Life, Liberty and the Deviance of Technology

BY NOUSHYAR PANAHPOUR ESLAMI | April 26, 2016

Why, Oh Why?
When I was six years old, I lived in the small city of Kerman, Iran. There, a few neighbors and I played soccer in dirt streets with a plastic soccer ball. Four large stones, presumably from a crumbling wall in a nearby abandoned construction site, determined our goals, and with that we played. The beautiful game—futbol, soccer, no matter what you call it—the sport is simple. It was simple when the great Pele played; it was simple when I played in Iran; and it should be simple when my children play it someday. Recently however, the debate over the use of technology in soccer, specifically Goal-Line Technology, has taken over and complicated the sport. This new technological feat has come to be on the minds of fans, players and soccer analysts throughout the world. It has taken the media by storm from small excerpts on CNN to the front pages of ESPN, the issue has indeed caused a frenzy.

The “No Goal” scored by Pedro Mendes against Manchester United in 2005.

It all began following the disputed goal of Pedro Mendes, which would have won the Tottenham Hotspurs the game against Manchester United in 2005 (Cirocco). The ball is obviously across the line in the fullest extent, yet due to the goalkeeper’s valiant effort to bring the ball out, the truth was not seen by the four pairs of eyes that mattered. Since then, incidents like this have plagued social media and sparked the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to introduce what we now know and love: Goal-Line Technology. This technology allows a gentlemen sitting in a booth to review the goal, and inform the referee about the decision. This would then do away with any uncertainty and allow the referees to make the correct call as well as allow teams like Tottenham to receive the correct call. Perfection is a great temptation and I love it as much as the next guy, but that just is not how the world works. With this addition, FIFA has blatantly destroyed the integrity and humanity of the game. This is quite simply the start of a journey of deviance from a game that includes as much human error as our own lives. Soccer was made by imperfect humans and therefore like us, it too is imperfect. It is those imperfections that give soccer its character, its rivalries and quite frankly it is those imperfections that make it the game so many know and love. For this reason, as a lowly sports blog writer, I ask you FIFA, why oh why would you do such a thing?

What’s the Big Deal?
Knowing whether or not a goal is for sure a goal, can be truly beneficial to the game, especially for tournaments like the FIFA World Cup where the results are incredibly impactful, and the stakes are as high as possible. With Goal-Line Technology, the referee is alerted within one second if a goal has occurred or not (Cirocco). I bear no ignorance here, this is a phenomenal feat. So then what is the big deal? Humanity, my friend, humanity.

One more time for the people in the back

When we live our day to day lives, be it as a student, a teacher, a CEO or a garbage man, do we not make mistakes? Our lives are a dedication to our very own imperfections. If we, as humans, made absolutely no errors throughout the entirety of our lives, then we would be considered as binary as the very computer I am using to type this. Goal-Line Technology is not a necessity, it is simply a method to attain a level of perfection that is and forever will be unattainable. Any further development of this technology (replay technology, foul technology etc.) is just another bit of our humanity given away. The purity of soccer as a sport is at stake, and we cannot allow it to be controlled in this manner. See, if soccer were to become this perfect game with full and complete certainty it would be boring. And in all honesty, so would our lives if we were perfect human beings. The controversies that have come from errors, the rivalries that have been built, the historic moments that we have witnessed; these are all results of human error and will forever be the aspects that make the sport so near and dear to our hearts.

The Destruction
In 2010, FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated, “one of the main objectives of FIFA is to protect the universality of the game” (Blatter). But sir, this technology is a complete step against this so-called protection!

FIFA President Sepp Blatter experiencing “that moment when you realize corrupting soccer and laundering money at the same time is too demanding”

Now, I realize Blatter has not exactly proved to be the most honest man in the business, so I by no means expect him to live up to his word; however, an objective is an objective. When a child watches a FIFA sanctioned soccer game, s/he is looking to replicate it completely. Children want to become soccer stars. (Yes, I wanted to be Messi, and on some level, I still believe I can.) Their impressionable young minds, want to be the identical copy of what they are watching, and this technology impedes this dream. Soccer’s integrity as a sport lies in its accessibility to people of all backgrounds and opportunities, use of technology would cause this to take a great hit. Furthermore, it will create a divide between the game played on the streets of Kerman and in Camp Nou in Barcelona. Such a divide in a sport that has for so long unified the world cannot be tolerated as we cannot have a sport within which those without access to this technology are alienated from the others. Soccer is a sport that requires only friends and a ball (or kickable round object of sorts), and I see no reason why this list should be extended.

One More For Good Measure
Another issue that damages the purity and integrity of the game is presented very well by Emily Ryall who claims “the nature of football (its fluidity and rhythm) would be adversely affected with the use of GLT [Goal-Line Technology]” (Ryall).

NFL Referees caught in their natural huddle formation, this occurs between 83 and 100 million times a game.

In places where this technology is used –like the NFL– referees will take a very long pause during the middle of the game to not only review the play but to also come to a consensus over the call. Furthermore, this time is auctioned off as ad-time to the highest bidder throughout the game. Firstly, soccer is a game known for being played in two uninterrupted 45 minute halves. When stereotypical soccer hating individuals want to complain about soccer, they complain of the length of the game! Furthermore, theses guys hate the fact that the time taken for fouls in the game is accounted for and added to the end of each half, thus ensuring he is bored for a complete 45 minutes. My point here is, the rules of soccer are made to ensure continuous play. The whole point of the game is to leave our soccer-hating friends as angry as possible. You see, what these individuals fail to understand is that in soccer, the viewer expects non-stop action for a solid 45 minutes; the thought that any one pass, cross or header can lead to a goal keeps the eyes of the viewers glued to the game. In a world where the game is constantly interrupted by reviews—a pause is inevitable even in a one-second review time—the appeal and integrity of the game are both in jeopardy.

I Leave You With This
Soccer is a simple sport. It is one of integrity and purity, an ancient game that has developed into a universal human sport. This sport had brought together people of all races, genders, religions, financial statuses and social statuses. It is incredible to view the effect of something as simple as kicking a ball into a net, on billions around the globe. To stop such an impact, or to do anything that would hinder such an impact is incredibly appalling. Goal-Line Technology is a phenomenal idea, but it is not good for the sport. As simple a sport as soccer is, it is equally imperfect. It is an imperfect sport made by imperfect people, and that is what makes it so human. That is the appeal that has united people around the world over something so simple and menial. So I leave you all with this, I am not perfect, I am not binary and I do not wish to be either of those, and nor do I wish to play a sport that is either of those. Soccer is becoming binary; it is becoming a sport in which all sources of error are slowly being abolished. It is time we take a moment as fans and see if this removal of errors will do more harm than good. It would be a shame to let a game loved by so many diminish into nothing more than a uniform task completed in precisely 90 minutes.

Seattle Mariners 2015 Predictions

BY ALBERT SOHN | April 6, 2015

Record: 95-67
While numerous baseball analysts are busy jumping on the Mariners’ bandwagon, I’ve been waiting since 2007 for the Mariners to finally make it back to the postseason. I believe 2015 is the season that the Seattle Mariners finally break their postseason drought, which has now reached 13 years. I said, when the Mariners signed Nelson Cruz, that they would be able to go head-to-head with any team in the AL West for the division title. Now, I agree with the baseball experts in thinking that the Mariners will win the AL West and possibly reach the World Series primarily due to their improved offense and elite pitching rotation.
Bold Predictions: Felix Hernandez, James Paxton, Hisashi Iwakuma, and Taijuan Walker will all win 15 or more games while maintaining ERAs under 3.25. Also, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager will all drive in 85 or more runs, and one of them will finish the regular season with greater than 100 RBIs, which will be the first time a Mariners player has done so since Raul Ibanez did it in 2008.

MIKAEL WUBESHET
Record: 97-65
I’ll admit that I’m walking on the end of a plank here. Initially, I thought the Mariners could win 85 games at the maximum, but in seeing how strong the Mariners rotation is, I think the Mariners could become one of the best teams in baseball. If they maintain a healthy rotation, have good relief pitching, and improve their offensive output, I think the Mariners could have a historic season. I admit to riding a high on optimism, but I think I have no choice, for the first time in years Seattle has looked promising. I can’t even remember a time when the Mariners had more than one strong pitcher behind an ace as Iwakuma will be supported by Taijuan Walker and James Paxton. Speaking of those two, it’s about damn time. Paxton is now 26 years old and showed what he could do last year. While Paxton’s spring wasn’t been amazing, he is a solid 9-4 in 17 career starts and boasts a 2.66 ERA. While the southpaw won’t be a new face at the major league level, Taijuan Walker will be. Walker, a 22 year-old right-hander, had a stunning spring, boasting a 0.67 ERA while striking out 26 in 27 innings of play. This could finally be the year that the Mariners have that dream rotation, and if the bats stay hot and consistent, the Mariners could have a deep playoff run.
Bold Predictions:
I may have already alluded to it, but I think Taijuan Walker is no joke. He could go for 10-15 wins in this first year. From the King, I will expect the usual, but this time with good hitting behind him, I see a possible 25 win season. As for Iwakuma, I wouldn’t be surprised if he notched 18-20 wins. Iwakuma has been a monster in his few years in Seattle. As long has he remains consistent—and can command his sinker as he usually does—I see him becoming a very efficient pitcher, not the kind that will throw shutouts or strikeout 7-8 batters, but one that can work deep into a game. As for the batters, I don’t know where to start. I think Cano will be more productive with the better lineup around him, and as for Cruz, just swing hard. If Cruz bats .250, I wouldn’t care as long as it means he hits 25-30 home runs. Cruz had a good year with Baltimore last year hitting .271, 40 HR and 108 RBI’s, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he replicates those numbers. However, I don’t want a first year slump as we saw in Cano this past season. All that being said, I think the Mariners will do well. And in terms of bold predictions, I think Seattle will win the West by mid-September and win the AL pennant before winning the World Series in 6 games.

NOUSHYAR PANAHPOUR ESLAMI
Record: 94-68
I am feeling these numbers.
Bold Predictions:
The last time I paid remote attention to baseball was in 2004; therefore, there is a solid 11-year gap in my knowledge of the game. With that said, I can predict the following based off what I have heard around the media and what the two gentlemen above have stated. The Mariners are poised to make one of their more promising runs this season. I believe that they will indeed make it to the postseason. And because I really want it to happen the year that I am jumping on the bandwagon, the Mariners will win the World Series in the final innings of Game 7 (because in Seattle winning must be dramatic). Most importantly, I will catch a foul ball at the June 3 game against the Yankees.

Which 12s Will Beat the 5s?

BY MILER HALLER | March 18, 2013

West Virginia v. Buffalo

Arkansas v. Wofford

Northern Iowa v. Wyoming

Utah v. Stephen F. Austin

West Virginia plays in the Big 12 conference amongst 6 other NCAA tournament qualifying teams. The Big 12 is the by far the strongest and most difficult conference to play in. West Virginia seeded 5, Kansas 2, Oklahoma 3, Texas 11, Oklahoma State 9, Baylor 3, and Iowa State 3. West Virginia had played very well this year, beating many good teams with their aggressive defense. The downside is their offense. They shoot 41.2% from the field and 31.8% from the 3 point line. They also average 66% all season from the free-throw line, with one of their best shooters returning from a knee injury that took him out of the last 4 games of their season. However, the Mountaineers star guard Juwan Staten, averages 14.5 points per game and 4.8 assist. His stats don’t lie, but coming off his knee injury, it’s probable that he won’t be at 100 percent. Buffalo, Coached by former Duke star Bobby Hurley, has won their last 8 games. They are playing their best basketball and are led by MAC player of the year Justin Moss. He has averaged 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds this year. He suffered an ankle injury in the MAC tournament affecting his stats, but is suspected to return 100 percent. The bulls earlier this season lead both Kentucky and Wisconsin at half before losing. Buffalo has a great chance because if it is anyone that knows how to win in the post season its Coach Hurley.

I suspect a very close game because of West Virginia’s defense and the Buffalo’s surprising strong offense, but the bulls will finish the game with a win because of the Mountaineers poor execution.

Arkansas Razorbacks, are a talented team lead by SEC player of the year, 6-11 Forward Bobby Portis. The SEC, is a mediocre conference amongst the Big 12, Big East and ACC, and can be compared to the Pac 12. Arkansas is 26-8 with out of conference losses to a good Iowa State team and an alright Clemson team. The Razorbacks average 78 points a game, 44.7% from the field and 35% from the 3 point line. The Wofford Terriers ended the season 8-0 with only 6 losses. 5 of the losses Wofford had were on the road and the other to conference rival Chattanooga. Arkansas plays a fast pace game, which creates turnovers, but Wofford is strong at keeping the ball. The Terriers strength of schedule is a 47 and rank 182, weaker compared to Arkansas who rank 28. They are undersized within the paint against the Razorbacks and could struggle if they don’t shut down Portis.

If Wofford can hold on to the ball and score from outside the paint they might have a chance, but other than that, I believe Arkansas will move on to Round 32.

Northern Iowa (UNI), are coming into this tournament ranked 5^th after beating Illinois State for the Missouri Conference title. They are defiantly a good team, they have the height and their field and 3 point average is very strong. The Panther’s have only 3 loses, one on the road in OT v. VCU, a disappointing loss by 3 at Evansville and the other at Wichita State. Northern Iowa’s strength of schedule ranking is 107 and their best win against an opponent had a 13 BPI. Wyoming’s win over San Diego State for the WAC conference championship was a huge win for them, but San Diego State played poor. Wyoming didn’t play well to win that game, San Diego State shot poorly. They shot 32% from the field goal line and 23% from the 3 point line. Wyoming felt doubted that they wouldn’t be able to make it, the struggle for many teams who have the goal to make it into the tournament, is once they make it, they have a hard time figuring out their next goal.

From all the beliefs that UNI will be beaten by Wyoming, they will play one of their strongest games and by half, the game will be decided who is the winner.

Utah has a great shooter, Junior guard Brandon Taylor. Taylor averages 10.7 points a game, 52% from the field, 83% from the free throw line, and 43% from the 3 point line. They shoot great from the outside and are strong within the paint. Their only loses come from good opponents and their strength of schedule is 80, while Stephen F. Austin is 228. They are 29-4, with 3 of their 4 losses coming from out of conference games, with one lost to Texas A&M-CC who are 13-5 in conference. Stephen F. Austin only has 1 loss in their conference because the Southland Conference is so weak.

Stephen F. Austin hasn’t played against a good opponent since Nov 24, Utah plays against a stronger opponent each week in the Pac 12, and therefore Utah will win.

Winners: Buffalo, Arkansas, Northern Iowa, and Utah

A Different Russell

BY OSCAR AVATARE | March 10, 2015

Despite having surgery to repair his cheekbone, Russell Westbrook managed to return shortly after and continue his spectacular play.

While we in Seattle nowadays salivate over the Seahawks, who just traded for Jimmy Graham, the Thunder, who will forever be the Sonics to me, are 7-3 in their last 10 games. Of course, this is not the big deal. A team like the Thunder should be expected to do so. The real big deal is how well, in fact how historically well, Russell Westbrook has been playing recently. It is nothing short of extraordinary, and at this point he should be considered the front-runner for the MVP. I’ll get to the stats later, but at this point what we are seeing is just insane. I have always jokingly speculated that Westbrook without Kevin Durant would go absolutely nuts and score 40 points per game. He is not only doing that but also racking up triple-doubles at a ridiculous, historic pace. According to ESPN since the All-Star Game, in which he scored 41 points and won the All-Star Game MVP Award, Westbrook has started 9 games without Durant. In those 9 games, he has AVERAGED a triple-double. His stat line goes 34.3 points per game, 11.4 assists per game, and 10.2 rebounds per game. In 5 of his past 6 games, he has recorded a triple-double. During this stretch, he has become only the second player in the past 30 years to have a game with at least 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Also, he is the first player to record 4 triple-doubles in a row since Michael Jordan had 9 straight in 1989. On Wednesday Westbrook goes up against the Los Angeles Clippers, and I am seriously considering watching to see this history maker in action. And that’s saying a lot. Usually, I don’t care much for basketball, especially regular season basketball, but this time I am due for this maestros magic.

Gunned Down

BY MIKAEL WUBESHET | March 4, 2015

It was a night to remember: perhaps Arsenal Football Club’s worst defeat in years as their infamous 8-2 loss to Manchester United is the only other comparable loss. However, in my opinion, the loss to Manchester United doesn’t come close.

After multiple golden opportunities to tie the game up, Olivier Giroud was finally benched by Arsene Wenger in the 60th minute.

Arsenal came into their first leg in the last-16 game following a good run in the Premier League, and they looked to continue such form in European play. Unfortunately, that was not to be. A young, energetic Monaco team faced the Emirates with one thing in mind: beat Arsenal. The first half was somewhat dull despite Kondogbia’s deflected goal. The plan, however, was to tire the Arsenal team, and sure enough, they did, Monaco came firing the second half, and the one team that was considered as the weakest in all of Champions League proved their worth. They were aggressive, cut throat, and took advantage of all of Arsenal’s mishaps. Arsenal, led by Arsene Wenger, played the kind of game that was best suited for the Premier League: pacy and aggressive all while lacking a tactical strategy. Tactics are necessary in European play, yet, Wenger as well as other English teams insist that the aggressive English-style of play translates to European futbol. This is simply not true. Monaco, led by manager Leonardo Jardim, knew that Arsenal would be blunt; they came into the game knowing that Wenger would be ignorant, and sure enough they were right. In a game that Monaco entered plagued by injuries, they came out on top. They proved, to the world, that Arsenal FC is not a world class team. Despite what some may think, I think this game was the nail in the coffin. It proved that Wenger’s ignorance was hurting Arsenal. The initial team selection was horrid in my eyes: to play Gibbs over the in-form Monreal was criminal and to even consider starting Oliver Giroud was ridiculous, who proved his mediocrity with his lackluster play. In all honesty, I forgot how many chances he missed. It was the easy sitters, the kind of errors that even a schoolboy would recognize. Still, perhaps the worst performer was Arsenal’s center-back Per Mertasacker. The errors made were simply egregious; it seemed like he was playing blind. Despite being the deepest outfield player, he simply lack vision and committed to players that simply played the ball elsewhere on the field. Considering the 3-1 scoreline, I will be shocked if Arsenal musters the goals necessary to push to the quarter finals in the second leg, and for the most part, I will be shocked if the Arsenal Board decides to not fire Arsene Wenger. While he has elevated the club in his 16-year tenure, the team needs to perform at a higher lever, especially considering Arsenal’s resources, they need to be a world-class team.

Super Bowl XLIX Reactions

BY ALBERT SOHN | February 1, 2015

Unbelievable.

I usually don’t get too high or too low when watching sports. But man, this one hurts, and it hurts a lot. To know that your team is 1 yard away from winning back-to-back Super Bowls and have that vision collapse right before your eyes, there is nothing but silence that can sum it up.

First of all, Jermaine Kearse made an incredible catch to set up the last couple plays of the game. His catch, no doubt, was reminiscent of David Tyree’s and Mario Manningham’s catches against the New England Patriots and how they completely changed the outcomes of those respective games. Secondly, when Marshawn Lynch was stopped 1 yard shy of the end zone, I thought to myself that this game was over. With less than a minute left in the game and three tries for a man named Beast Mode to get 1 yard, not to mention Bill Belichick’s decision to not call a timeout, there was no way the situation could have presented itself to be better than how it did. The game was practically over since everybody knew that there was no way Marshawn Lynch would not be able to gain a single yard.

And then it happened, coming out in shotgun formation, Russell Wilson took the snap and threw it right into the hands of Malcolm Butler. Now, a lot of credit to the undrafted rookie Butler for seeing the play ahead and jumping the route. However, he should have never been in the situation to make that play. Yes, Coach Carroll, you only had one timeout with 30 seconds to go, and theoretically it makes sense to throw on one of the downs to stop the clock and prevent it from reaching 0:00. Then again, looking at how ineffective the passing game has been thus far, except throws to Chris Matthews, and who is in the backfield for your team, anything but a handoff to Lynch makes no sense at all—as every former and current player expressed on Twitter (via ESPN). Worst case scenario, they take two quick snaps and run the ball before calling their last time out to set up the game-deciding 4^th down play. While I admit the conversation would be much different had Ricardo Lockette somehow caught the ball, why would you take a chance for the one possible bad outcome to happen if you have arguably the best running back in the National Football League? And if Marshawn Lynch doesn’t get in the end zone, so be it. You can’t really get mad when your team gave the best playmaker on its offense the ball and failed to execute.

Although the result of this game may become another motivation for the Seahawks players, for now and likely for years to come, the decision and this loss will undoubtedly hurt. And I’m sorry, Pete Carroll, but regardless of what else you accomplish in the NFL, your *coaching* career will forever be defined by this one play.

OSCAR AVATARE
As I said in my prediction for the Super Bowl, I felt that the Seahawks would win, even dominate, if they ran the ball more effectively than the Patriots did. They did so but lost this game because they abandoned the run at the most crucial time. As Albert said in his section above, there is almost no negative scenario in this situation if Marshawn Lynch runs the ball. The choice of an inside-pick play is incredibly confusing as well as difficult for me to digest. If the ball isn’t going to be run in that situation, at least do a play-action pass or roll out Russell Wilson to give him an option to either pass or run the ball. And out of all plays to win the game, why pick the one that is completely against the Seahawks’ strengths as a team? For the Patriots, a short pass near the goal line makes sense; but for the Seahawks in that situation, it is incredibly stupid to say the least.

No one knows what would have happened had a run for Marshawn been called, but I strongly feel we’d be talking about the greatness of a back-to-back championship Seahawks team. Credit is given when credit is due, and Malcolm Butler made a great play. But if the Seahawks coaching staff don’t call a truly awful and mind-boggling play in the most crucial of situations in this game, I think they win this game. This is probably the worst way to lose a game, knowing the Seahawks lost not because they got outplayed but because they reverted from their biggest strength in the most crucial of moments, which sickens me. If the Patriots were to stop Lynch on second down and the Seahawks lost then I’d be fine. After that point, a timeout would be taken and two throws to the end zone would probably be attempted. Maybe the Hawks win or maybe they lose, but at least we would know we lost to a superior Patriots goal-line stand as opposed to a terrible playcall. No one will ever be able to explain that call to me. This is definitely the worst I’ve ever felt after a Seahawks game, not because the Patriots won, but because the Seahawks gave the game away with that call.

Super Bowl XLIX Predictions

BY PHINNIAN ROGAN | January 25, 2015

The Super Bowl is just around the corner folks, and the gang and I are back to give our predictions for the big game. But first, we’ll also take a look at our initial season predictions for the Seahawks and see how accurate they were. Noushyar had the closest regular season record, predicting the Hawks would go 12-4, and they would make a promising Super Bowl run. Pretty spot on. Albert read the playoff future the best though, stating that the Seahawks would beat the Patriots 27-17 in the Super Bowl. Both are in the Super Bowl of course, so if the score is the same, I’m going to start asking Albert for betting advice. Mikael also predicted a Seahawk victory while I decided it would be a good idea to put my money on the Raiders of Oakland. Needless to say, I was wrong, as were all of my Bold Predictions. Speaking of Bold Predictions, the crew overall was not very good at making correct Bold Predictions. All of us thought Percy Harvin would have a big impact on the Seahawks this year. Obviously, that didn’t happen as he played a few games and was traded to the Jets because of locker room issues. It was also predicted that Christine Michael and Robert Turbin would have breakout years, which really didn’t happen. Both were okay, but Marshawn Lynch dominated the run game and continued to make the biggest impact for the Hawks with 13 TDs. Finally, Noushyar thought Terrelle Pryor would actually get on the field for the Seahawks’ “QB Running Program,” something I didn’t know Seattle had. Needless to say, Pryor got to play as much as my personal favorite player, Tavaris Jackson. Actually, when checking the stats, Jackson played at the end of the Cardinals game in Week 15, and threw one for one for zero yards, making Pryor play less somehow, and resulting in him going to the Chiefs or something. Nobody knows for certain, and nobody really cares.

Well, enough of the past and on to the future. Here are TheLibraryRoundTable’s Super Bowl XLIX predictions:

ALBERT SOHN
New England Patriots 17, Seattle Seahawks 27

T. Brady: 26/38 for 268 yards, with 1 TD and 1 INT
R. Gronkowski: 10 receptions for 83 yards

R. Wilson: 19/27 for 239 yards, with 2 TDs and 7 carries for 45 yards
M. Lynch: 22 carries for 128 yards, with 2 TD (one rushing and one receiving) and 4 catches for 52 yards

Super Bowl XLIX MVP: Marshawn Lynch

While the Seahawks’ season record was not what I had imagined it to be before the season started, their performance during the last 8 games has been what I had thought they would play like on their way to a second consecutive Super Bowl win. Ever since the return of Bobby Wagner from his injury, the Seattle defense has been relentless, and I think Bobby Wagner along with Kam Chancellor will be key in order to secure another win on February 1. Although they may not compile the best statistics during the game for one of them to win the MVP trophy, Wagner and Chancellor will be undoubtedly vital in slowing down the Patriots offense. On the offensive side of the ball, I think Russell Wilson will shake off his early struggles from the NFC Championship Game and continue the dominating performance he put on at the end of that game. Also, Marshawn Lynch will continue to break tackles and pass the century mark once again on his way to a Super Bowl MVP trophy. While I believe the game will be close, the Seahawks will pull away with a rushing touchdown by Beast Mode late in the 4th quarter. Therefore, I will stick to my preseason prediction of the Seahawks defeating the Patriots 27-17.

MIKAEL WUBESHET
New England Patriots 10, Seattle Seahawks 24

Not a route like last year, but definitely a win; Seattle has a weird way of getting its act together as the season progresses. While last week’s NFC Championship Game was not the smoothest game, it was game Seattle needed. A warning shot to remind them that they are beatable; however, that doesn’t mean they won’t win back-to-back Super Bowls. With Marshawn Lynch’s running coming alive like a child whose sugar rush has just hit, New England will have problems. Even though they are 9th in run defense, they haven’t faced an elite running back like Lynch. And while their secondary consist of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, they are still 17th in pass yards allowed; this will be what Seattle needs to attack, with average receivers such as Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin, and yes I said average. Seattle will need big plays from the two, as well as Russell Wilson. Speaking of Mr. Wilson, I have some qualms. Against Green Bay, there were numerous occasion in which he didn’t make great throws. sure, he got the ball to the receivers hands, but too many times, balls required receivers to make catches that forced them to stop of readjust themselves. While I understand that this is a silly complaint (at least we have a quarterback that is decent) in a game like the Super Bowl, Seattle needs every yard it can get. If Kearse and Baldwin were to elevate with their relatively small frames, it means the Seahawks aren’t getting yards after the catch, and the strength of both those receivers is their ability to make a man miss in the open field.

NOUSHYAR PANAHPOUR ESLAMI
New England Patriots 27, Seattle Seahawks 38

T. Brady: 30/42 for 241 yards, with 2 TDs and 2 INTs
R. Gronkowski: 8 receptions for 94 yards, with 1 TD

R. Wilson: 20/26 for 323 yards, with 3 TDs
M. Lynch: 24 carries for 110 yards, with 1 TD

Super Bowl XLIX MVP: Russell Wilson

This will easily be a phenomenal match-up. This game features the old-time QB style of Tom Brady, and the new-school style of Russell Wilson. Of course, this was the match-up last year, and we all saw how that worked out. New England will be different, however, as they will put up a fight. Brady does not get blown out. The Seattle defense will come up big with two interceptions to make up for a loss fumble by its offense. Those turnovers should keep the game interesting. Julian Edleman and Rob Gronkowski will be the biggest trouble for the Seattle defense, but it’s nothing they cannot handle. Brady will show some anger on the sidelines while Wilson will pray on the opposite side. The game will start close, but Seattle will pull away in the second half following a 30+ yard TD completion from Wilson to Baldwin. Another phenomenal game by Marshawn Lynch will be capped with a new sort of celebration, such as dead silence by the team. This will serve as a shot to the NFL for their insane obsession with following, fining, and abusing Lynch. As for New England, Brady will suffer his third defeat, this time not at the hands of Eli Manning but at the hands of Earl Thomas (who will get an interception). On February 2, the headline in Seattle will read, “Back-to-Back Champs” while the headline in Boston will read, “Cheaters Never Prosper.”

OSCAR AVATARE
New England Patriots 16, Seattle Seahawks 28

Regardless of the Deflategate scandal, which was highly unnecessary for the Patriots to beat the Colts, I anticipate a great game in the upcoming Super Bowl. While it doesn’t quite live up to last year’s billing of the best offense versus the best defense, it still has many intriguing match-ups. From Gronk versus the Seahawks secondary to Marshawn Lynch versus the Patriots defense, all the match-ups exist for a great game. However, the match-up I look for to determine the winner of this game will be how the Seahawks defense holds up against the Patriots rushing attack. Brady will get what he gets through the air but if the Seahawks have to account for a stellar Patriots ground game as well Brady I just don’t know if they can keep up. They are one of the greatest defenses of all time, but since Brandon Mebane’s injury they have been suspect in that regard of their defense. By the same regard, the Seahawks must have sustained success running the ball to win this one. The team that becomes one-dimensional will be the team that loses. Thus, I will make my bold proclamation for the Super Bowl. If the Seahawks clear 100 yards rushing and keep the Patriots under 100 yards rushing, they win this game by at least 10 points. It’s that simple. That will force the Patriots to commit extra defenders to stop the run and free up Baldwin and Kearse which combined with the read option will be too much for the Patriots to stop. This will keep Brady off the field and limit the Patriots chances. I think the Seahawks are capable of doing this and will win 28-16 capping off an impeccable run to win their second straight Super Bowl.

The Greatest Game

BY MIKAEL WUBESHET | January 25, 2015

I have only been alive for 17 years, and I have only watched football for 2/3 of that time. But my, oh my, the 2015 NFC Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks is the greatest football game I have ever seen; it may have been one of the greatest games of any sports I have ever seen.

After an abysmal 1st half, the game looked over. While Aaron Rodgers and company weren’t particularly active, the Seahawks looked worse. Russell Wilson was playing a historically terrible game, and going into the half, his quarterback rating was 0.0–I didn’t even know that was possible. On the other hand, while they lacked any offensive spice, the Packers led by Clay Matthews and his suffocating defense looked commanding and allowed their offense to get great field position throughout the game.

But my oh, my can things change, and I don’t know what did it; the Seahawks mounted a comeback that looked like it came from Madden. In a blur, the score was 22-19, with Seattle ahead. And while the Packers would equalize on a field goal, it was clearly destiny or perhaps divine intervention that was on Seattle’s side. Tavaris Jackson came clutch as usual with the overtime coin toss selection, and Seattle took the ball down the field to conclude what may be the greatest game in the history of Seattle sports.

Now Seattle has a chance to do what only the great NFL dynasties have done: win back to back championships. While the New England Patriots are a worthy opponent, considering what happened last Sunday, one can only wonder if the outcome of this game has already been predicted. If I worked for the Seattle Department of Transportation, I would be planning to close 4th avenue on February 3rd because victory parade 2.0 is around the corner.

NOUSHYAR PANAHPOUR ESLAMI
I always support the Seahawks; I mean I have no choice but to root for the home team. But ever since the Steelers were knocked out, the playoffs have lacked excitement for me. The NFC Championship Game, however, changed it all. The first half, I was casually watching and knowing the whole time that they would make a comeback. I was in no way worried. No football game is over with a 16-point lead only halfway through, especially not a game with the Seahawks in Seattle. It just doesn’t happen. So, the second half came, and well the hype began.

I was watching alone on my computer with a some bad Wi-Fi in the Swedish Medical Center Gift Shop in Edmonds. So, as you would assume, the stuffed animals and I were all quite thrilled when the Seahawks got their first TD. I knew then the comeback had begun. At the same time, I was afraid too. I mean this is Aaron Rodgers we are talking about; the guy is a future Hall of Fame QB. He is more than capable of winning the game too. When Marshawn Lynch scored his touchdown though. It was over in my mind. I knew the Seahawks would find a way.

There is something that seems to be resilient about this team, and this team only, and that is their passion. There is passion within the players, within the fans and within the entire Pacific Northwest. It is an emotional and somewhat supernatural factor that is available only with the Hawks and no other team. I guess the football gods play favorites. No other team can win the NFC Title Game after throwing four interceptions. Green Bay played better, but Seattle played with more passion. They always have something to prove and sometimes, I swear, dig themselves into a hole just to make the game more challenging. This team is insane, and will be for a while.

The Team of the Year

BY MIKAEL WUBESHET | January 12, 2015

It’s very hard to try to fit all of the world’s best footballers onto one list, but I will try anyway. In the spirit of the end of the year, I have decided to create, what I consider, the team of the year. Of course I have had to leave out a few well-deserving players, but for the most part, I’d say I have done well.

Overall, soccer had a fantastic year: an exciting race for the English Premier League title as Manchester City won their second title in three years, a minnow–Atletico Madrid–rose among giants in Spain, and while there were no surprises in Italy, France or Germany, the winners, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all deserve kudos. Of course, the club season was capped off with a fantastic Champions League Final in Lisbon where we saw Real Madrid win their 10th European title.

In the summer, we were treated to a fantastic FIFA World Cup, as Costa Rica, Columbia, and Chile all proved to be pleasant surprises into the later stages. And of course, Brazil crashed out in a blaze of shame that will be hard to replicate. For the final itself, it was one of two giants; and while I myself may have shed a tear having to watch Argentina go down to Germany, I will admit that Die Mannschaft not only played an amazing game but also had a fantastic World Cup as well and deserved to win the World Cup.

By August, we had the excitement of the transfer window as Real Madrid, unsurprisingly, spent big for World Cup standouts James Rodrigiez, Toni Kroos, and Keylor Navas. While Barcelona invested in Luis Suarez, completing a dream move to Camp Nou, such a move came at the expense of Liverpool who despite the recent influx of cash has produced limited results. Though Liverpool failed in the transfer window, Arsenal and Chelsea won. While Arsenal foolishly passed up on Cesc Fabregas, they did pick up Alexis Sanchez. And at this point in the year, it is hard to argue if there has been a better signing in the Premier League. Though Chelsea would not go quietly, by buying Diego Costa, Felipe Luis and recalling Thibaut Courtois from Atletico Madrid, Chelsea has found themselves at the top of the table.

My pick for the best starting 11 for the 2014 calendar year.

However, the primary purpose here is to list a starting XI that I believe is the best in the world, and I will do my best to do so. It is important to realize how much it is a shame that soccer only allows for 11 starters because in the past 12 months there have been numerous players that deserve recognition.

A Decade of Dollars

BY MIKAEL WUBESHET | December 15, 2014

In baseball, there is a lot of money due to massive television deals and no salary cap. There are just endless ways for a team to spend big, by spending big I mean on players. In the last 5 years we have seen big money deals pop up everywhere—I should clarify, by big money I’m referring to the 8+ years deals that average more than $20 million a season. It’s very worrying to see money be spent all over the place because it could lead to the decline of a sport that is already suffering a loss in popularity. It seems that teams are willing to spend fortunes for big name stars often despite their age.

If we look at the sports around the world, baseball, by far, gives not only the largest but also the longest contracts by a wide margin. The unfortunate truth is that these big money deals don’t work out. Players just can’t reproduce the numbers they were deemed capable of producing, not because they lack the abilities but because these contracts are given when a player is in their prime, and I believe the contract has a psychological impact upon the players.

Despite a few fantastic seasons in Texas, A-Rod jumped ship to New York and did experience a period of success. However, he began to decline following the renewal of his initial 10-year contract in 2008.

A perfect example is the very first mega deal given by the Texas Rangers to Alex Rodriguez in 2001. It would pay Rodriguez $25.2 million over the next 10 years. Eventually, this payroll would be absorbed by the Yankees in 2003 when he was traded to New York, and New York would improve the deal to $27.5 million annually in 2008 that would keep him in the Bronx until 2017. Here comes the amazing part, after his deal was restructured in 2008, he never hit more than 35 home runs—he has his a combined 42 home runs in the past 3 years. Furthermore, he has yet to break .300 once despite having done so 8 times in his 13 seasons prior to 2009. While one could justify his initial contract of $25.2 million as he hit more than 35 home runs in every season after leaving Seattle and won 3 MVP Awards, the fact is, he has only won one World Series in New York and never took the Rangers to the playoffs. I don’t even need to state Alex Rodriguez’s present status as his voice is drowned by steroid allegations, making it remarkable that the Yankees even want him back following his year-long suspension. In the end, I really wonder if New York and Texas would give such money again; on the other hand, A-Rod’s failure has not stopped other teams from giving mega deals.

Despite being one of the premier 1st basemen of the 2000s, Albert Pujols saw a significant statistical decline after moving to Los Angeles in 2011.

A more recent example of a mega deal gone wrong is Albert Pujols. After 10 successful season in St. Louis that included 3 MVPs and two World Series wins in 2006 and 2011, Pujols was entering Cardinals folklore. During his spell, he had hit 30 home runs in every season, with the exception of his last when he hit 29, including a led-leading 51 in 2003. He batted above .300 in all but one season and had established himself as one of the premier first basemen in baseball. However in 2011, free agency came calling, and rather than staying in St. Louis to cement his legendary status, he opted to move to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I, myself, as a Mariners fan became very much worried as now Seattle would have to face one of the best hitters in baseball for at least 20 games in a given year. But, like Rodriguez, Pujols would see a decline in production; in his three years in LA, Pujols has hit .273, compared to the .323 he hit while in St. Louis. He hasn’t hit over 30 home runs and has not driven in more than 105 RBIs. We must note that Pujols went to LA as 32 year old, and still, the Angels sought to pay him $240 million over 10 years. The fact that teams are willing to pay such dollars for players at the pinnacle of their careers is simply insane. Sure $24-25 million must be paid annually to a big time player to attract him in free agency, but to make such a commitment for 10 years is nonsense. LA spent big on Pujols and have paid the price as they will have to fork out millions to a player in decline, and even worse, have halted the possibilities of producing a young talent, hence Mark Trumbo.

In all honesty, I could keep going on and on: Josh Hamilton has seen a decline in past years and Joe Mauer had a sharp decline in his batting production as well. To this we can add Mark Teixeira, and even Prince Fielder. It’s not that these players are experiencing their downfall, but I believe that the big dollar contracts have a serious psychological effect that hampers them from playing at the level that we are all used to. As of now, we have seen a new wave of big dollar contracts in Joey Votto, Mike Trout, Robinson Cano, and Giancarlo Stanton. In the end, time will tell how these contracts turn out; of course not all contracts are the same as Trout and Stanton signed to long term deals before hitting their primes.

While I don’t approve of these deals, I don’t know who to blame. I understand that teams want to attract big names to their teams, and why would a player say no to an enticing deal. But it’s the mindset that must be adjusted, especially in regards to age. All batters eventually stop producing their career numbers buy the time they are 34-35; therefore, to pay them into their 40s just seems to be a giant waste of money and time.