Research Columnists Sources

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-knicks/2012/2/24/2818865/the-new-york-week-that-was-the-jeremy-lin-dwight-howard-johan-santana-mariano-rivera-rick-nash


Jeff Freier, New York SB Nation.


Jeremy Lin has lost a couple games against the New Jersey Nets, and most recently the Miami Heat. The backlash of his rising fame has struck, which brings debate of his overall skills. Before the hype even began, there have been remarks of Lin not playing because he's Asian, and doesn't fit a coach's view as a strong player. Yet, after the hype went into full swing, the phrase now goes as "Jeremy Lin is good, because he's Asian." Racial remarks, intentional or accidental have now surfaced, since Lin has gotten the opportunity to take ball in hand, twenty plus shots, and be a rising star.

http://www.2facts.com/icof_story.aspx?PIN=i0900270&term=sports+race


Race In Sports - Issues and Controversies Database.


Race is referred to as a secondary factor in athleticism, bringing up the topic of affirmative action deciding everything. However, race has revealed achievements in Amerca's melting pot culture, especially sports. America's "Big Three" sports: Baseball, Football, Basketball, have become distinguished in diversity. Still, that doesn't stop racial barriers from appearing, especially where "submerged racism" exists, creating bias in the outlook of sports administrations, whether there are various minorities in the NBA, or too little Blacks in a coaching position

http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008101700&type=hitlist&num=3#Update

"Affirmative Action" by Peter Katel

Obama has been faced with the debate over affirmative action, with his daughters involved in the topic. For example, those being accepted to school, who ""overcame big odds to pursue education, should have those circumstances taken in account." Meaning, merits over immediate acceptance based on race should be taken account. However, affirmative action has at least allowed minorities to get ahead, but it created unfairness in balance.

Contemporary Issue #3 (Broader issues of sports and Linsanity)

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/12/2637146/rise-of-new-york-knicks-jeremy.html

DAN LE BATARD of the Miami herald talks about the rising reputation of Jeremy lin, whose background is puzzling  on how he became a rising star.

When looking at Jeremy Lin, the rising point guard of the Knicks, we see potential. Batard, however, focuses attention on where he comes from, and why is it that we see his prowess now? Batard states that basketball "scours the earth for granules of talent and doesn't often get fooled by packaging." Yet, why did it take so long for Lin to be noticed? No athletic scholarships, bounced around in the D-League, and spent mediocre time with the Warriors and Rockets, Batard says it's puzzling. It brings up topics of miracles, or profiling. With no one else scoring more in his first four starts than Lin, Batard focuses on the question on why did the Knicks coach, an "expert in point guards" and watched him everyday in practice, and put him when Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were out. Perhaps the NBA isn't capable of perusing the true talented individuals. Batard states "the experts doing the mining in sports are humans just as capable of bias and subconcious stereotyping." The so-called officials aren't so good at finding the talented then. The idea of underestimation rises.

Though this story revolves around sports, it contains good details of controversy, such as racial profiling, bias and underestimation of individuals. When we see an individual, ignored and counted out, succeeding, they soar above prejudice. It'd be fruitful to inform the public of successful underdogs and how the controversy of bias and prejudice is evident, but it's good to see people free from that bias

Contemporary Issue #2

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8728575847981411877

Myths about HPV Vaccine - Dawn Turner Trice

The myths about HPV, or genital warts, and the vaccine for it get linked in our society. It was even mentioned in Michelle Bachman's debate about "HPV linked to mental retardation." Trice implies a disease has a part in political affairs and debates. Trice also exemplifies the low interest in the HPV vaccine when other vaccines are put first, like meningitis or whooping cough. We see the division between a disease "we can see and treat", versus a disease we "can't see" and people don't tend to care. As such, Trice emphasizes the risk of women's welfare and the need for the vaccine. Trice also states that "morality mixed with public health" makes bad decisions. We don't expect people to be sexually active and have to be pre-vaccinated. Everyone needs to be cautious, regardless.

This topic is relevant because of the number of diseases troubling the public. Plus, there are complexities about the use of vaccines for rising diseases that can prove worthy of research. The subsequent research will help create a question of the efficiency of medicine and the effects it has on the public.

Contemporary Issues 1

Diving into news...the Chicago Bulls are 15-3.

Enough about that, this marking period, we're focusing on contemporary issues for research.

Let's start with an Economic topic, from columnist Paul Krugman of NY Times.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/opinion/krugman-is-our-economy-healing.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Krugman is starting his circle of hope and optimism for the healing economy. He states that the housing bust and excessive private debt is finally easing, given that America is underprovided by housing. However, Krugman says that even if we "squint" at the good data, all we hear about in debates is the rising government debt, which overshadows the hopeful evidence of the economy. Krugman then compares the U.S. economy to the European economy, and how they're too busy debating the morals of actions, not making any progress in resolving the problem. Finally,  Krugman shows a sense that things could've been worse if Obama's Republican opponent's goals were followed instead, such as "low interest rates and slashed federal spending."

With this story, there opens a door for further research of the background of the economy, from how the economy plummeted, and how that affected the U.S.' situation. Issues of how to better the economy arise, which can change opinions of others.

Column Synthesis - Third Six Weeks

From all four columns from Adrian Wojnarowski, the prevalent theme is the officials' dominance in the NBA.
The intensity of the commissioners' rule started off with the resolution of the NBA lockout. From that, subsequent trades being cancelled, and players not being able to get trade requests created an association with even tighter control.

Wojnarowski's columns and how they highlight the disparity of power between the players and officials and the pressure the players feel based on their decisions shows that the columnist views society as oppressive and that the officials have the final say in decisions. The best interests, even Dwight Howard's, are neglected by the officials. However, Wojanarowski shows that the ones being controlled won't stop until they have their request met.

Column Part 4

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_michael_jordan_nba_2011-12_season_122411

Dwight Howard, though still on the Orlando Magic, still expresses the want of a team trade.
Chicago is one of those teams, but the shoe game of Adidas already endorsing Derrick Rose would prevent Howard from joining the point guard in Chicago. Plus, with a star center and point guard together, the game may change entirely, which is similar to the O'Neal-Lakers trade, and more recently, with LeBron James moving to the Miami Heat. Yet, going back to the shoe competition, no player extends his shadow than Michael Jordan, who was endorsed by Nike, and showed that he could win, even by sticking with the Bulls through thick and thin. The NBA is a game of superstar contenders, with all the focus on them.

Position: To highlight the pressure of a player's decisions in the NBA, especially since the attention focuses on individual stars, and the decisions they make, with their team, endorsements, fans etc.

Techniques:
- references to Michael Jordan, and how he's the greatest in the NBA, and the top endorsement of Nike. "Michael Jordan is still the biggest shadow over the sport, still the relentless comparison for stars. For better and worse, he never goes away."
-identifies "loyalty" of franchise players, as a way of putting an example to players who want out of a team. "Derrick is too loyal to the guys he plays with to get involved with doing that,”

Column Part 3

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_dwight_howard_magic_nets_121411

-Trade talks about Dwight Howard ended, despite a proposal to trade Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace, Jordan Farmer, and a first round draft pick for Dwight Howard.

-Dwight Howard displayed personal interest in the trade, but the Magic ownership disapproved and "killed" the trade deal

-Teams tried to extend interest in Howard, especially the New Jersey Nets, where they tried to influence Howard to join Deron Williams and the Nets in the new stadium in Brooklyn, during the 2012-2013 season.

Writer's Position:  Supportive of players' personal and professional interests, despite the officials' dominance in all negotiations.

Examples of Officials with power:


"Magic ownership did not approve of the trade, and general manager Otis Smith then informed teams Howard had been removed from the market."


“Dwight’s not a happy camper,” one league source told Y! Sports


Howard has warned the Magic if they don’t move him by the March 15 trade deadline, they’ll lose him for nothing in free agency

The Columnist communicates his position by highlighting the player's dissatisfaction with the overwhemling control of owners in the NBA. With players like Dwight Howard retaliating with trade negotiations, we still see disputes of trade, even after the lockout settlement

Column Part Two

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_nba_chris_paul_trade_david_stern_veto_120911

-The three-team deal involving Houston, New Orleans, and the Los Angeles Lakers was vetoed by Commissioner Stern, creating conflict that shows the "emperor" side of the commissioner and the futility of the proposed rules set post-lockout

-Examples are shown of Stern's reduction of the NBA officials to rubble, where there is no reasoning with this man, even with his power tantrums. Stern deemed the Paul trade unacceptable because it was unacceptable for "basketball reasons," yet not all the officials have played basketball.

-New Orleans GM, Dell Demp, feels betrayed and humiliated. Being the GM of a team in New Orleans, facing hardship from Hurricane Katrina, never had a chance to keep Paul in the trade negotiation. Stern promised to let a "franchise make a plan, take a course of action, let them trade [Chris Paul] when they believe they have the best possible deal." Yet, Stern's veto shows no possibility for a franchise to have trades.