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2018 NFL Season Preview: Division Favorites and Sleepers

Posted on September 6, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Lucas Garrison

With the 2018 NFL Season finally upon us, we break down the sleepers and the favorites in each division as we get ready for an action-packed year.

AFC North

Favorite: Pittsburgh Steelers

As always, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a premier team in the NFL and are favored to win their division. However, with the absence of Le’Veon Bell, it does raise some questions about the team. Bell has already been ruled out for Week 1’s game against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers draft class this year was exceptional for the fact that they covered their needs on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. First round pick Terrell Edmunds will have time to develop behind top-ten safety Morgan Burnett. The Steelers addressed long-term potential issues at wide receiver and quarterback as well in the draft. They brought in receiver James Washington and quarterback Mason Rudolph from Oklahoma State. It should be very interesting to see how the Steelers perform this year in the wide-open AFC.

Sleeper: Baltimore Ravens

In past years, we’ve see the AFC North come down to the wire in a fight between the Steelers and Ravens. This year, it’s expected that the Ravens offensive unit will finally be able to complement their stellar defense. With the additions of receivers Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead, longtime quarterback Joe Flacco finally has some weapons. The rookies the Ravens drafted this year all have very good upside as well, such as wide receiver Jordan Lasley who was an honorable mention for the All PAC-12 Team at UCLA. However, their best addition this year was bringing in Heisman-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson from Louisville, who might have a chance to prove himself as early as this year if Flacco is to struggle.

AFC South

Favorite: Jacksonville Jaguars

Coming off a year in which they were one step away from a Super Bowl appearance, the Jacksonville Jaguars are hungry for more. Obviously, the talk of this team is that defense. Jalen Ramsey, Calais Campbell, and AJ Bouye will definitely prove cause headaches for most teams that they face this year. And you can’t talk about the Jaguars without mentioning Leonard Fournette. Fournette is coming off a rookie year in which he rushed for 1040 yards and had 9 rushing touchdowns, so expect to see a lot of him this year. However, the Jags did lose receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns to free agency and Marquise Lee to injury this year, taking away subpar quarterback Blake Bortles’ top weapons. This team undoubtedly has a top defense, but the big question will be whether or not their offense can put points on the board.

Sleepers: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts

All three of these teams have the potential to overtake the Jags in the AFC South this year. The Texans looked as good as any team in the league last season before they lost star players JJ Watt, Deshaun Watson and Whitney Mercilus to season-ending injuries. The Titans are brewing a Patriots 2.0 roster by adding several former well-known Pats to their team that include defensive backs Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler and running back Dion Lewis. On top of that, their new head coach is Mike Vrabel who was a linebacker for the Patriots from 2001-2008. And don’t rule out the Colts with quarterback Andrew Luck at full strength, because they have proven to be dangerous. However, their defense is still awful and it’s still up in the air if Andrew Luck will be the same as he was before his shoulder injury. Plus, this team doesn’t have a solid running back since the departure of veteran Frank Gore and are weak at receiver after losing Donte Moncrief to free agency. But, if Andrew Luck proves to be the same, the Colts can still contend in this wide-open division.

AFC East

Favorite: New England Patriots

It’s Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Nothing more needs to be said.

Sleeper: New York Jets

The Jets can take second place easily this year in the AFC East as other teams in this division will have a tough time competing due to struggling offenses and depleted rosters. The Jets have arguably the most complete rookie quarterback in years in third overall pick Sam Darnold and second-year star safety Jamal Adams. Speaking of Jamal Adams, he will have help this year on the defensive side of the ball as the Jets went out and signed cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Defensive end Leonard Williams is primed to make a great impact on that defense as well after a down year last year plagued by bad coaching and injuries. The Jets – if healthy – can pose a real threat in the AFC East this season for the first time in a while.

AFC West

Favorite: Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are coming off a year in which despite being plagued by injuries and close losses they still managed to go 9-7. This year they are much stronger at safety after adding rookie Derwin James in the first round of this years draft. James has continued to impress throughout camp, and looks to complement the Chargers already strong defensive back crew of Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, and second year man Desmond King. On top of that, the Chargers pass rush will still be exceptional with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram getting to opposing QB’s. Wide receiver Keenan Allen is coming off a 102 reception, 1393 yard breakout season for the Chargers high-powered offense as well. Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon had a 1105 yard season last year and punched in 12 touchdowns. Don’t underestimate longtime quarterback Philip Rivers either, as he remains a reliable option at the helm for the team. However, with all this good the injury bug has already claimed tight end Hunter Henry and cornerback Jason Verrett in training camp. If healthy, the Chargers can be Super Bowl contenders as early as this year.

Sleeper: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs took a major risk this year by trading away quarterback Alex Smith and putting their faith in second-year talent Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs offense on paper should be a top-five offense with Travis Kelce at tight end, Kareem Hunt at running back, and Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins maning the receiving core. However, the biggest questions will revolve around Patrick Mahomes and if he is ready to take this team to the next level. The only thing standing in the Chiefs way from success is themselves, more specifically their defense after trading away star cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams and letting their defense continue to age. As long as this offense puts up 63 points per game (lol), their defense should be fine.

NFC North

Favorite: Green Bay Packers

Yes, the Packers are coming off one of their worst years in recent history, but Aaron Rodgers is back. The Packers added red zone weapon and veteran tight end Jimmy Graham in free agency, as he looks to rejuvenate his career alongside Rodgers. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and rookie corners Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson have shown a lot of promise for the Packers defense as well. Lambeau Field is still the hardest place to play as well. 2018 should be a big comeback year for the Packers.

Sleeper: Chicago Bears

The Bears are going to be dangerous this year. Not only did they recently bring in elite pass rusher Khalil Mack in a trade with the Oakland Raiders, but also brought in free agent receivers Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton. These guys will give second-year promising quarterback Mitch Trubisky weapons in the passing game. Running back Jordan Howard is coming off another 1000 yard season as well, and the Bears offense is looking substantially better than in recent years. The defense will also be a strong force led by rookie linebacker Roquan Smith, defensive end Khalil Mack, and cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller. The Bears have potential to make some noise this year in the stacked NFC.

NFC South

Favorite: New Orleans Saints

The Saints are once again led by veteran quarterback Drew Brees who will look to propel this star-studded squad into the Super Bowl. This team has one of the best young rosters in football as well. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas lead this force of talent and youth. Lattimore and Kamara last year won the Defensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards respectively in the NFC. Expect these two to continue on their strong path and the Saints to be contenders.

Sleeper: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons aren’t necessarily a sleeper team, but more of just a sure-fire contender in the jam-packed NFC South. The Falcons return playmakers Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman to their high-powered offense that struggled in the playoffs last year against the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Matt Ryan will lead this unit, and has proven to be a formidable picker passer in the NFL. The Falcons also have one of the better defensive units in football and will continue to try and make their return to the Super Bowl after their embarrassing choke job in 2017.

NFC East

Favorite: Philadelphia Eagles

The defending Super Bowl champions will look to repeat the underdog season that they had last year. Despite returning nearly the same team as last year, they will have to start the season without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and MVP-candiate Carson Wentz. However, the Eagles appear to be just fine with Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles manning the offense until Wentz is 100 percent ready to return. The Eagles also return one of the NFL’s best defenses, led by a strong secondary and scary defensive line. Expect the Eagles to be a heavy favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Sleeper: Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are coming off a tragic year that was nowhere near their expectations heading into last season. Back from suspension this year is star running back Ezekial Elliott, which is a great sign for the team. However, the big question remains who will emerge as the number one wide receiver on their roster for quarterback Dak Prescott following the dismissal of Dez Bryant. The Cowboys did bring in Allen Hurns in the offseason and drafted Courtland Sutton, but that’s about it. The Cowboys defense too is a large question mark with their struggling secondary. Head coach Jason “The Clapper” Garrett is still on the hot seat for the ‘Boys as well.

NFC West

Favorite: Los Angeles Rams

The LA Rams are starting to look like the Golden State Warriors of the NFL after building their Madden-like super team this offseason. They’ve done this by adding cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to their already strong defensive unit. On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams brought in WR Brandin Cooks from the Patriots, adding weapons for quarterback Jared Goff. The Rams also have elite running back Todd Gurley who is primed for another big-number season. The Rams have arguably the strongest roster in football on paper and are Super Bowl favorites.

Sleeper: San Fransisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo is already looking like an elite quarterback in this league after his tremendous start last year with the team. However, the 49ers already started off on the wrong foot after losing running back Jerrick Mckinnon for the remainder of the year to an ACL injury. However, the 49ers are still a strong and trendy squad that can definitely make some noise in the NFC this year.

Sports

New Teacher Q&A: Ms. Carleen Carney

Posted on September 6, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Lucas Agatep

MsCarney

Attention all Braves. In the third edition of our new teacher Q&A section, we sat down with new Bosco teacher Ms. Carleen Carney. Please welcome her to our community!

Q: Where were you born?
A: I was born in Northridge, CA and have lived in California my entire life.

Q: Where have you previously worked?
A: Before I became a schoolteacher I had my own business, making custom cakes and other desserts. I also taught sugar arts classes, from basic decorating skills to advanced pastry techniques.

Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: This will be my fourth year teaching.

Q: What college did you graduate from?
A: I graduated from Cal State Northridge with my bachelor’s degree in both linguistics and French. From Cal State Long Beach, I earned my master’s degree in linguistics.

Q: How did you come across St. John Bosco?
A: The company that hired me to teach ESL, The Cambridge Institute of International Education, was partnered with St. John Bosco High School to recruit and support international students, so that company placed me here at Bosco. I’ve taught ESL here for three years, but this will be my first year officially working for Bosco.

Q: What made you consider Bosco?
A: I was happy to have been placed here at Bosco, as I was raised Catholic, so the school already seemed familiar and welcoming to me.

Q: What are your particular hobbies?
A: I love creative hobbies! In addition to designing and making special cakes and cookies, I also love to sew. I make dresses and costumes, and I’ve also made props for a major motion picture (Gone Girl). I like to make mosaic art as well, and I also do face painting and henna art. Learning different languages is another hobby of mine!

Q: Do you have any siblings and kids?
A: I have two amazing brothers and two wonderful daughters.

Q: What is your personal taste in music and who is your favorite artist?
A: It’s difficult to choose a favorite artist, because I enjoy many types of music. My favorite genres are rock and classical, and I like to listen to music in the different languages that I’ve studied as well.

Q: What sport do you like and what is your favorite team if you have any?
A: I like baseball and the Los Angeles Angels.

Q: Currently what do you think of Bosco and your students?
A: I love it here because it feels like we are all a big family. My students are absolutely wonderful! It’s been a real treat getting to know them, and we have a good time in class.

Q: Compared to your prior school, what is different and similar to Bosco?
A: Here we teach academics, and at my prior school I taught sugar arts. My students were mostly grown women. In both schools, however, my students have been fabulous.

Q: Did you participate in any sports or clubs in high school?

A: I was in wind ensemble and jazz band in high school. My main instrument was the clarinet, but I also played sax and drums.

Around Bosco

The Madden Shooting: Should We Be Debating Guns? Or Prescription Antidepressants?

Posted on September 5, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Joshua Blake

Something had finally snapped within David Katz for him to hurt so many.

We hear over the news time and time again about mass shootings taking place all over the country more often then we should.

We had the Las Vegas shooting in October of 2017 and the Parkland school shooting in February of 2018. These two mass shootings combined took the lives of 75 people, leaving many more injured as well.

The Jacksonville Landing – Hosted Madden ’19 Tournament

On Sunday, August 26th, another mass shooting took place at a Madden ’19 video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. According to the Washington Post, David “Bread” Katz was the alleged shooter, leaving three dead and 11 people injured, as well as shooting himself at the end. Katz was proven to be mentally ill and on antidepressants, which is said to be the leading reason for why he committed this heinous act.

David Katz had an extensive history of dealing with mental health issues. According to CNN, Katz was receiving psychiatric treatment at the young age of 12 years old. He was prescribed psychiatric medication and saw several different doctors. A 2006 court filing stated that a therapist said Katz had once experienced a “psychiatric crisis.”

Katz had many incidents relating back to his mental illness as well, causing domestic disputes and having the police called to his residence on multiple occasions. Something had finally snapped within David Katz for him to ultimately hurt so many. Katz is just one of the many victims of mental illness to lash out and commit such horrible acts.

This mass shooting sparked yet again another debate on whether or not to ban guns in America. You have both sides of the argument, the more left-leaning people saying that the mass shooting took place because guns are legal and can be easily be acquired on the street.

Then you have people who lean towards the right side saying it was because the building that housed the tournament was a gun-free zone, therefore nobody had guns in the building to stop the shooter before he killed 2 people and injured many others.

Whether or not the guns are the problem, there is a much bigger problem at hand that no one is really talking about. That problem is the use of antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs. Most of the time these, mass shooters are mentally ill and the antidepressants they use takes away all their distress, leaving them alone in an emotionless state.

David Katz was one of these mentally ill people and shown to be on these antidepressants. According to Kelly Brogan M.D., the use of these drugs promotes suicidal and homicidal tendencies.

Also, according to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, 36 school shootings have been committed by those under the influence of antidepressant drugs. Therefore, these drugs have basically caused 172 injuries and 80 deaths and should not be given to any patient of any kind, due to the results we have had in the past.

This unfortunate event is just one of many recent mass shootings caused by antidepressants. These drugs completely wipe out all emotions from the user. Someone without empathy to see the value of a human life will not hesitate to kill anyone they see who they feel who has wronged them in any way.

We can stop these shootings from occurring, but we need to be aware of the cause of these terrible acts. We need to shift away our focus from debating on guns and start debating on antidepressants and how they have become more dangerous than any gun you could ever own.

News/Op-Ed

A+E: Fortnite’s Slow and Lingering Demise

Posted on September 4, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Nick Hernandez

The end of Fortnite’s Season 4 was highly anticipated. The live “Rocket Launch” and the unveiling of the “Visitor” skin left countless players speculating as to what might happen in Season 5.

The giant rift in the sky that exponentially grew led to many theories and at the start of Season 5 players found out what all the hype was about.

Upon updating Fortnite, players were greeted at the Battle Royale game menu with an ominous desert gas station loading screen. When they joined in-game, the mini-map showed various new “Points of Interest” across the updated world. Such spots included Paradise Palms and Lazy Links, which were new to players and left many enthusiastic for what was to come.

Many weapons, items, and general nerfs and buffs were new to those entering into Season 5 and all were generally excited to see what was to come.

Although there was much hope for the future, Epic Games decided that before advancing any further, they would tweak some things currently that they felt were problematic in the game.

In general, many players were becoming bored to play after multiple months of the games success. In March, April and May of 2018, the Fortnite community and its number of players were at its highest peak.

Following the movie release of “Avengers: Infinity War,” Marvel partnered with Epic Games to bring the “Thanos Infinity Gauntlet” game mode to players. However, despite their surge of popularity, the game really began to “fall off” at the start of summer.

Fortnite was ultimately killed off by its own creators. Developers ruined popular gun strategies and made others far too strong. The community was discouraged when spamming became the new meta and many favorite landing spots got replaced.

Firstly, Epic Games took it upon themselves to end shotgun use completely, making each guns individual effectiveness almost nothing. They went as far as to stop players from using more than one shotgun at a time, ending the “Double-Pump” strategy, which angered many pros.

Epic then released 2 submachine guns that many immediately deemed overpowered. With SMG spam becoming a factor in everyday play, players began taking and using these weapons over shotguns, even using 2 at a time. The SMGs were excellent at destroying builds and eliminating players at close range.

It came as sad news however when a hot-fix was implemented and nerfs were placed on these guns to make them less useful, just as players began to adapt to the new meta. Ultimately, these guns became less used in the process due to their decreased damage at range and the inaccuracy of the guns overall.

Although there were many additions into the game, most players saw them as unethical and unneeded. There were too many updates at one time and gamers began to grow unhappy. The developers ruined game and weapon mechanics leading to the loss of interest of its player base, and putting Fortnite in its current unfavorable state.

Arts + Entertainment

RECAP: St. John Bosco 52, Mililani 14

Posted on September 1, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Ethan Piechota

The St. John Bosco Braves dominated their opposition for the third straight week, defeating Mililani High School from Hawaii 52-14 and showing why they are the clear number one team in America.

The number one ranked quarterback in high school football goes to St. John Bosco High School. Braves junior standout DJ Uiagalelei was unstoppable last night, completing 26-32 passes for 373 yards and SIX touchdowns. Uiagalelei threw as many incompletions as he did touchdowns, which is just absurd to think about.

Stanford-bound senior wide receiver Colby Bowman finally had the breakout game he needed to get his season going, catching seven passes for 130 yards and three of Uiagalelei’s six touchdowns. Bowman, a recent Brave of the Issu e on our site, put on a memorable display last night for all Braves fans to see.

Senior slot receiver Jake Bailey had another productive game, catching seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Bailey and Uiagalelei have really appeared to be on the same page in the passing game so far this season, which is a great sign for the Braves the rest of the way through.

Senior running back George Holani ripped off an electric 80-yard touchdown run for Bosco’s offense to begin the game, and the Braves didn’t look back from there in rout to scoring 52 points and running and passing all over Mililani’s defense.

Defensively, Bosco’s top-ranked and highly powered unit got off to a shaky start, allowing Mililani to move the ball and find the end zone on their first drive of the game. However, the unit cleaned up their act and sacked Mililani quarterback Dillon Gabriel seven times, four coming from defensive end Cole Aubrey and two from linebacker Spencer Lytle.

Just about the only downside to the Braves huge victory was the amount of penalties they were called for, 21 to be exact. That is too much for such a well-coached and disciplined team and the Braves will look to clean that up as the season progresses.

Bosco’s national championship run is in full swing, and the Braves will look to move to 4-0 on the season next week against Paramount High School at Panish Family Stadium.

Sports

Life of a Brave: Stanford-Bound Colby Bowman Helps Lead Bosco’s National Title Run

Posted on September 1, 2018 by The Brave News One comment

by Caleb Wiley

Colby Bowman transferred to St. John Bosco High School after his freshman year and immediately fit into the winning culture at Bosco on and off the field.

Bowman heard about the Brave football powerhouse not only from all the friends he had going to the school, but also through playing against (and getting beat by) Bosco during his freshman year at JSerra.

“After playing against Bosco my freshman year, I knew right away what school I was going to next year. The way they played like a team and with passion really caught my attention,” said Bowman.

Bowman started playing football at the age of six and fell in love with the sport from day one. Ever since then, he dreamed about playing the game professionally and realized in 7th grade that Stanford University was where he wanted to go to further his academic and athletic careers. When he received a full ride scholarship to Stanford this past year, he did not hesitate to verbally commit to the school and become a Cardinal.

“Once I got the offer, it was over […] it really feels like a family there [at Stanford]. Also, the combination of academics and athletics is something you can’t find anywhere else,” Bowman said.

Bowman will without doubt be a great fit at Stanford. He matches the skill he demonstrates on the field in the classroom, earning a 3.5 GPA or higher all through high school.

“My parents have always pushed me to give it my all both on the field and in the classroom. I’ve also always cared about my academics because football ends one day.”

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Aside from his academic skillset, his skillset on the field is something that the number one nationally ranked Bosco football team is going to heavily rely on this season. His 6-foot-2, 191-pound frame alongside his game-changing speed make him a really tough guard for any defensive back in the Trinity League.

“Colby’s a deep threat that we can depend on to go and make big plays for us,” said senior outside linebacker Ralen Goforth.

Alongside his talents in football and academics, Bowman also has the will to lead others and bring players closer together on his team. He leads by example with his knowledge and wisdom from all the years he has played the game. Also, he cares for everyone on the team no matter the role of the players.

“He shares his experience and passes it down to the younger guys. Whenever someone is down, he is right there to bring them back up. It’s something I admire from him,” said Goforth.

Being the top-ranked team nationally, the Braves will need Bowman’s understanding of the big stage and the bright lights, especially younger players once league play begins.

“Every single game you have to bring your best because teams are going to bring their best to try and beat you. Our brotherhood is at a high point right now and we have to stay together as a family,” said Bowman.

Photo by Robert Casillas, Daily Breeze/SCNG

With college in his sight, Bowman is always thinking about his near and long term future.

“I see myself graduated from Stanford and waking up to a job I am passionate about. I see the NFL as a bonus.”

Even though he is excited to finally go to the college of his dreams, Bowman will miss the times and memories he made here at Bosco. When the time finally comes to say goodbye to all his friends, he said it will be tough for him.

But in his last season here, he would like to go out and bring a national title to the school. He wants to leave everything on the field and be a part of something great in his senior year.

PREVIEW: St. John Bosco vs. Mililani

Posted on August 31, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Ethan Piechota

The St. John Bosco Braves football team takes on Mililani High School from Hawaii tonight at Panish Family Stadium as the #1 ranked team in the nation looks to move to 3-0 on the year.

Dominance. Complete and total dominance has been on display from Bosco’s top-ranked, lockdown defense throughout the first two weeks of the season.

The offense, led by quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, has put up numbers as expected, scoring 49 and 56 points in their first two games respectively with high-powered games from skill position players George Holani, Keith Savage, Kris Hutson, Jude Wolfe and Jake Bailey in each.

However, Bosco’s national championship chances rest in the hands of the team’s defense. The unit has forced 9 turnovers throughout their first two games, taking pride in wearing and flaunting their “turnover chain” on the sidelines.

The squad is playing hungry, getting hits on opposing quarterbacks at every opportunity and tainting offensive gameplans from the kickoff.

Last week in Bakersfield, the Braves allowed just 10 yards of total offense to Garces Memorial in their 56-0 rout. That is an absurd stat, and just goes to show the power and high capability of this defense up-and-down the depth chart. And it’s not just the starters, as this Bosco defense is deep. It starts with Bosco’s highly skilled defensive line, which rotates 8 Braves on the regular.

The Mililani Trojans from Hawaii are one of the top football programs from the “big island” and are a top 50 team in the nation for high school football. There was worry that the game might not take place due to Mililani possibly not being able to leave Hawaii on a plane because of hurricanes in their area, but the team has landed here in California and has held practices at Panish Family Stadium.

Not to be overlooked, Bosco’s offense has gone above-and-beyond and gotten the job done in both weeks as well and will be a key part of the team’s success the rest of the season. But when you add in a unit on the other side of the ball that will literally not allow you to score, a national championship run is made a true reality.

It’s just been an absolute clinic from Bosco’s defense in each of their opening two games, and they will look to continue this again tonight against Mililani.

“The Tribe” will need to be in full force tonight as the Braves play another game to defend their number one overall ranking in the nation and fulfill their national championship hopes.

Sports

St. John Bosco Brave Vision: For the Students

Posted on August 30, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by Matthew Ruiz and George Holani

Just less than a month into the school year, St. John Bosco’s Brave Vision team started filming, editing, and recruiting new kids for their first episode, which aired on August 30th school wide this month.

A monthly television program aired for the benefit of informing and giving the entire Bosco student body and staff a laugh, Brave Vision is excited for their upcoming year making videos for the students.

“The first episode will highlight the freshman, new teachers and especially the first football game,” said Mr. Nold regarding the first BraveVision that just came out.

Brave Vision / August 2018 Episode

Nold is the co-director of the Brave Vision service alongside theater teacher and lead director Mr. Lang, and the two run and edit the publication together.

The episode did just what the team had hoped, with hyped videos of the first Bosco football game of the season at home as well as a few new teacher interviews, one with new counselor Mr. Tota.

“Inspiration [for our videos] comes in the form of the oratory model St. John Bosco set up for the kids,” said Nold.

The oratory at St. John Bosco High School consists and is defined by a Church, School, Home, and Playground. In every Brave Vision episode, members of the team try their best to highlight those four key points.

As the program is still progressing and running, Mr. Nold has started teaching video editing in his Media Production class for students interested in learning. Already in its fourth year of running, Nold is looking to expand and progress student abilities.

“The most difficult part of Brave Vision is that it’s time consuming and editing,” said senior Brave Vision member Dalton Tuscany.

Dalton enjoys making his fellow students laugh and entertaining the entire school with funny actions, and can unleash all of that with full freedom on episodes of Brave Vision, in which he currently hosts a “Cool Cars of the Month” segment.

The Brave Vision team is active and working on a day-to-day basis around campus and will look to continue making successful and community strengthening videos all school year.

A+E: A GOOD Summer for GOOD Music

Posted on August 30, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

by AJ Castillo

Although there are still 3 months left in 2018, this year in rap is one that will not be soon forgotten. With highly anticipated releases from the likes of Drake, J. Cole, and Travis Scott, this year has been one of massive proportions in the industry. However, five albums in particular separate themselves from the pack.

When Kanye West returned to Twitter, fans knew that something exciting was bound to take place, yet no one could have expected this big of a year from the rap legend. Producing five albums including a solo work and a duo with his longtime friend Kid Cudi, West has once again shown that even with his age, he is still one of the top artists not only in hip-hop, but in music as a whole.

Reminiscent of the long gone GOOD Fridays, the famed label released four 7 track albums over five weeks this summer, and female standout Teyana Taylor produced eight tracks. Also known as the “Wyoming albums,” most of the songs were created and recorded in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where West also hosted two listening parties.

The star-studded lineup began with GOOD Music President Pusha T’s Daytona project on May 25th. As usual, Pusha used his talent in lyricism to paint a vivid picture of current events, his dark past, and his vast wealth over sample-heavy West beats on songs like “The Games We Play” and “What Would Meek Do?” featuring West.

The album also created lots of controversy and 2018’s biggest rap beef, due to the album artwork being a picture of the late Whitney Houston’s bathroom after her death, and Pusha T calling out Drake on the last track, “Infrared.” Overall, it was great for Pusha T’s first album in nearly three years, but did not gain the attention it deserved due to Pusha being lesser known by the mainstream rap audience.

Next dropped one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, Ye by Kanye West. As with his other works, West gives the listener an in-depth look into his lavish yet human lifestyle, this time discussing topics such as mental health and his children on songs like “I Thought About Killing You” and “Violent Crimes”.

“Yikes” and “All Mine” also bring back memories and reminisce of Yeezus, with West using extremely explicit lyrics to describe his wealth and party lifestyle over hard-hitting, drum filled beats. “No Mistakes” and “Ghost Town” gave listeners the West and Kid Cudi collaboration they desperately needed, giving a great preview for what was to come the next week.

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Photo by YesJulz

As with their previous collaborations, this superstar duo did not fail to deliver. A nice break from the first few songs of the album, these two tracks brought a classic West sound back, with uplifting beats and lyrics as well as beautiful contributions from Cudi on hooks and in the background, making them some of the best tracks of the summer.

OVO signee PARTYNEXTDOOR also made a considerable contribution to Ye, offering great supporting vocals on “Wouldn’t Leave” and “Ghost Town”. Ye was nowhere near the level of West’s previous albums, but it was a fresh sound that mixed the Kanye we know and love with a newer one. Though definitely not his best, it is still a strong candidate for album of the year.

After Ye, came a long overdue collaboration between two of the of music’s most influential creators: Kanye West and Kid Cudi. The duo, now going by the name of KIDS SEE GHOSTS, released a self-named album together on June 8th.

KSG was a rollercoaster of different sounds and styles that somehow all fit and came together to create something special. “Feel the Love” featuring Pusha T felt like a perfect intro to the album. With a dark beat and a near perfect verse from Pusha T, vocals from Kid Cudi, and something best described as noises from Kanye, it started the album with the hype it deserved.

The song set the tone for the next two songs on the album, “Fire” and “4th Dimension” featuring Louis Prima on the samples. “Fire” is a great example of the duos versatility, showcasing a beat that sounds like it was made from an electric guitar with heavy percussion. It also had the all-classic Kid Cudi humming adored by all. Sounding similar to a march with its percussion pattern, it was all over the place in the best way possible.

Next, “4th Dimension” started with one of the best beat transitions or drops this year. Going from a Louis Prima song to another march style beat, the drop was completely unexpected. The song has a sound almost identical to “Jesus Walks,” again utilizing a military march style percussion pattern and the use of vocals to match the beat. It was classic Kanye production, with even better verses from the two features.

KIDS SEE GHOSTS / / GOOD/Def Jam

The next track, “Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2)” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, served as a good transition from tracks 1-3 to tracks 4-7. It was a breath of fresh air, bringing back an uplifting and carefree sound back from Ye. Just by listening to it you can tell everyone had a great time in the studio recording it.

After this track came three tracks that felt almost like an extension of Kid Cudi’s last album, Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’. This trio of tracks all had the same dark, spacey sounds and vocals as Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’. Although these tracks were simply amazing, Kanye’s verses felt somewhat out of place at some points. Due to the change in volume and pitch from Cudi to West, they didn’t flow like they would had they been Cudi solo songs. However, this is not to take away from the sheer beauty of the songs.

The three tracks: “Reborn,” “Kids See Ghosts” featuring Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), and “Cudi Montage” combined to create a memorable finale for the album that combined the styles of Cudi and West very well. GOOD Music did not skip a beat with Kids See Ghosts, adding another strong album of the year contender to the exciting lineup.

The fourth album of the five was a collaboration that turned many heads. New York legend Nas teamed up with Kanye West as his executive producer for his first album since 2012, Nasir. A breath of fresh air for the 2018 rap scene, it brought back Nas’s old-school lyrical style with Kanye West’s unmatched production.

In my opinion, Nasir had some of the best production of the five and on any album in my recent memory. Many of the songs showcased West’s ability to use samples and vocals to create a beat like no other. Sampling songs and artists like the main theme for The Hunt for the Red October, Iranian artists Shahram Shahbpareh and Kourosh Yaghmaei, Slick Rick, and bollywood artist R.D. Burman, the production set the stage for Nas’s unmatched lyricism.

Many of the lyrics on the album had highly political statements, especially on songs like “Not for Radio” featuring Puff Daddy and “Cops Shot the Kid” featuring Kanye West. Each song sounded very different, creating an experience that did not get boring like some rap albums do.

My personal favorites, “White Label” and “Adam and Eve” featuring The-Dream were perfect examples of West and Nas linking to bring back an old-school feel.

Also worth mentioning are the two tracks “everything” featuring The-Dream and Kanye West, and “Simple Things.” These two tracks had a much different feel than the rest of the album. With West doing what he does best to use the human voice as an instrument, they add a nice chilled-out energy, with “Simple Things” finishing off the listening experience on a wonderful note.

To me, Nasir has not received anywhere near the attention it deserves. Whether it be that today’s listeners aren’t as interested in old-school rappers or the other albums coming out at the same time, it has been criminally underrated.

Rounding out the five releases this past summer is Teyana Taylor’s K.T.S.E. (Keep That Same Energy). Once again, the album featured Kanye West as the lead producer. And as usual, Kanye utilized his abilities to create great beats from the most obscure samples.

K.T.S.E. was a new sound to enjoy at the end of the five week long release period. Mixing West’s production with the sound of new-age R&B brought an album that has not been talked about much, but puts Taylor up there with the likes of other R&B artists such as SZA, Jhene Aiko, and Ella Mai.

The Kanye production on K.T.S.E. separates it from any other contemporary R&B release. The slower sound and pace of the album matches up perfectly with Taylor’s voice and style. To me, this is a great album to listen to for those who are new to R&B or trying to get into the genre. It takes out much of the pop-ish radio style in many contemporary R&B songs and albums, almost creating a bridge between a slower style of rap and R&B.

Tracks like “Gonna Love Me” and “Issues/Hold On” finally put Taylor’s underrated voice into the spotlight. While the production is great, it takes backstage to Taylor’s beautifully versatile voice. The melodies of these tracks and others such as “No Manners” and “3 Way” are nothing short of captivating.

Another song worth mentioning on K.T.S.E. is “Rose in Harlem.” One of my favorites, it showcases Taylor’s ability as a rapper as well. Her style on this track is quite similar to Beyonce in my opinion, which is always a compliment.

The final track of the album, “WTP,” has a very odd 80s synth-pop sound. It reminds me of the music my parents probably partied to, but for some odd reason it doesn’t bother me at all. The synth-heavy beat is also reminiscent of “Fade” from Kanye West’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo. Sampling the same type of music as “Fade,” it brings back the catchy synth lines from the 80s and 90s that are sure to get anyone moving.

Out of the five albums released, K.T.S.E. did get the least attention, but as with the others, it deserved so much more. It made me appreciate R&B much more, which is no easy task. Teyana Taylor is definitely a great artist for GOOD Music to have signed, and I hope for more great music from her in the future.

Overall, 2018 was a year of monumental proportions for all of GOOD Music. Not one of the five albums released fell short to me. Kanye West production on anything is exciting, but matched with all of the talent of the GOOD Music lineup, every release from the label this summer has a case for album of the year.

All five brought fresh styles and music onto the rap scene, which is slowly becoming watered down with copycats and repetitive songs. Hopefully this string of great releases is only the beginning for the legendary label, which has the potential to dominate the rap industry for many more years to come.

Arts + Entertainment

Bosco: New Students Welcomed to Bosco Brotherhood

Posted on August 30, 2018 by The Brave News Leave a comment

By Naim Rodman & Jacob Jornadal

Every year young men come from all over to join the Bosco community, whether it’s from a different country, a public school, a private school, or even home school. Three weeks have gone by since these students have begun their journey as Bosco Braves.

As new transfers or freshmen, it can be hard to adjust to dress code, Mass, new academic and athletic standards and just Salesianity on the whole.

Students coming from private school are used to uniform rules because of their last schools policies.

“I’m fine with it because of I’ve been through it every day,” said lifelong private school student and freshman Andy Moreno.

New braves may face many challenges and adversities throughout the school year. Many students from Bosco have transferred here, and Bosco could be night and day for new students compared to their past schools.

“There really is no comparison the education, athletics, and Christian life are on a whole other level,” senior transfer Taylon Dalton said.

Even though most new Braves acclimate to the school community without much issue, it could be hard to adjust to new schools. This school gives students many opportunities to make to new friends with dances and extracurricular activities. All new Braves should participate in these activities if they’re having trouble fitting in. You won’t regret it!

If you’re interested in doing a sport, then do it because in team sports you find your closest friends and brothers. If sports aren’t for you, join a club or run for class office. The more active you are in this in community whether it’s sports, clubs, or Associated Student Body (ASB), the more you are able to interact and meet people that could be your Bosco brothers for life.

In essence, new students, don’t be worried or hesitant. Always ask questions if you’re having trouble and be polite to your teachers to stay on their good side because you’ll never know when you’ll need their help.

Other than that, good luck to all our new Braves. Welcome to the Bosco Brotherhood!

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