The Home Advantage Doesn’t Always Help; Sharks are 1-0 in series with Blackhawks

Game 1 of the much-anticipated round 3 against the Blackhawks did not go as planned for the Sharks. Even with the advantage of playing at home, San Jose lost 2-1 against Chicago.

By the end of the first period, the Sharks were feeling confident with their 1-0 lead, which occurred because of Jason Demers power play goal at 11:19. Maybe they were feeling too confident; the Blackhawks scored 1 goal in each of the following periods, and the goals were elementary and easily could have been stopped. However, these two goals, scored by Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien, let Chicago win the game.

This loss is not to say that San Jose did not have a strong offence. In fact, the Sharks led the Blackhawks 45-40 with shots on goal. However, this shows that though the Sharks were fierce offensively, they slacked in defense. Evgeni Nabokov let 2 of the 40 shots pass, while Chicago goalie Antti Niemi stopped 44 goals of 45 shots. The Sharks did not have any penalties in the game, while the Blackhawks had five penalties against them. The Blackhawks were much more powerful defensively, and this is why the Sharks only scored during one of their five power plays.

Game 2 of the series will take place on Tuesday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in San Jose. The Sharks hope to win this one at home before they are sent to Chicago to play in unfamiliar territory and possibly lose both games.

Sharks Will Play Blackhawks in Round 3

The Blackhawks defeated the Canucks Tuesday night with a score of 5-1, determining the Sharks’ next opponent. Beginning sometime this week, round 3 will begin in San Jose, where the Sharks will play the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Sharks should definitely prepare themselves for the challenge the Blackhawks will bring. In the last round, the Sharks played Detroit, who was in fifth place in the Western Conference by the end of the regular season. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, took second place in the Western Conference and third place in the entire league. Granted, the Sharks were first place in the Western Conference and second overall, but if the Red Wings were a challenge, then the Blackhawks will bring anxiety.

The Blackhawks have many players that keep their offense powerful. Patrick Cane was one such player, and had 88 total points with 30 goals during the regular season. Even though he is a leading scorer for the Blackhawks, the Sharks do have some key players as well. Joe Pavelski has scored 9 of the 33 playoffs goals, and rookie Logan Couture has impressed with 3 clean goals as well. The offense for both teams is excellent; strategy, agility and speed will be what determine whose is better.

Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov had a falling out during game 4 of the Detroit series and let 7 goals pass. However, both of the Sharks’ goalies have played well throughout the playoffs. Nabokov so far has a 90.7 saving percentage, and of the little time Thomas Greiss has played, he has a 92.9 saving percentage. The Blackhawks goaltender has a 91.2 saving percentage for the playoffs, showing that both teams have skilled goalies. San Jose defense will need to stay strong like this if they plan to advance to round 4.

No date has been given yet for game 1 of this round, but possibilities for the date include Friday, May 14 in San Jose.

Sharks Defeat Red Wings and Move on to Round 3

There can’t be anything better than winning the last game of a playoffs series at home. Fans and players were all smiles Saturday night, May 8, when the Sharks clenched the final needed victory to advance to round 3, leaving Detroit in the dust.

At the end of the first period, the score was tied at 0-0. The Sharks, however, were hungry for victory and led the Red Wings 15 shots on goal to 6. Clearly the Detroit coach gave a good locker room chat to the team, though, because the Red Wings made 14 shots on goal, while the Sharks only made 3. Even though Detroit picked up their offense, the score was tied 1-1 at the end of the period, with goals by Brian Rafalski for Detroit and Joe Thornton for San Jose. Former San Jose captain Patrick Marleau made the goal of the game during the third period at 6:59. This made the score 2-1 with approximately 13 minutes left in the game, but the Red Wings were not able to come back with a goal. At the end of regulation, the Sharks took the 2-1 victory with pride as they advance into round 3.

The Sharks are not yet sure who their next opponent will be, but it is down to two teams: the Chicago Blackhawks or the Vancouver Canucks. The Blackhawks currently lead the series 3-2, and the home-ice advantage that most players love seems to not apply to them. Their two largest victories were in Vancouver, with scores of 7-4 and 5-2. Their other victory in game 4 had a 4-2 lead. This does not go to say that Vancouver is not playing hard. Both of their victories seemed expected from the beginning of each game; in game 1, they took the lead with a final score of 4-1, and in game 5 they defeated the Blackhawks 5-1.

Every game between Chicago and Vancouver has had quite the number of goals, which can mean one of two things: poor defense or strong offense. It is most likely the latter because the goaltending on both teams has been strong. In game 5, The Canucks goalie, Robert Luongo, made 29 saves of the 30 shots put against him; Antti Niemi of the Blackhawks had 20 saves. Both teams are effective in both their offense and defense, and this is a new challenge San Jose will need to prepare for. Game 6 of the Chicago vs. Vancouver series will take place Tuesday, May 11 at 8:30 pm. Watch the game for a taste of what the Sharks will be up against in round 3.

Wake Up Call: Detroit Won Game 4; Series now 3-1 Sharks

Nabby had an off night. The defense was asleep. The offense did not play hard enough. In almost every aspect of hockey, the Sharks failed to be successful in game 4 against Detroit, resulting in the Red Wings winning the game 7-1.

The first period predicted the entire game’s result; by the end of the period the score was already 5-0 Detroit. Sharks fans were embarrassed by the end of the second period, with a score of 6-1. The only thing to be excited about was that the game was not a shutout. Many were too frustrated to watch the entire last period, and with good reason. The final score of the game was 7-1 Detroit.

Detroit had a couple of key figures that contributed to their success in this game. First, Johan Franzen scored four of the seven goals, and the first three were within approximately four minutes of each other. Also, goaltender Jimmy Howard played well. Of the 29 shots on goal made by the Sharks, only 1 got past him.

Sharks fans cannot help but wonder if goaltender Evgeni Nabokov will not start for game 5. In the first period alone, he let by five of the seven total goals for Detroit. Of the nine shots on goal the Red Wings had in the period, Nabokov only saved four of them. After the first period, the Sharks replaced Nabokov with Thomas Greiss, who made his playoffs debut. He played excellently compared to Nabokov; he made 26 saves while in net and the Red Wings only scored two goals on him. His save percentage was much higher than Nabokov’s, so it is possible that he will start in the next game.

This wake up call for the Sharks should help them realize that even though they only need to win one more game, the round is not over. Sharks fans hope that they will come back strong for the next game. Game 5 will take place in San Jose on Saturday, May 8, at 7 p.m.

Round 2: Sharks Lead Red Wings 3-0

The Detroit newspaper with an article titled “No need to panic; sturdy Wings likely to rebound vs. Sharks” was wrong in their prediction of game 3 against San Jose. With the magic score of 4-3, which has been the score of every game thus far, the Sharks yet again defeated the Red Wings on May 5.

The Sharks were behind the Red Wings the entire game, which was worrisome, due to the fact that the Sharks rarely win games against the Red Wings when playing in Detroit. By the end of the first period, the score was 2-1 Detroit, and by the end of the second, 3-1 Detroit. In the third period, however, the Sharks picked up the pace and won.

The change of pace happened when Joe Thornton brought the score to 3-2; this gave the Sharks more energy, and they were able to keep up the good pace. Logan Couture, Sharks’ rookie, scored at 13:17 and tied up the game. This goal was crucial and brought the teams into overtime. The game winner in overtime was scored by former captain, Patrick Marleau, at 7:07.

With the Sharks leading the series 3-0, Detroit can officially be worried. Only 2 teams in NHL history have come back from being behind 3-0 in a series. Sharks fans can keep their heads held high as game 4 takes place Thursday, May 6 at 4:30 pm. Detroit will have to work hard for a comeback, and the Sharks need to remember that such a comeback is possible.

French Revolution

Someone should have included a fair warning. Someone should have pulled them aside before they boarded the plane and irreversibly left. Someone should have broadcasted the information loud in clear in the simplest way so that even an eight-year-old would have understood. Someone should have said something. Surely, they deserved one.

But nobody did.

In some ways, no one can be blamed for neglecting to warn the French male exchange students. It is a perplexing situation they bring to our Pres community. Their presence guarantees hundreds of girls a cultural experience, but is it the right kind? It seems that if the Frenchies were to truly experience authentic Pres culture, they would see us in all our messy-haired, slipper-wearing, makeup-free glory.  But instead, our guests are met with clusters of preening girls in and out of the classrooms during the days they are here.

It’s pretty funny to watch.  Every year as winter starts to blend in spring, the unsuspecting male French students come to Pres. They come unaware of the revolution they will start. It starts before their first footsteps even fall upon the girls-only school grounds. Once the announcement that they, those celebrated male exchange students, are coming, the student body reacts as if someone has just announced that tomorrow will be an extra day off. An excited buzz electrifies conversations in the halls as students file out and go home. The topic is obvious: Do you know who’s hosting a guy this year? Do you think there’s going to be any cute ones? O-M-G, what should I wear?!

Some students will go home to iron and straighten those long ago softened pleats of their plaid skirts. Others will actually finish homework in time and sleep early as they set their alarms an extra fifteen to thirty minutes early. Carefully applied eyeshadow will be applied to hide those dark, baggy effects from the last minute cramming of integrals, anaphase and comma rules. Unruly hair that hasn’t met a hairbrush since Christmas will be tackled. Legs will be shaven for the first time since Black and White.  Rather than spontaneous and unconcerned attire, girls suddenly care.

After all, the day the French exchange students arrive will not be any ordinary day. No, out of 180 school days, the next day will be the first of five or so days when those of the male, teenage species can freely roam the halls. For the Pres student body, it is as much of a culture shock as it for our guests. The halls are forbidden territory for most of the teenage population with a Y chromosome.  Those brave souls who attempt to breach the borders of the foyer doors are usually politely shown the way back out. But, no, these French exchange boys will be met with not the exit door, but teachers asking for introductions as if they were a shadow. For the students, the fact that these boys are French adds a sweet flair like the addition of chocolate to an ordinary croissant. There is mystery! There is allure! And oh la la, they speak the language of love!

The causes of this one-week revolution of the Pres student body do not know that they are the cause, however. The male French exchange students innocently come wandering into our halls one not-so average morning. They see girls with shining brushed hair, ironed skirts, and shaved legs. For them, this is the average Pres girl. They have not seen what was before their arrival to know what average, pre-exchange-students Pres culture is truly like.  In the next few days, these unsuspecting boys will see the polished Pres girls as they slow down in the hallways to catch a glimpse of their male faces. There will be girls the boys have never met greeting them suddenly by name in the center during lunch. More girls they have never met will ask if they can take a picture with them.

So what’s the solution?  Could Mrs. Stampfl make the arrival of the French students a surprise?  Given that she has to arrange housing for all of them, probably not. Could the teachers be allowed to give detentions for excessive giggling or hair-tossing?  That seems pretty unlikely, too.

But what if Pres allowed more male teenagers – and American ones, not just French – into the Presentation culture? What if we didn’t freak out every time a guy stepped onto the front lawn?  What if, instead of showing them the door, we welcomed them and stopped treating them like potential threats to our chastity?  Constant exposure to the teenage male presence would lessen the dramatic reactions of male students on campus. Our palms could stop suspiciously getting damp. We could stop giggling hysterically when a male voice answers a question in class.

But since allowing boys on campus isn’t on the agenda, for now, all we have is our two weeks where French boys think that Pres girls are silly, pretty, flirtatious and empty-headed.  And isn’t that the kind of culture we should be fostering?

Let the French Revolution begin.

Oops, We Did It Again – Is History Repeating Itself?

It is said that history repeats itself, a cyclical pattern of fashion faux pas, bitter relationships, technological advancements and, oddly enough, the same mistakes. As we bid farewell to the years spanning 2000-2009, we are presented with the opportunity to analyze social, political and economic trends which shaped the decade. But it turns out that the past decade wasn’t all that unique. In recent years, we faced issues regarding global relations, budget balancing, financial stability and domestic policy, which leads us to ask: haven’t we been here before?

Currently, we are a society focused on “what’s hot and what’s not.” According to The Economist, the average child between the ages of 8 and 18 watches 270 minutes of TV each day. That is enough time to spoon feed the youth of our generation with a large dose of consumerism. Apparently the similar consumerism of the 1920’s and its aftermath weren’t enough to deter Americans from obsessing over the gratification of purchasing material goods. According to a San Francisco University statistical portrait, a total of $7 billion worth of product was purchased on credit during the year 1929. And guess what? CreditCards.com reported that 26.5 billion credit card transactions occurred in 2008, totaling $2.1 trillion. In the 1930s, such spending led to the Great Depression and has now led to our current economic crisis. According to Forbes Magazine, the United States faced, and still faces the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, leaving millions homeless and without access to sufficient food sources. Struggling, many Americans are apprehensive regarding the current state of affairs, surviving without access to health care or medical benefits.

Another worthy contribution to our crisis resulted from the globalization of our markets throughout the 90s, an expansive principle emphasized under the Clinton administration. Globalization led to diminishment of American made goods, products, and services. Large companies built factories overseas and outsourced jobs to developing or underdeveloped countries in order to benefit from cheap labor. This is a profitable option for your average penny pinching business tycoon. Who would have thought that men with such a large wallets would risk the dignity of an entire country for spare change? This has not only decreased the number of US exports, but aroused significant ethical and economic concerns. And you wonder why everything from toothpaste to pet food is tainted with toxic substances. That is, until you read the tag, “Made in China.”

Moreover, American greed reached an all time high when we engaged in a war with Iraq in order to secure oil reservoirs in the Middle East. In his memoir, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said, “I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil.” Sadly, we deemed Iraq dependent on our political ingenuity. This draws a distinctive parallel to the Vietnam War of the 70s where rich oil reserves were discovered. The Vietnam War, fought on the pretext of communist concerns in the region, entangled the United States in a messy, highly controversial debacle.

During the Bush Administration, it was disclosed that legislation had been written, aimed at allowing oil companies such as Exxon and Chevron to drill in natural wildlife regions in the Arctic. These desperate measures were similar in nature to those existing throughout the 1970’s as gas prices sky rocketed and stagflation plagued the nation. The price of oil nearly quadrupled from a mere 25 cents to over a dollar. It was a direct result of an oil embargo placed on the US by OPEC, following the country’s support of Israel. In perspective, times have really not changed, considering that the US is still pressured for oil resources and funding for alternative energy sources.

On a more positive note, Barack Obama’s presidency marked the climax and culmination of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Stuart Taylor Jr. of the National Journal wrote, “Obama embodies and preaches the true and vital message that in today’s America, the opportunities available to black people are unlimited if they work hard, play by the rules, and get a good education.” This historic moment marked the end to a nation segregated by racism and prejudice, and the birth of a nation embodied by diversity.

Our nation thrives on the cyclical nature of life. Each problem, accomplishment, or solution, teaches us about ourselves and the nature of our decisions. Who knows, maybe even poodle skirts will come back into style. After all, what’s in and what’s out is a question only time will tell.

Trend Report: February

For those who are looking forward to the new music of the year more than the toys, you are in luck. Several well-known artists have rung in the New Year with new albums. Nashville-based pop artist Ke$ha recently released her debut album Animal after her single “Tik Tok” topped the charts in five countries. Lady Gaga has also graced the music charts with her hit “Bad Romance,” the leading single from her newly released album The Fame Monster. With her second album out and raking in the Grammy nominations, Lady Gaga is continuing to climb the ladder of music industry success since she first stepped into the scene in 2005.

But let’s not forget about the Indie scene, which is home to popular groups like Vampire Weekend. The band members all met at Colombia University and began putting together their Congolese-style jams into a full-length album, debuting in 2008. The newest installment from the group, Contra, was released January 11 in the United States.

In terms of the fashion avenue, keep your eyes peeled for the latest spring trends that are going to be creeping into local retailers in the coming weeks. A popular trend in the fashion magazines is the shirt dress. This comfortable piece combines a button down T-shirt with the length of a short dress, providing both girly appeal and tomboy edginess. The shirt dress fits all shapes well, and Michelle Obama has even been seen sporting one recently while on vacation. Check out stores like The Limited and Ralph Lauren, who are already launching spring lines.

Not quite ready to start bringing out all your warm weather clothes again? Not to worry, because many stores are still in post-holiday sales, where plenty of winter clothes will not only be available but will be on sale! Macy’s, Kenneth Cole, French Connection, and Michael Kors are great places to go to find classy coats and jackets that are appropriate for a California girl’s idea of winter.

With the variety of new appliances, music, and fashion news to keep up with, it might come as a relief to know that one new trend might also ease some of the back pain that is so common among Pres due to lugging around backpacks jammed full of books. It is called the “Nook”, a compact digital book made by Barnes & Noble that allows owners to download books straight onto the device. The Nook is built with an E Ink display screen designed to protect the reader from the damaging effects of staring at a computer screen.

So what is the niftiest feature of this little gadget? Users can download novels, magazines, and newspapers at the Barnes & Noble online store or through AT&T cellular networks. As many as 700,000 selections are available, all of which can be shared with friends with the Nook’s “Lend Me” feature. Friends do not even have to be fellow Nook owners, as the Lend Me feature allows titles to be sent to iPhones, iPod Touches, BlackBerries or computers.

There are plenty of new items out this year, so keep your eyes peeled for these new trends!

2010 Winter Olympics

Every four years, it invades our lives. Sports and news commentators alike become focused on this singular event. Even comedian Stephen Colbert has gotten caught up in the frenzy, dedicating a segment of his show to talking about it.

It’s 2010, and the Winter Olympics are finally back.

The Winter Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver, encompass a variety of sports—from alpine skiing to figure skating to luge. It’s difficult to keep all the competitors straight, so here’s a list of the Team USA nominees for six of the sports at the Olympics.

Figure Skating

Figure skating is characterized by the complicated spins and jumps that contestants place in their routines. Both men and women can compete in the sport, performing both a short routine and a longer free skate on the ice to music of their choice, in one of four categories: men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs skating, and ice dancing.

Men’s singles

The United States has entered three competitors in the men’s division. Their best hope for the gold medal is Evan Lysacek, 24, an L.A. native who placed fourth at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Lysacek took the silver medal at the 2010 Nationals after winning the Grand Prix Final earlier in the season, but he is ranked as America’s top men’s singles skater—and second best men’s singles skater overall—by the International Skating Union.

Jeremy Abbott, 24, is also a face to watch, although he is a first-time Olympian. He was the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating champion in the men’s singles division, taking home the gold for the second year in a row. He is ranked fifth in the world in men’s singles skating, but his performance at nationals shows that he may be a strong contender for medals.

Lysacek and Abbott’s main competition is Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic, who is ranked first in the world by the ISU in his event. He took the European title in 2008, and he is also a six-time Czech national champion.

Women’s singles

This year, the United States has only two women’s singles slots, as they failed to achieve a high-enough combined ranking for three places at the 2009 World Championships, the first time this has happened since 1994. U.S. champion Rachael Flatt, 17, is America’s best shot at winning a gold medal, after Sasha Cohen’s performance at the 2010 Nationals failed to win her a spot on the Olympic team. A straight-A high school senior who has been skating since she was four years old, she is considered by the ISU to be the tenth best women’s singles skater in the world.

Her biggest competition is Yu-Na Kim of South Korea, who was the 2009 World Champion in women’s singles as well as the 2009 Grand Prix Final champion and the 2009 Four Continents champion. She is also ranked first in the world by the ISU.

Pairs skating

The United States has entered two pairs teams in the 2010 Olympics. The standout team consists of Caydee Denney, 16, and Jeremy Barrett, 25. Denney and Barret have been skating together only since June 2008, although they were paired up for a brief period in 2006. First-time Olympians, they won the gold medal in pairs skating at the 2010 Nationals, and they won silver at the 2009 Nationals. Denney and Barret are ranked twenty-seventh in the world in pairs skating by the ISU.

Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, the team ranked first in the world by the International Skating Union, will be their toughest competition.

Ice Dancing

Out of the United States’ three ice dancing teams, Tanith Belbin, 25, and Ben Agosto, 28, are the seasoned Olympians who may be the most likely to place in Vancouver. They placed silver in their first stunt in the Winter Olympics at the 2006 Torino Games, and they also took the silver medal at the 2010 Nationals. The ISU ranks them as the fourth-best ice dancing team in the world.

Meryl Davis, 23, and Charlie White, 22, are strong contenders as well. They were the team that came away with the gold medal from the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Although this is their first Olympic games, Davis and White are ranked second in the world by the ISU, making them the best-ranked American ice dancing team.

The top ISU-ranked team of Russia’s Oksana Domnina and Maxin Shabalin, however, may pose a real threat to the American ice dancing teams. They took gold at the 2009 Worlds, beating out Belbin and Agosto, who finished in second, and are three-time Russian National Championship winners.

Snowboarding

Of all the men on the U.S. snowboarding team, Shaun White, 23, is the top athlete and America’s best chance at a gold medal. After all, White won the gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He also won four U.S. Grand Prix events in halfpipe this season, which guaranteed his spot at the 2010 Olympics.

Of course, the women on the U.S. snowboarding team have some stand-out members as well. Hannah Teter, 23, won the gold at the 2006 Torino Winter Games in women’s halfpipe. She also won the 2004 X Games title and took bronze at the 2005 World Championships.

Gretchen Bleiler, 28, is also a second-time Olympian, having taken the silver medal in women’s halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Bleiler has produced her own snowboarding clothing line with Oakley and has helped produce an eco-friendly snowboard with the company K2.

Short-Track Speed Skating

In short-track speed skating, competitors race against each other to be the first to complete the course, which is made difficult by the sharp turns the ice skaters have to make. The top athletes in each heat advance to the next level, until only the final four skaters are left standing. Five men and five women were chosen to represent the United States on the short-track speed skating team.

Apollo Anton Ohno, 27, is the star on the men’s side of the team. He has won five Olympic medals at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics—including two gold medals. Ohno is considered to be the third-best short-track skater in the world, according to the International Skating Union.

Ohno’s greatest competitor at the Vancouver Olympics will most likely be Ho-Suk Lee, South Korea’s stand-out short-track star. Lee won three medals at the 2006 Olympics—two silver, one gold. Lee also won the overall title at the 2009 World Championships.

On the women’s team, the top competitors for the U.S. are Kimberly Derrick, 24, and Katherine Reutter, 21. Derrick is competing in her second Winter Olympics and is ranked fifth in the world overall. Reutter, who is a first-time Olympian, also holds the title of three-time national champion.

Meng Wang of China will likely be their greatest competition. Wang has three Olympic medals from 2006, and she has been considered the world’s best female short-track skater since that year. She won the overall World Cup in 2009 as well, and she will certainly pose a threat for Derrick and Reutter.

Alpine Skiing

If you fear heights, then alpine skiing is not for you. During alpine skiing, the athletes will reach a speed up to 180 kilometers an hour. They will also ski down a vertical drop in between 180-1100 meters for the men and 140-800 meters for the women. The skier must pass through a series of gates during the vertical drop. If the athlete misses the game, they must climb back up the hill and hit the missed gate if they would still like to be in the competition.

There are 31 skiers on the United States roster, 13 female and 18 male. The skiers were either placed on the A Team or the B Team. The two top women are Julia Mancuso, a 2006 Olympic champion and Lindsey Vonn, a two-time World Cup champion.

The two top males include, Erik Fisher, a first-time A Team Olympian for the United States and Tim Jitloff, a three-time national champion and a first time Olympian

Luge

In luge, once the athletes push out of the start on their open fiberglass sleds, they use their legs and shoulders to steer and sit up to break. The singles consists of four competitions over two days. The athlete with the lowest time over the course of these two days (four runs) will be the winner. The doubles consist of two competitions over one day.

The roster for the American luge team was announced on December 18. There are ten competitors this year, seven male and three female. The top double-team is Mark Grimmette who doubles with Brian Martin. They have won six World Champions and two Olympic titles and three overall World Cup titles.

On February 12, 2010, the Olympic torch will be lit. Let the games begin.