Monthly Archives: October 2018

Life of a Brave: Nnamdi Chugbo Breaks the Mold

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by RJ Johnson

Traditionally, the Brave of the Issue has been awarded to exceptional Bosco athletes and scholars, such as Jaiden Woodbey and Colby Bowman. However, even these illustrious awardees haven’t achieved some of what class of 2019 senior Nnamdi Chugbo has in his own time at St. John Bosco.

On December 24, 2017, Nnamdi launched his clothing brand ‘Saint’ with the release of his “The World is Yours” t-shirt. His inspiration behind  “The World is Yours” design came from his feelings toward life.

Nnamdi has always grown up not only believing, but knowing that he was destined for more in life than just traditional standards in which to conform.

If he was going to reach his desired point of success, it would be through an alternate route. A route that many of today’s youth are discouraged from taking because of how easy it would be to fail, which Nnamdi has no fear of doing.

“I’m really not meant to be average,” Nnamdi said.

Nnamdi’s freshman year on St. John Bosco’s campus, he began to realize that he didn’t like school as much as he thought he did.

“I began noticing I wasn’t into school a lot, I would get good grades and do my work, but it was never truly something I wanted to continue or had a passion for,” he said.

Nnamdi sometimes struggles to relay this message to his family members, especially since Nnamdi has seen how far school took them. Without educational success, it’s safe to say Nnamdi’s family would still be living in Nigeria without ever having the treasured opportunity of emigrating to the United States.

Although Nnamdi sometimes feels apprehensive about expressing his creative goals, he drew inspiration from the place he least expected it–in school–in the form of Bosco’s assistant basketball coach and AP English teacher Mr. Michael Bartelt.

“Coach Bartelt has been a great figure to me because of how expressive and artistic he is with his teaching style, also while finding a way to relate to his students,” Nnamdi said.

According to Nnamdi, he appreciates Mr. Bartelt’s lack of inhibition in being “out of the ordinary.” This alone made it easier for Nnamdi to grow closer to Mr. Bartelt on and off the court.

Another place Nnamdi drew inspiration from was the music industry. Being a huge fan of the artist Tyler, the Creator and his collective Odd Future.

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“I liked their music a lot, but their sense of fashion along with the way they carried themselves really inspired me,” he said.

This gave Nnamdi the idea to start learning how to draw and concept some of his own fashion designs. Whenever he had the time in class or at home, he took the time to do whatever he could in his notebook.

Eventually with the feedback he was getting for his designs, and the fire burning inside him to showcase his talent, his first clothing release came December 1, 2017 during his junior year.

With this release, Nnamdi’s buzz and fanbase began to grow with the heart of it all being in the Cerritos area, which is also Nnamdi’s hometown. His brand began to expand into the schools in that area, like Gahr, Artesia and Cerritos High Schools.

The Bosco student body has always backed Nnamdi’s brand by wearing it, and posting any Saint t-shirts and hoodies that they buy.

“I feel like social media is a big part of everything bro, because nowadays everyone has an Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat and I even have my own website now which is saintmob.com,” Nnamdi said.

He credits a lot of his success to social media, allowing his clothing to not only be sold locally but with getting out of state purchases ranging as far as Germany.

With it being Nnamdi’s last year in high school, he can’t wait to tackle the real world in front of him. He hopes to gain plenty of internships within his business major and network with people who can get him contact with higher ups in the fashion industry.

“Other than the school aspect, going out into the world by myself, meeting more people in the world and making my own connections will be extremely important for my brand and is going to really help skyrocket Saint’s growth and sales,” he said.

Nnamdi has made it a serious point in his life to never be complacent where he’s at. He wants not only his brand but himself to continuously evolve. He believes that this is because of the hunger he has for his form of success.

“When I do something new, it is only cool to me for a few days. My main focus is to keep pushing and get better at the things I do,” Nnamdi said.

Keeping himself happy and making those around him proud is what matters the most to Nnamdi.

For those of you Braves who may have similar aspirations to Nnamdi, here’s his best advice to you: “If you are planning to do something, then do it. Don’t hesitate, we only have one life and you have to do what you have to do. If something makes you happy, don’t let others opinions get to you. No one else can make you happy except yourself.”

Sports: “Just Do It” Campaign a Movement

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by Nikolas Molina and Elliston Ospina

Nike’s 30th anniversary of the ‘Just Do it’ campaign sparked a lot of controversy concerning their newest poster boy, Colin Kaepernick, who himself is a flashpoint of political division in an America more polarized than ever.

“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything,”

This quote was used for their new advertisement with a picture of Colin Kaepernick’s face in the background. People are complaining that he has not sacrificed anything compared to other football players–players like Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to sacrifice his life in the U.S. armed forces.

On the other hand, others support Nike in their controversial campaign.

Nike, who has long been the subject of ethical criticism for their outsourcing strategy, is finally throwing their hat in the the ring of social justice, showing their point of view on the the racial injustices in the United States.

Where most companies would’ve tended to stay away from politics and race relations, Nike showed their firm stance on the subject. 

Kaepernick tweeted the full ad on wednesday. The video is a compilation of athletes who have to overcome obstacles to become the best in their sport. Towards the end of the video it shows Kaepernick in the middle of a city and he states, “Don’t ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they’re crazy enough.”

After the ad was released people immediately posted pictures and videos of Nike products being burned, Nike’s logo being cut out and people stating they will no longer be purchasing products from Nike and will take their commitment from Nike to other companies such as Adidas, Reebok, and Converse (even though Nike owns converse).

After these pictures and videos were released people started comparing Kaepernick to other athletes and posting memes about this ad, with many on social media saying, “Just Don’t” 

Kaepernick set in motion his controversial  political legacy with kneeling during the national anthem. People were outraged arguing that he is disrespecting our fallen soldiers. He compared his kneeling to those soldiers kneeling by graves of fallen comrades. Except, he’s kneeling for those victims of social injustice.

People argue that Colin is not fit to be the face of Nike, saying he did not do anything compared to the actions of someone like Pat Tillman, a former safety for the Arizona Cardinals who left the league to join the forces and lost his life in a friendly fire incident. People are saying all he did was protest police-brutality by kneeling.

On the other hand, there are those who are frustrated by all the publicity something like this is getting. Something that was a real eye opener was a tweet by an unknown account saying, “Imagine a country where a shoe ad is more controversial than a school shooting”

The American people care more about materialistic issues caused by an ad campaign by greedy shoe company than they do about the issues that corporation’s ad claims to reflect. This shows how distorted our societal views are these days. People give more time to something so minute compared to real world problems.

When the ad came out people expected the stock and the sales to plummet. But Nike surprised everyone when their sales increased by a whopping 31%. People all over social media recorded videos of Nike products burning, getting thrown away, and hashtagging #BoycottNike all over social media. All of the actions trying to protest Nikes new campaign were pointless, as they did not affect Nike’s income negatively whatsoever.

Nike has made a ton of social statements through their ‘Just Do It’ campaign, beginning  in 1988 when they addressed ageism featuring 80-year-old Walter Stack. Stack was a cross country runner who ran more than 62,000 miles over his life. Another a year later, the company advocated for people with disabilities starring Paralympian Craig Blanchette.

More famously, in 1993, an ad with Charles Barkley sparked a conversation about whether celebrities and professional athletes should be held to higher standards.

“I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court,” stated Barkley.

In 1995 a “Just Do It” ad featured openly gay, HIV-positive runner Ric Munoz. AIDS activists applauded Nike for the campaign.

Nike tackled gender issues with its “If You Let Me Play” ad, which addressed the issue of organized sports for girls. The ad featured young girls quoting statistics about how sports can improve their lives.

In 2007, Nike featured Matt Scott of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association in a “Just Do It” ad.

Nike touched on gender issues again in 2012 with its “Voices” ad, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Title IX.

Nike’s 2017 “Equality” campaign featured black athletes like LeBron James, Serena Williams, Gabby Douglas, and Kevin Durant, along with actor Michael B. Jordan talking of the parallels between equality in sports and equality in the broader world.

Nike also released the “What Will They Say About You?” ad in 2017, which featured five Middle Eastern women pushing social norms to succeed in sports like boxing and skateboarding.

In short, Nike has had a history of politically conscious ads, and the track record of these ads, regardless of Nike’s other business practices, proves they’ve come out on the right side of history time and time again. Will the same be true of Kaepernick?

People should worry less about answering that question and more about the pressing national issues at hand, which continue to breed deep-seated division.

Bosco: Long Hair Not Cutting It

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by Joshua Lucero 

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As cliche as it sounds, many students believe their hair can be an important way to express their inner selves and their culture.

On August 21st, sixth grader Faith Fennidy arrived to school at Christ the King Parish School in Terrytown, Louisiana and received a notice about being in violation of dress code. The Archdiocese of New Orleans stated she was not expelled, but rather “withdrawn” from Christ the King. But what school administration didn’t bargain that day was this being the beginning of a problem for the school’s haircut policy.

Faith and her family were sidetracked and shaken by the news. Faith left her campus in tears after her natural hair didn’t meet her school’s standards. However, this was not the first time Faith received notice regarding her hair being in violation of dress code.

The first day of school Faith received a letter stating she must change her hairstyle to conform to the school’s policy. The first time her parents took her to change her hairstyle. But after receiving second notice of her violation, Faith’s parents were surprised at the suddenly harsher repercussions.  

In today’s society, we are taught to reform social standards for the betterment of all in order for us to become all we can be as individuals. Creating this sense of individualism can be difficult when students feel restricted in the expression of their culture.

Saint John Bosco has created a school community with excellent unity, openness and understanding. Unlike Christ the King Parish School, Bosco’s administration is open-minded about their policies.

When violations arise in dress code, students here are given an opportunity to correct them before facing punishment. But while the rules at Bosco are clear and known, many of us adhere don’t adhere these rules, creating at times an unneeded tension within the rules and the student community.

As cliche as it sounds, many students believe their hair can be an important way to express their inner selves and their culture.

“As a black youth growing up in a non-black environment, I feel as if my hair is one of the very few ways I can express my culture,” said junior Elijah McCray.

Through his hair, McCray is able to express his culture and who he is. This major conflict is something that he and many others are trying to bring to light. Some students of color feel they are trying to be molded into this “cookie-cutter” of a person when they do not fit the neatly into the descriptions outlined in the school’s policy.

Other students have expressed no problem with the school’s haircut policy. The caveat, however, is that many of these students wear their hair over the three-inch limit stipulated in the policy. They don’t have a problem because they aren’t being held accountable to the rules that are supposed to govern all students.

I’m a living example of the contradictions present in the enforcement of school’s current policy. My hair well-exceeds the three-inch limit, but because of my Latino descent, my straight, thick hair looks up to policy. One month into school and eight inches later, I haven’t been held accountable for my long hair since I served as a “big brother” at the freshman orientation in August.

For others, like McCray, who have curlier hair due to their ethnic background, it’s harder to fly under the dean’s radar.

This is no fault of the administration and certainly does not reflect purposely targeting certain students. Simply, it is not possible to catch every student in Saint John Bosco with hair over three inches. While many students do keep their hair cut within the rules, in other cases, students can break the “three-inch rule” but still present themselves as “well-groomed” and “professional.”

“Coming to Bosco, the hair policy is understandable,” said junior Ryan Jones, a participant in the Biomedical Pathway and member of Bosco’s performing arts program. “But in order to succeed in today’s society we should, as Braves, be able to express our individuality. Our hair can be a symbol of who we are.”

Jones, one of many who feels this policy can be revised for the better, believes if students stand together with the administration, they can impact more a culturally inclusive policy regarding hairstyles and show that Bosco is not like other private schools who have simply stuck to the book without adapting to ongoing social and cultural changes.  

Junior Brad Dominguez, another excellent student who is in the Biomedical Pathway, feels as if the haircuts are “fair game.” He expressed more concern with the the rules surrounding facial hair in particular.

“Students who shave on Monday and see that their beards grow back within two days should be able to have some leeway,” said Dominguez.

It makes sense for students like Dominguez, who have demanding academic and extracurricular schedules, to be granted some extra time to shave when they might not find the time to do so on a daily basis.

Students are not the only people at this school who believe the hair restriction can be changed for the better.

Mr. Mario Cordero, a well respected history teacher at Saint John Bosco, believes that the hair policy can be altered and justified by the way we present ourselves.

“I see hair that is out of compliance by students, but they take pride in their hair,” Mr. Cordero said, who himself has worn his hair long and is in favor for a revised policy.

That said, he understands that a Bosco Man must know proper etiquette and discipline. This is where he draws the line, as he is ultimately in support of the well-mannered and well-groomed Brave, conceding that hair can be outside of official policy while still being considered “well-groomed.”

Vice Principal of Student Affairs Mr. Adan Jaramillo understands where his students are coming from when talking about this issue. Being a former Bosco Brave, he has experienced everything we have.

Looking at the diversity of our school, Mr. Jaramillo understands that many students do have hair that looks longer because of their ethnic background and they can’t help it.

Mr. Jaramillo and other administrative members are looking through the current policies and considering amendments to those that may be culturally outdated.

He says rather than the handbook’s stipulation that students must have no facial hair and hair under three inches, we could potentially change to hair and facial hair that is simply “neatly groomed and presentable.”

How our community determines the definitions of “neat” and “presentable” remains unclear, but the issue certainly garnered attention at the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Bosco: New Bell Schedule Coming Soon?

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by Joshua Adoh and Ethan Piechota

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Talk of switching to a permanent block schedule at St. John Bosco High School is a hot topic, and the general feel among students and faculty is that the school is ready to make this change.

“It’s a community decision, and if you talk to some teachers they’re ready to go now, but I would like to move slower because this is something that affects everyone,” school principal Dr. De Larkin said.

Dr. De Larkin is in no rush to implement this potential schedule change and looks to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“This is something that affects not only teachers but affects students, parents, after school-programs, before school-programs, dismissal times and more,” De Larkin said.

Once all the logistics are settled, the school administration looks to implement the new permanent block schedule as early as January.

There are many positive changes that come with this proposed change. Two benefits are potential late starts once a week for all students, which better accompanies the way students learn at this age.

“[Benefits of late start] are that kids can sleep in and have a later start to their day, and studies say that teenagers can better function later in the day,” said Mr. Salmingo.

Late starts not only help students but also the faculty, as with late starts teachers can hold more faculty meetings to help share ideas on benefiting the school community.

Students are currently in high praise of the block schedule, as it is most of the time easier to manage for them. Less classes and less teachers to see per day is a plus for most students.

“I could see less stress because you don’t have to worry about going to all seven classes every day and always get to learn the max amount of content in that hour and a half you have. It would be a lot easier for us students to manage,” said senior Parker Gray.

The new schedule also provides more opportunity for office hours in the afternoon. Senior Daniel Munoz shared that he would enjoy the extra time in the afternoon with consistent 2 p.m. dismissal.

“[After school] we could have more time to focus on our studies or have more time to focus on a particular class. I see it really benefiting us overall,” said Munoz.

However, some students do still see benefits in sticking with the regular schedule that is already enforced daily.

“With the community at Bosco mostly composed of athletes, [those athletes] are going to be missing a lot more meetings, homework, tests, quizzes and assessments using an everyday block schedule,” said junior ASB member Nate Quigg.

With everyday block periods enforced and more one-on-one time from teachers to students, missing class periods can become crucial, especially for athletes with other obligations.

However, teachers are still primarily benefited and are better fit to stay consistent with a potential block schedule in place.

Benefits for teachers include getting more instructional time to teach their material, even despite seeing students less times during the school week.

“In science classes you can have lecture and a lab without having to space it out, because 45 minutes is such a little amount of time to be able to accomplish everything,” said science teacher Mrs. Michele Dolphin.

Mrs. Dolphin is a science teacher on campus but also a parent to two current Bosco seniors, so she has a perspective on the situation from both sides.

“As a teacher, it would allow me to have more time to teach each thing without having to rush through, and as a parent its beneficial because it allows [the students] to absorb information and get through more content,” says Mrs. Dolphin.

History teacher Mr. Mario Cordero also agreed that he wouldn’t be opposed to seeing a change, even though he does like the current tumbling schedule.

“You can get into a lot of topics and cover them in great depth [in a block period]… in final analysis I would say [the change] is a good thing,” said Cordero.

Teachers have also been trained in professional development sessions to prepare and become accustomed to these proposed schedule changes.

“We have met both formally as a faculty and in focus groups to discuss the bell schedule. We looked at the pros and cons and decided that there was more to [this proposed bell schedule] that worked than didn’t work,” said Mr. Linares.

So the question remains: Is change coming?

The supposed “finalized” new block schedule was posted on the school’s website for a majority of the summer only to be removed and replaced with the current schedule in the days leading up the the school year’s start.

The general feel around the campus here at St. John Bosco High School is that administration, teachers and students are ready and willing to accept change.

The final decision will ultimately be made by Dr. De Larkin in cooperation with his administrative team, taking into account all the stakeholders involved–student, parents, teachers as well as coaches and other faculty members that coordinate extracurricular activities.

RECAP: St. John Bosco 41, Mater Dei 18

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by Ethan Piechota

The St. John Bosco Braves defeated the Mater Dei Monarchs 41-18 last night at the Santa Ana Bowl, making it clear to everyone who the top team in the nation is for high school football.

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Jake Bailey celebrates one of his three touchdown catches on the night. Credit // EC Sabin

If there was any dispute over who’s the clear number one team in America, it’s now settled.

It was a total beatdown from start to finish from the Braves, clearly outplaying the Monarchs in all three phases of the game.

Mater Dei’s weak pass defense was no match for Bosco five-star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who went 15/21 for 278 yards and FIVE touchdowns. Uiagalelei made it clear who was the best quarterback on the field last night, and maybe even in high school football.

Bosco’s offensive line came in and kept him clean as well, doing an excellent job of containing defensive end Bru McCoy amongst others.

The Braves started the game with a perfectly-executed, balanced drive that culminated with Uiagalelei throwing a 10-yard touchdown strike to star senior receiver Jake Bailey. Bailey was a star on the night for the Braves, catching six passes for 161 yards and THREE touchdowns (offer that man please).

Mater Dei would answer back on the next drive, with McCoy catching a screen pass for 39 yards and quarterback Bryce Young scrambling for 48 yards to set the Monarchs up at the 5-yard line. However, Bosco’s defense made a great goal line stand, ending with defensive back Kourt Williams II sacking Young to force Mater Dei into a field goal try.

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Williams sacks Young. Credit // EC Sabin

Right away, the Braves high-powered offense answered back, as Uiagalelei threw a 24-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kris Hutson, giving the Braves a 13-3 lead after a missed extra point.

Still in the first quarter, Young drove his team down the field and threw a 8-yard touchdown pass to McCoy, trimming Bosco’s lead to 13-10.

But this was the last time Mater Dei’s supposed highly-skilled offense would be heard from, as Bosco’s defense shut down Young and company for the rest of the half, and really, until the fourth quarter.

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Bailey with his third touchdown catch on the night. Credit // EC Sabin

Uiagalelei threw touchdowns on back-to-back drives to Bailey and star running back George Holani, as Bosco took a 27-10 lead into halftime.

 

Both teams drew a standstill for the third quarter, but Holani opened up the fourth with an electrifying 75-yard run, something we’ve seen so often from him this year. He finished the game with 12 carries for 118 yards, matching his 9.8 yards per carry average on the season.

In a final effort, Mater Dei put together a touchdown drive with a Young pass to tight end Mike Martinez for a 20-yard touchdown, and a following two-point conversion to him.

But from there, Bosco capped off the night with a Uiagalelei touchdown strike to Jake Bailey again for 30 yards, increasing their lead to 41-18.

Bosco would hold on to win the game 41-18 as well, proving to everyone who the number one team in the nation is. Head coach Jason Negro’s record is now 8-4 all-time against Mater Dei since his arrival at Bosco.

“I thought we did a great job tackling in space,” Negro said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “The mentality of this football team is next level.”

The Tribe showed out as well last night, providing an excellent boost from the sidelines all night with constant cheers and noise towards the Mater Dei players.

The Braves continue their national championship quest next Friday, taking on Santa Margarita in an away game.

St. John Bosco @ Mater Dei Postponed

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by Ethan Piechota

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The Santa Ana Bowl showered with rain, thunder and lightning just minutes before kickoff.

The St. John Bosco Braves will take on the Mater Dei Monarchs tonight at Santa Ana Stadium after last night’s scheduled game was canceled due to lightning and thunder in the area.

How long has it been since California even got that much thunder and lightning? How long has it been since that much rain poured down?

It feels almost wrong that a game so highly-anticipated has to be pushed back and waited for another day. But the game will happen.DpW4BcoU4AE7nRc.jpg

The Tribe and student section on Bosco’s side was 100 percent ready last night, with energy through the storm that was contagious amongst the Bosco side of the stadium. The Tribe needs to bring back that same energy tonight on Saturday night.

All fans tickets will be honored for tonight’s game, as long as the ticket from yesterday is presented at the front gate. Tonight at 7 PM, the Braves will take on Mater Dei in the game of the year, again at the Santa Ana Bowl.

Cancel your previous plans. Come out and support. It’s Saturday night, and this game between high-profile college recruits will have the feel of a real college football game.

There’s a long time before tonight’s game, so in the meantime, go ahead and read our preview of the Super Bowl of High School Football that will happen tonight.

Bring your jackets and umbrellas just incase. Go Braves.

Sports: NLCS Preview (2018)

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by Enrique Gutierrez

The Milwaukee Brewers dominated the Colorado Rockies in a quick three-game sweep, clinching a spot in the NLCS to go against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who come off a four-game series victory against Atlanta Braves.

Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee continues their hot stretch as they bring the regular season momentum into the postseason with an 11-game win streak. After Milwaukee won the NL Central tiebreaker, they faced the Colorado Rockies in the Division Series. The Brewers swept the Rockies as they held Colorado to two runs in three games. Rocktober did not last for long as their offense stayed quiet. 

The Milwaukee Brewers have been a team that has been slept on for majority of the season due to the popularity of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Milwaukee began their year acquiring outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich, bolstering their offense. It wasn’t until the trade deadline when the Brewers became relevant once again. At the trade deadline, Milwaukee traded for second baseman Jonathan Schoop, starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez, reliever Joakim Soria, and third baseman Mike Moustakas. The Brewers traded their prospects in 2018 to achieve their goal to be a contending team and potentially win the World Series. 

162 games later culminated with a Divisional Series win against the Colorado Rockies, with Milwaukee now moving onto play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Milwaukee and Los Angeles have announced the NLCS starters which go: Game 1- Gio Gonzalez vs Clayton Kershaw, Game 2 – Wade Miley vs Hyun-Jin Ryu, Game 3 – Jhoulys Chacin vs Walker Buehler. Rich Hill is expected to start Game 4 for the Dodgers, but Milwaukee has not yet decided on their starter.

A major strength for the Milwaukee Brewers has been their pitching staff. Brewers starting pitchers have been perfect thus far in the postseason, not allowing a single run. The Brewers bullpen has been lights out. With studs Josh Hader, Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel, Milwaukee’s bullpen has been the best bullpen in the National League in 2018. The Brewers bullpen has been the most consistent throughout the major leagues.

Besides pitching, Milwaukee has been incredible offensively as they acquired many key bats in the 2018 season. One major key player has been outfielder Christian Yelich. Christian Yelich was traded from the Marlins and  now leads the NL in Batting Average, Slugging Percentage, and On-Base-Slugging. Yelich was just shy of winning the first triple crown trophy since Miguel Cabrera in 2012, and is a favorite for NL MVP honors this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers

It seems like the Dodgers have been playing October baseball in the month of September. The Dodgers were fighting for a NL West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies for the entire season. The NL West was a horse race until the final week, where Arizona fell off and Colorado stayed alive pushing towards a game 163 to decide who wins the west. LA won that game and won the NL West for the sixth consecutive year. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves in the Division Series. The Dodgers-Braves series was a four game series with the Dodgers relying heavily on the long ball. The Dodgers led the National League in homeruns and came in second overall in both leagues. Some key players of the series were Max Muncy, Manny Machado, and Justin Turner.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were expected to be the same team they were the year before. The Dodgers were one game off of winning the World Series against the Astros. 2018 was a rough start for the Dodgers as they lost Corey Seager for the entire year, Justin Turner injured for half of the season, and Clayton Kershaw being on and off the disabled list for majority of the season. The Dodgers fixed their issues during the trade deadline and traded for Shortstop Manny Machado, first baseman David Freese, and second baseman Brian Dozier.

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff has excelled without their ace Clayton Kershaw for most of the year. Someone who has stepped up to the mound and stood out to his peers, Walker Buehler has been lights out since the All Star break in the regular season. In the month of September, Buehler held the best pitching stats in baseball concluding the year off right. 

In the Atalanta vs Dodger series, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw exceeded expectations. Both of them pitched outstanding and kept Atlanta shut out. The offense erupted in Los Angeles as the Dodgers scored most runs on homeruns. Some notable hitters of the series were Max Muncy, Manny Machado, Joc Pederson, and Justin Turner.

NLCS Matchups

162 games later and a Division Series win from Milwaukee and Los Angeles, they will compete in the National League Championship Series. Milwaukee and Los Angeles announced the NLCS starters which go: Game 1- Gio Gonzalez vs Clayton Kershaw, Game 2 – Wade Miley vs Hyun-Jin Ryu, Game 3 – Jhoulys Chacin vs Walker Buehler, and Game 4 Milwaukee has yet to decide and LA is having Rich Hill pitch. The Los Angeles Dodger starters are very left handed heavy compared to Milwaukee as they have much diversity in the starting rotation. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers batting order consist of many platoon players. Dave Roberts changes the lineup depending if there is a lefty or right handed pitcher playing that game. If there is a lefty on the mound, Roberts will stack a right handed lineup and if there is a righty on the mound, Roberts will stack a left handed lineup. 

The Milwaukee Brewers tend to have the same lineup no matter who the opposing pitcher is. Craig Counsell’s lineup consist of the same players day in and day out. Players that must be in the lineup are Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich, and Jesus Aguilar. The three of these players had an outstanding 2018 and Counsell will keep them in as long as they’re performing well.

Predicted Results

This series will be a nailbiter and have the fans at the edge of their seats. The Dodgers offense hit many home runs and can produce when there are runners in scoring position. The Brewers have an amazing bullpen and a great lineup. What will lead these two teams to success would be scoring first and attacking the starters. Both of these teams are equally good and the series will most likely be extended to a Game 6 or Game 7. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers were just one win off of the World Series in 2017 and most of their roster remains in tact. Most of the Dodger roster knows how to play under stress and being in the heat of the moment. The Milwaukee Brewers surprised everyone this season by being a contender and winning the NL Central. Besides Lorenzo Cain and Ryan Braun, the Brewers roster lacks of playoff experience. With a shot at the winning the National League Championship and a World Series ticket, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain favorites to win and return the the big stage. 

PREVIEW: St. John Bosco @ Mater Dei: The Super Bowl of High School Football

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by Ethan Piechota

The undefeated and top-ranked St. John Bosco Braves will take on their storied rival, the Mater Dei Monarchs today in the high school football game of the year at the Santa Ana Bowl.

If there was ever a time for the Bosco community to be more connected and unified together with one goal and one purpose, it’s now.

How much more could you want? The top two teams in the nation go at it tonight, on live TV, with every scout in the country watching and a host of top players and recruits on display.

DJ Uiagalelei. Bryce Young. Two pairs of five-star quarterbacks that can pretty much go anywhere in America for their college career.

Chris Steele. Bru McCoy. Arguably the best cornerback and best wide receiver in California going at it all night.

The Tribe. The… does their student section even have a name?

The color red should be illegal in all forms on Bosco’s campus today. This game is pretty clearly one of the biggest games in Bosco’s long history, just based off the circumstances and both teams’ success up to this point in the season.

The Braves will need to start fast on offense again, which they’ll done well all year. Uiagalelei and his receivers have had great chemistry all year, and being able to find guys like Kris Hutson, Jude Wolfe, Colby Bowman, and Jake Bailey will be key early in the game.

Braves running back George Holani has been playing at an insane level in recent weeks, recently committing to Boise State on a full-ride scholarship in the process. Holani has rushed for 9.8 yards per carry this season and a whopping eleven touchdowns already, showcasing his ability as a true workhorse halfback.

Uiagalelei has also been unstoppable this season as a passer, completing 102/137 (!!!) of his passes this year for 1535 yards and 23 touchdowns. Not to mention, Uiagalelei has only thrown one interception this season as well.

It’s time for Brave Nation to stand up. The top defense in the nation of the Braves and the high-powered offense that has consistently shown up every week needs to now show up on the biggest stage tonight. Go Braves.

Life Of A Brave: Test-Taking Advice

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by Na’im Rodman

It’s that time of year again, and by time of year, I mean Midterms. This time of year can be very stressful especially for athletes that are being checked for eligibility or just for students that want to get their grades right heading into the second half of the semester.

This is the time of the year where you want to establish habits that will be successful during Finals Week in December. Tests can be dreadful for some students who are not the best test takers, struggle in their study skills and preparation, or don’t have all the best grades going into the tests. So here’s some advice on how to prepare for and ace your exams in the future!

1. Just because the teacher gave you a study guide, doesn’t mean that everything on there is going to be on the test. Make sure you go over as much as you can because you can never be too safe. In other words, never do the bare minimum because that can set you up for failure. Teachers at Bosco expect students to be diligent in their studying and go all out for the A grade.

2. Take advantage of your free time and study every opportunity you get, whether it’s during lunch or reading some flash cards in the hallway while you’re on your way to class. For athletes their study schedules can be a bit more strict due to practice, so they have to take advantage of their free time, whether it’s at lunch, break or before or after practice.

3. That said, I don’t think studying 24/7 helps much, just try to relax for a few minutes after studying a certain subject so you can refresh your brain and relax.

4. Treat yourself! Get a study snack and give yourself “brain breaks.”

5. ACTUALLY STUDY! When people study it ups their confidence, and when you’re confident about something, the sky’s the limit. Give the extra effort and take your studies seriously, and you’ll be successful.

Good luck on your assessments moving forward, Braves! Don’t procrastinate, don’t cut corners, and always do your very best.

Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov: The Fight of the Millineum

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by Nikolas Molina

With Khabib Nurmagomedov being a dominant top position grappler and Conor McGregor being an insane kick boxer, this match was destined to be one for the books.

It took roughly less than 30 seconds for Nurmagomedov to set up an attack for the first time, a single leg that was awkward. McGregor defended it well and did nothing for a while. Once Nurmagomedov was on top, he started to work towards his favorite leg triangle, and McGregor tried to counter by wall-walking.

When on top, Nurmagomedov was conservative. Working inches at a time, McGregor tried to work and advance into better position. McGregor was able to delay for quite a long time, but Nurmagomedov worked his way into a strong half guard and finished the round with some decent shots.

Nurmagomedov opened the second round with a massive overhand that planted McGregor on the floor. He was a bit frantic in trying to achieve the knockout, but Nurmagomedov settled down and landed a takedown along the fence. This time, Nurmagomedov settled into guard and went to work. McGregor mostly just held on his back.

Nurmagomedov picked openings and landed huge blows. Quickly, Nurmagomedov was standing above McGregor and dropping hard shots, which was some real damage. McGregor took the shots and kept going, he even stood up in the final seconds of the round.

McGregor opened the third round by targeting the body with crosses and kicks. He finally denied the takedown for the first time, but Nurmagomedov backed him up with some hard shots and drove him into the fence. After denying another takedown, they went back to trading shots on the feet. Nurmagomedov finished the closest round yet by driving McGregor into the fence, only scoring a takedown.

McGregor opened the fourth round with some kicks to the abdomen, making sure to keep his distance. However, Nurmagomedov was able to drive McGregor into the fence and shoot in, securing another takedown along the fence. Nurmagomedov immediately transitioned into his leg triangle, forcing McGregor to turn his back and give up the mount.

McGregor worked to recover guard, but Nurmagomedov put him back into mount. McGregor made an attempt to escape, which allowed Nurmagomedov to advance into back mount. There would be escape for McGregor as Nurmagomedov latched onto his jaw and cranked his way to a submission.

Nurmagomedov won the fight through submission in the fourth round of the lightweight title fight. But the victory seemed overlooked by the post-fight brawl which ended up in three arrests.

After McGregor tapped out, Khabib immediately and pointed at somebody and started talking towards McGregor’s corner. He hopped over the cage and attacked McGregor’s training partner, Bellator welterweight Dillon Danis.

Meanwhile this is going on McGregor is being attacked by two of Nurmagomedov entourage. Zubaira Tukhugov a flyweight fighter was one of two part of the entourage, he struck McGregor on the back of the head then was dragged away.

Dana White, UFC President, confirmed later, that three members of Nurmagomedov’s entourage have been arrested. McGregor decided to not press charges against them. White stated that the UFC fighters involved in the attack are never going to fight for the UFC ever again.

“I’ve been doing this for 18 years and I couldn’t be more disappointed,” White stated in the post-fight conference. “It was a very good week for everybody. It just sucks to end it like this, instead of celebrating we’re saying ‘that was pretty s***’.”

It took minutes for security and police officers to bring the situation under control. Dana White and Nurmagomedov then got into a argument when White would not present him the belt inside the octagon.  McGregor did not attend the post-fight conference, Nurmagomedov apologized at the conference but blamed McGregor for the post-fight brawl. Khabib extended his professional record to 27-0 with the win.

“First of all, I want to say sorry to the Nevada Athletic Commission and second to Vegas. I know this is not my best side. I’m a human being. But I don’t understand how people can talk about how I jump on the cage. He talked about my religion, he talked about my country, he talked about my father. He came to Brooklyn and he broke a bus, he almost killed a couple of people. What about this s***? Why do people talk about me jumping over the cage? I don’t understand. This is a respectful sport, not a trash-talking sport. I want to change the game, you cannot talk about religion, about nationality,” said Nurmagomedov in his post-fight interview.

White stated that he would not take Khabib’s title away, but there will be fines, penalties, and suspensions handed out.

“There’s going to be fines, there’s going to be God knows what. Can these guys get visas and get back in the country? We’ll see how this thing plays out. The Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to go after him pretty hard, I’m sure. He doesn’t have to worry about me right now; he has to worry about Nevada. The governor was here tonight, and he went running out of the building. That’s not good. He’s in trouble,” said White.

Khabib has not yet been paid for the fight and the entire situation is still under close investigation. 

 

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