way he/she thinks.

Star-To-Be Who Never Was

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/sports/basketball/lenny-cooke-star-to-be-who-never-was.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=sports


     This article is about a man named Lenny Cooke.  It is a sad article but it teaches some important life lessons.  Cooke was one of the top high school prospects at one point yet had a slow downfall due to poor decisions and injuries.  Cooke should have stayed in school and waited to improve in basketball but he didn't so when he didn't get drafted in the NBA draft, he was in awe.  One thing led to another, including a car crash, and two torn achilles and there was nothing left for him.  It was such a sad story and makes you think of how important an education is.
     Obviously, the author of this article used pathos the most.  This article really tugged at the heart and made the reader think hard about the decisions we are forced to make in life.  The author attempted to make the end of this article happy, but there was not point in doing so.  In a way, the damage was already done.  Unfortunately, not all stories turn out happy in the end, and this is one of them.

"Rooting for Your Own Kind"

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/16/politically_lincorrect_rooting_for_your_own_kind/


     Everybody knows about the no-name basketball player Jeremy Lin who broke into the scene recently.  This article does not discuss his accomplishments but rather discusses how many people of the same origin are cheering for Lin.  The author, Gary Kamiya, wrote in the article, "I'm one of them.  As a half-Japanese, half-white ex-jock, I've always followed and rooted for that tiny number of Asian-Americans who make it in any of my three favorite sports..."  I found this article humorous and insightful.  For example, Kamiya wrote that Lin is" from an ethnic group about as associated with the NBA as bullfighters are with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals".  He was insightful because he himself is Asian so he has personal experience in the topic.
     If anything, I would say that Kamiya focuses mostly upon ethos in this article.  he does so by discussing race and its connection to sports, specifically the effect of Jeremy Lin.  The article presents hope for Asian-American athletes throughout the world, as it displays the fact that Lin represents a social minority group that is so underrepresented in the NBA.

"Mooresville's Shining Example (It's Not Just About the Laptops)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/education/mooresville-school-district-a-laptop-success-story.html?_r=1&hp


    I chose this article because it reminded me of our school, and how much technology we use everyday.  This article focuses on the East Mooresville Intermediate School and their use of technology.  Rather than focusing on the technology itself, this article explains that the teachers connect with the students in an emotional way.  The students spend time on computers often, yet the author of this article stresses that the teachers help them in a way that their education is not run by technology, but by people.  Due to this, Mooresville "has quietly emerged as the de facto national model of the digital school.  This article reminded me of Hanover High School and how we use computers to do work (like right now).  I have witnessed both extremes, from classrooms where teachers never use technology, to my VHS class which is taught almost 100% online.
     The author of this article, Alan Schwarz, does an excellent job in convincing the reader that Mooresville Intermediate is driven by a combination of technology and teacher-student relationships.  He did much of this by using ethos.  Schwarz approached this article by focusing on American ways of life, specifically our system of education.  In the modern era, we use technology more and more.  Sometimes it appears overwhelming and it is difficult to sort out of it is good or bad to use technology often.  Schwarz implies that there is a fine balance between human contact and technology, and if we can find this balance in school systems, then it will be extremely beneficial to the students.

"2010 Tour de France Winner Found Guilty of Doping"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/sports/cycling/alberto-contador-found-guilty-of-doping.html?hp


     I chose this article because i thought it was about Lance Armstrong.  On ESPN the other day, the sportscasters were talking about Lance Armstrong possibly doping but the case was eventually dropped.  This particular article was about a bicyclist named Alberto Contador.  Ian Austen, the author, states, "An appeals court ruled on Monday that Alberto Contador, a three-time winner of the Tour de France, used a performance-enhancing drug when he won the race in 2010, the latest black mark on a sport that has been tarnished by doping scandals over the past several years".  It is sad to think that so many pro athletes are using performance-enhancing drugs because it isn't really them accomplishing achievements, its the drugs that they are using.  Contador will suffer the consequences of being banned from racing for two years, a sentence I think is menial compared to what he did.  I would be very angered if I had been a cyclist in that race.  Although, Contador will be stripped of his 2010 Tour title and it will be given to the second-place finisher, Andy Schleck.  One fact that was stated in the article is that there have only been two Tour de France winners that have not been tarnished by controversies involving performance-enhancing drugs".  That is a scary fact.
     I found this article both informative and enlightening.  Not only did it fully document the investigation, but it also made me realize that cycling is full  of scandals and such.  i always thought that baseball had the most drug-rtelatred scandals but I guess that is just because baseball is a lot more popular than cycling, or at least in America.  Like the last article I did, the author of this article once again focused on ethos in writing of the subject.  he also used logos to incorporate important statistics into the article.  By doing so, he was more convincing and the article became eye-opening.

"Roger Goodell Threatens to Eliminate Pro Bowl Altogether"

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1055067-roger-goodell-threatens-to-eliminate-pro-bowl-altogether#page/20

     There may not be a Pro Bowl next year for the NFL according to the article.  Goodell, the commissioner, talked about the Mike and Mike In the Morning Show saying that the quality of the game must improve or he may consider eliminating the game.  Players in the Pro Bowl give as little effort as possible since their is no reward or incentive for winning.  The only bonus they get is a sum of money but that money doesn't make them try hard.  It was so easy to tell this year that the players didn't care at all who won the game.  Even the author of the article noticed this: "nobody is trying to tackle and players are running at half-speed".  This article covers a subject that interests me and the information it provided gave me a good base for my understanding of the topic.
    The author of this article didn't use much rhetoric which I found surprising.  He wrote with some humor yet the only possible rhetoric that he used was ethos.  He does so be questioning why we work hard and put in effort.  In reality, we work hard in hopes of money.  The NFL players in the Pro Bowl don't try hard because if they get hurt then they may miss games/a season and therefore they will not make as much money.

"Finding Fish: A Memoir"

     I have not started reading my next memoir yet it looks like it will be a good read.  You never really know until you actually read the book but i read the back and the story seems inspiring.  Apparently, this memoir, written by Antwone Quenton Fisher, is about a person named Baby Boy Fisher who was born in a prison to a single mother, endured abuse in a foster family, escaped, and enlisted in the navy to create a life for himself.  This novel appears to be about a boy that overcomes the many conflicts in life and finds himself due to this.  I don't have much more to say about the book but I am sure that I will after I read a bit.

"Tebowmania: ESPN Exuberance or Excess?"

http://espn.go.com/blog/poynterreview/post/_/id/223/tebowmania-espn-exuberance-or-excess


     I liked this article because it explains the reasoning and blame for "Tebowmania".  The author blames countless sources for blowing Tebow out of proportion.  For example he talked about radio, ESPN, magazines, and the media as a whole.  it was an interesting article because there has been so much hype around Tebow and nobody is really sure if he is really any good.  I mean, he did have several good comebacks during the regular season, and led his team to the playoffs, but maybe that's just beginners luck. I guess we will find out next year.
     The author of this article focused on both ethos and logos.  For example, he focuses on what we value as Americans and how we make such a big deal about things.  Also he provided a lot of key information and statistics such as the amount of shows that have been about Tebow and all the magazine covers he has been on.

"Giants vs. 49ers: 50 Cent Proves to Be a Bigger Gambler the Floyd Mayweather"

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1035583-giants-vs-49ers-50-cent-proves-to-be-a-bigger-gambler-than-floyd-mayweather


     This article discusses how 50 Cent bet on the Giants in the NFC championship game.  Apparently 50 won $500,000 betting on the Giants with an unnamed person.  According to 50 himself, and his Twitter feed, he heard voices that told him to bet on the Giants.  That may seem reckless but I'm sure 50 has a good amount of money to waste.  Overall, I liked this article, especially because it had a good ending: 50 said on Twitter,"I'm giving this money to my nana she gonna faint LMAO all she do is go to the church".
     The author of this article made the article itself extremely brief, yet humorous.  He cracked a few jokes and asked a rhetorical question.  He was wondering if 50 was planning to bet on the Super Bowl and he personally believed that 50 would once again bet on the Giants.  The difference is that 50 will lose this time cause the Pats are going to destroy the Giants in the Super Bowl.

"A Splashy Tradition, Gatorade Style"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/sports/football/a-splashy-football-tradition-gatorade-style.html?_r=1&hpw



     This article discusses the well-known gatorade shower that we've seen in football for a very long time.  According to the article, "it was 25 years ago that the Giants popularized the postgame rite on their way to a Super Bowl title in 1987, with Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, and Jim Burt standing as its somewhat sticky forefathers".  The author of the article said it would be fitting if the Giants doused Coach Couglin after winning the NFC championship this Sunday.  The article went on to discuss some other examples and variations of the shower such as when a Gatorade bucket filled with popcorn was dumped on Ronald Regan.  I found this article funny and informative about something I had never really thought too much about before.
     The author of this article definitely has a sense of humor and he did an excellent job writing the article.  Not only did he explain the history of the gatorade shower (dunk, bath, etc.) but he also talked about random things and rumors that had anything to do with it at all.  For example he made it clear that the rumor abut a man dying from a Gatorade Shower was not true and that the man just so happened to get a heart arrhythmia a few weeks after getting dunked...a coincidence.  I hope that the Giants win the NFC championship so that the will get to the Super Bowl and lose to the Patriots.  Then, and only then, will the Patriots get their revenge for that Super Bowl defeat in 2007 against the Giants which crushed the Pats undefeated season.

"Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos' QB Played Through Injury in Patriots Blowout"

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1028981-tim-tebow-denver-broncos-qb-played-through-injury-in-patriots-blowout


     According to the article, Tim Tebow played through much pain during Denver's season-ending playoff game against the Pats last weekend.  "Tim Tebow was not at full health in the AFC Divisional playoff matchup against the New England Patriots this past Sunday, but the Denver Broncos' quarterback stuck it out and finished the whole game".  Tebow suffered from torn cartilage on his ribs, a bruised lung, and fluid buildup in his chest.  It is interesting that Tebow continued to play in the game even though he had injuries and his team was losing 35-7 at halftime.  They should have thrown in second string QB Brady Quinn to preserve Tebow but the Broncos fans would probably have been angered by that.   There wasn't really any hope for Denver so Quinn should have gone in the game just to make sure Tebow didn't suffer any major injuries, as he is most likely going to be Denver's starter next year.  This article was simple and to the point, but it was able to fully inform me on the topic and it was enjoyable for me to read knowing that the Pats destroyed the Broncos in the game.
     The author of this article is very blunt and doesn't reveal much more than the facts except for one point that he made clear: "Perhaps they were afraid Quinn would actually thrive and then the quarterback controversy would really heat up in Denver.  I know that's something I would have loved to have seen just stir up more debates..."  The point is, Tebow has a giant fan base yet he isn't exactly an all-star qb like people make him up to be.  Therefore, if Quinn did do well in this game, there would but much more controversy over the starter in Denver.  Nonetheless, Denver has all offseason to analyze their qb's and make a decision.  My prediction: Tebow will get the starting job.

"Teacher Man" (memoir blog)

     I have not read much into my book, only a few pages.  So far the man writing (Frank McCourt), who was a teacher for like 30 years, doesn't act like a teacher at all.   His personality seems nothing like the stereotypical teacher and I think that is what will make the book interesting.  So far in the memoir, he has spoken about his first few days as a teacher.  One story was actually really funny, and it is easy to see why McCourt remembers the event so well.  Apparently, some kids were arguing and one kid threw a baloney sandwich at the other kid...I know, kind of random. Nonetheless, Mccourt wasn't exactly sure how to respond to this since nobody had taught him what to do if some kid throws a baloney sandwich.  Therefore, he walked over to the sandwich, picked it up, and to the surprise of the students, he began to eat it.  Once again, kind of random.  This makes the book enjoyable though and makes me want to read on.  Frank Mccourt was then scolded by the principle and it appeared that his career as a teacher wouldn't last so long.  That is about as far as I got in the book and I have high hopes for it.

"What if Tim Tebow were Muslim?"

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/12/what_if_tim_tebow_were_muslim/



     I am aware that I have done many articles concerning Tim Tebow yet I feel that they are interesting and often very funny.  This article certainly falls under that category as it asks the question "What if Tim Tebow were Muslim?"  The inspiration for the article comes from another article titled "What if Michael Vick were White?".  The article debates possible outcomes of public reaction if Tim Tebow openly practiced the Islam religion as he does now as a Christian.  According to the article, some studies say the it would not be well-received by the public.  The article went on to compare other instances when Muslims have received bad reactions from the public.  For example, the show "All-American Muslim" lost advertisers "who were pressured by groups claiming that the show was Islamic propaganda".  One other example that the article provided was that of NBA player Chris Jackson who converted to Islam with the name Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.  In 1996, he refused to stand for the national anthem at an NBA game, creating chaos in the media.  This article was interesting and really made me think about the question the that author posed.
     The author of this article, Marcus Cederstrom, appealed to the connection between sports and religion throughout the article.  I am sure that many readers thought the article was interesting aI a sure that many people had different answers to the question. Nonetheless, in my personal opinion I think that Tebow would still be all over the media if he openly practiced Islam, yet I think it would not be received well by the public.

"NFL pre-game question: Does God exist"

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/13/nfl_pre_game_question_does_god_exist/



     This sarcastic article's thesis appears to be that if Tebow continues to win, than God must be real.  It discusses Pascal's wager:  "Man cannot know for sure whether or not God exists, but he has nothing to lose and everything to gain if God does exist, so he should "bet on God"".  Obviously, Pascal, a french philosopher, was not referring to actually "betting", this article compares his statement to betting on God in the Patriot-Broncos.  As we all know, Tebow has continued to win against great odds and ths article suggests that since he is "divine" he has a chance of winning.  For example, "Thanks to Tebow, the non-faith of millions is hanging by a thread. And if he manages to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots in Foxboro, the issue will be resolved once and for all. Pascal’s bet will be paid by the Man Upstairs, and all those who pick the Pats will find themselves descending into the Lake of Eternal Fire".  I found this article to be funny and I think that the author did an excellent job in the use of sarcasm to make an enjoyable article.
     The author of this article, Gary Kamiya, used a great deeal of iron in the atyicle in order to describe to the reader the connection between quarterback Tim Tebow and "the Man Upstairs" (God).  Some very religious peple may have been offended by this article because it suggests Tebow is divine, but it was an article made for humor and sarcasm.

"He Shoots. He Scores?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/sports/soccer/he-shoots-he-scores-from-soccer-to-lacrosse-goalkeepers-get-in-on-the-act.html?hpw



     This article discusses a funny goal that was scored recently in an Everton and Bolton soccer game.  According to the article, Tim Howard, the goalie for Everton, scored a goal from his own net on opposing goalkeeperAdam Bogdan.  "From roughly 100 yards, a goalkeeper had scored a goal.  In a soccer game.  in one of the world's best professional leagues".  The article also discussed goals at other times in soccer matches and in other sports.  For example, only 11 goalies have scored a goal in NHL history, many times due to pure luck.  On the other hand, "Goalies have scored at least 14 goals in the 24-year history of the National Lacrosse League and its predecessor, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League".
     The author used logos and many statistics to prove to the reader that scoring a goal as a goalkeeper is a "rare athletic accomplishment".  He also used pathos by appealing to the emotions of the reader.  He did so by focusing on how bad he and Tim Howard felt for the other goalie, Bogdan.  Tim Howard did not celebrate when he scored the goal and I think that was very nice of him because it would be very embarrassing to get scored on by another goalie.  The author must have agreed with this and that is most likely why he included this information in the article.  Overall, it was an enjoyable article that appealed to people that like sports.

"Source: Bill O'Brien to coach Penn St."

 www.espn.com



     After the whole scandal at Penn State, this article got my attention quickly, especially because Bill O'Brien is the offensive coordinator of the Patriots.  Although the exact terms of the deal are unknown, the author wrote that O'Brien will be the Patriots offensive coordinator for the rest of the season, and next season he will be the head coach of the Penn State football team and its scarred program.  O'Brien joined New England in 2007 after 14 seasons at the college level with some very big football schools.  One question I still had after reading the article is: Who will be the offensive coordinator of the Patriots next year without O'Brien?  They may have difficulty finding a coach that can match O'Brien.
     The author of this article used mostly logos in writing the article.  he did so by presenting the statistics of the Penn Sate and Patriots football teams.Basically, these facts help to back up his claims.  By giving reason to his opinions, the article appears more factual and makes the author appear more qualified to write an article about the topic.

Bless Me, Ultima Chapters 17-22

     I enjoyed "Bless Me, Ultima".  At times it was difficult to predict the destiny of Antonio due to so many conflicting influences in his life: Gabriel, Maria, Ultima.  Nonetheless, this causes his mind to  wander and think about who he is and what religion he believes in.  This is highlighted in the end of the book when Antonio wonders if it would be possible to create a new religion.  The last chapter provides hope for Antonio by suggesting that he will be the most successful child of his parents and that he will find the answers he wants in life.  In fact, he learns this through Gabriel, who is not very religious.  He speaks to Antonio of understanding by saying that understanding comes with time and life experience.  He tells Antonio that understanding does not come through Communion.  This makes sense to Tony:  Throughout the whole book he has thought of many questions that couldn't be answered.  He believed these questions  would be answered after he received his First Communion but this did not happen.  Yet, when he talks with his father he gains more knowledge than ever before.  This information gives him something to base his opinions and beliefs on and it also provides him with assurance that he will learn and understand more and more as he grows older.  In the past blogs that I have done for this book I have made predictions as to what I believe Antonio will become when he is older.  In the end, Anaya does not directly reveal Antonio's future yet he provides a final hint that Antonio will become what both his father and mother would like him to be:  "Then maybe I do not have to be just Marez, or Luna, perhaps I can be both-" (Anaya 247).  I do not know what occupation supports this characteristic but I think that Gabriel, Maria, Ultima, and especially Antonio will be pleased with his future life.  Although Ultima dies in the end, she takes the evil Tenorio down with her in a way.  Now that Tenorio is no longer alive, the family is able to live peacefully, especially knowing that Ultima died an accomplished and influential woman.

"N.F.L. 2011, From January to Tebowary and Beyond"

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/n-f-l-2011-from-january-to-tebowary-and-beyond/?ref=sports?src=dayp


     This article talked about the NFL throughout the year of 2011.  Since we are now in the new year, I figured I would blog about an article that covered the topic of summarizing the past year and this article seemed interesting... and it turned out hilarious!  From January 15, when the Jets beat the Patriots to December 31, Mike Tanier talked about all the major events within the NFL including the lockout, Tebowmania, and so many other things.  The article may appear to be like a boring summary, yet Tanier made the article very funny.  I enjoyed it even though the article was very long.  I also liked how the Patriots were included in many of the topics Tanier discussed.
     Tanier was mostly sarcastic throughout the article, causing the article to be very enjoyable for the reader.  For example, when Tanier wrote about several players making fun of Jay Cutler on Twitter for missing the second half of the NFC with a "less-than-devastating" injury, he also wrote that "Cutler also becomes the mayor of the Bears' sideline on Foursquare".  Comments such as this gave the article a different spin and also brought back many memories.  For example, I remember watching the Super Bowl last year and how bad the half-time show was and Tanier wrote "By winning the Super Bowl, the Packers rekindle the thrill of watching outstanding performers achieve excellence in the international spotlight that the Black Eyed Peas did everything possible to extinguish at halftime".  If you have any interest in the NFL I would definitely recommend reading this article, the link is at the top of this blog.