Hello and once again welcome to the cgps Lion's Roar Website. This week features much Superbowl analysis from some of our best writers including Michael Silverstone, Arlen Blakeman, and Vikram Nayyar.

Rebecca Rosenthal and Ben Acton discuss why Mark Sanchez and Steve Nash are amongst the best in their sport and Zachary Yablon makes his predictions for some important sporting events so be sure to read them all.

It's Super Bowl Sunday so read Vikram's article to read the staff's prediction on the upcoming game. Enjoy

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

My NBA All-star Line up Compared to the Actual One

by Max Rosenthal

Actual East Starters:

23 LeBron James

5 Kevin Garnett

3 Dwyane Wade

3 Allen Iverson

12 Dwight Howard

Reserves:

15 Al Hortford

4 Chris Bosh

34 Paul Pierce

3 Gerald Wallace

2 Joe Johnson

9 Rajon Rondo

1 Derrick Rose

My East Starters:

23 LeBron James

5 Kevin Garnett

3 Dwyane Wade

9 Rajon Rondo (Iverson should not be in the all-star game and Rondo is the best point guard in the east)

12 Dwight Howard

Reserves:

4 Chris Bosh

34 Paul Pierce

3 Gerald Wallace

42 David Lee (He averages a double-double and is the 2nd best center in the east.)

5 Josh Smith (He is the best player on the Hawks and they are the 3rd best team in the east. He replaces Al Hortford on the reserves.)

1 Derrick Rose

2 Joe Johnson

Actual West Starters:

15 Carmelo Anthony

21 Tim Duncan

24 Kobe Bryant

13 Steve Nash

1 Amar’e Stoudemire

Reserves:

3 Chris Paul

7 Brandon Roy

8 Deron Williams

35 Kevin Durant

41 Dirk Nowitzki

16 Pau Gasol

50 Zach Rondolph

My West Starters:

15 Carmelo Anthony

35 Kevin Durant (Great year and could be the MVP.)
41 Dirk Nowitzki (Leading his team & having a better year than Amar’e)

13 Steve Nash

21 Tim Duncan

Reserves:

1 Chauncey Billups (Having a better year than Chris Paul.)

7 Brandon Roy

8 Deron Williams

16 Pau Gasol

50 Zach Rondolph

1 Amar’e Stoudemire

Mark Sanchez: A Star in the Making

By Rebecca Rosenthal

In 1986, in Long Beach California, a star was born. His name was Mark Sanchez, and he would go on to be the quarterback of the New York Jets. At 6’2 , and 225 pounds, and of Mexican-American descent, Sanchez became only the fourth rookie quarterback in the NFL to win his first playoff game. Growing up in several Spanish neighborhoods in Orange County, Sanchez was raised them under firm discipline that his father believed would make him a leader and a string communicator. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, Sanchez' father would have him comb

ine athletic and mental training, and he would have to dribble a basketball without looking at it while reciting multiplication tables, practice baseball swings in a batting cage while answering questions about chemistry, in drills that his father hoped would develop quick thinking and self-confidence that would help him throughout life, and not with sports alone.

Sanchez began his career as a quarterback when he attended the Mission Viejo High School in 2005, where he was named football player of the year by several major college recruiting services, and was thought to be the top quarterback in the nation. Sanchez attended USC, and after announcing his intention to leave school early to enter the

NFL 2009 Draft, Mark selected his older brother Nick to be his agent. In the final days leading up to the Draft, several NFL teams began expressing serious interest in Sanchez, including the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, the Washington Redskins, and the New York Jets.

The Staff Members' Superbowl Predictions

This is the first time the Saints have been in the Super Bowl. I feel bad saying this but they are not going to beat the Colts. The Colts have one of the best Quarterbacks of all time Peyton Manning. He has helped them throughout the season. I could bet $50 dollars the Colts will win and the Saints will be destroyed. The Colts have the second most passing yards in the NFL, but they are very good at offense. The Colts are going to win and that is it.

Score Predictions:

· Michael – 28-24 Saints

· Max Rosenthal- 28-24 Colts

· Vikram Nayyar- 23-20 Colts

· Mr. Weissman- 28-27 Colts

· Zach Yablon- 31-21 Saints

• Aakash Bhatia- 35-24 Colts

The Colts are going to win and we all know it!!!!!

I Hope Mark Gets His

by Arlen Blakeman

If I wrote a list of the classless players in the NFL I could probably fill a torah scroll. One name that wouldn’t be on this list for sure is Mark Brunell. He has been a model citizen in all 17 of his NFL seasons. Not to mention he has led my
beloved Jaguars to the AFC championship game twice. Who can forget the game when the Jacksonville Jaguars went into Denver as a 16 point underdog? The second year franchise beat John Elway and the Broncos in won of the greatest upsets in playoff history. The team just fell short of the Super Bowl. Remember when he led the Jags to the best record in the NFL and once again was one game short of the Super Bowl game?

After a couple years with
the Redskins he joined the New Orleans Saints. Although a backup quarterback, he is more of a mentor to the younger players on the team. He has been a positive influence in the locker room and has been more of a part of the New Orleans Saints run to the Super Bowl than one might think. Mark has finally made it to the big game and even though he probably won’t make a big influence on the field he still has helped in the prelude to a championship.

Who Will Dominate Each Category In The Super Bowl?

by Michael Silverstone

This year’s Super Bowl features the two top seeds in each conference, and it is evident that this will be a great battle. But who will dominate the game in each category?

Rushing: Reggie Bush is running the ball like crazy, and the Colts have been known for having a below average run defense for the past few seasons. Joseph Addai has fallen apart since his spectacular 2007 season, but he might be able to find touchdown success against a team that has given up five rushing touchdowns in its two playoff games. But overall, the Saints will dominate this category.

Passing: The league’s MVP will face the NFC’s best quarterback in a passing battle. It is obvious that both teams have dominant passing games, so we will focus on the secondary. The Colts passing defense allowed Mark Sanchez to finally have a good game, while the Saints passing defense only allowed two passing touchdowns in their two playoff games, and that was against Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. The Saints passing defense has the edge, but Peyton Manning always seems to come through in the clutch, and the Saints defense tends to collapse at given points, and their passing defense still ranks 26th in the league.

Special Teams: This hasn’t been looked at as closely as the other categories, but it could end up being a huge factor. Both teams have terrible special teams coverage units, and have given up kick and punt return touchdowns all over the place. Remember what happened the last time the Colts played in the Super Bowl on special teams? Great field position should be a factor for both teams, and who knows, maybe we’ll see a return man go all the way. Overall though, the Saints have the better return man. Reggie Bush has been bringing them to the house occasionally while the Colts have failed to find the end zone on special teams. The Saints have the edge.

The Human Highlight: Steve Nash

by Ben Acton

Steve Nash is arguably the greatest assist man in today’s game but what people may not realize is how great of an overall player he is. He holds the second highest career free throw percentage with 90.3%. He also holds one of the higher 3 point percentages in the history of the league with one of 43.3%. In one moment of his career he made 21 consecutive free throws and also made 16 out of 18 3 pointers. If you have ever watched him play you probably notice that his most common field goal taken is a fade away. He constantly runs the fast break offense often making a no-look pass for a dunk. He often also passes up the easy layup to

make one of his teammates look better.

He is the complete team player, which any team would want as their leader. He won back-to-back MVPs and Sun's coach Alvin Gentry even said that his season this year was better than his MVP one. Alvin Gentry also says that he is playing on a level which is way past what he should be playing at his age. Steve Nash makes every play look easy and maybe the best part of the game is the way his hair glides in the wind. (no homo) It resembles that of White Goodman, former Globo Gym owner before he lost in a dodge ball tournament to Average Joes Gym. Steve Nash is definitely a first ballot hall of famer and is a favorite of anyone he plays with.

Predictions for the Upcoming Sporting Events

by Zachary Yablon

Australian open final (mens):

Federer Vs. Murray- Both players have practically breezed through the first 6 rounds of this tournament. This final will be close throughout, but I predict that Federer will never fully lose the upper hand. He will serve flawlessly, and Murray will have to work much harder to hold is own serve. Federer will win in 4 sets by a score of 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-2.

Australian open final (womens):

Serena Williams will take on Justin Henin, who just came out of retirement. Serena will look to overpower the smaller Henin who will look to wait for her chances to attack. I feel that Henin will grab enough chances for her to win the match, and with a final score of 4-6 6-3 7-5 will become this years Australian open champion.


Pro Bowl:

Many players are not attending this years pro bowl, and as usual there will fail to be much intensity during the course of the game. I feel that the NFC has more worthy players attending the game and as a result they will jump out to an early lead, and never give it up. NFC 31 AFC 17

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,

Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Guns in Sports

By Ben Acton

They are called several things around that world: gat, glock, uzi, equalizer or simply gun but either way they are becoming more apparent in the world of sports. Last year it started with Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the foot and now it is Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pulling guns on each other in the locker. This leads to the question of whether these players are

mature enough for the lifestyle of the NBA. Just the other day David Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely. This leads to the question: what is next in terms of outrageous acts in sports. In sports most players are immature to begin with, but how will the immaturity escalate. Will coke dealers sleep in locker rooms? Will one team have a driveby on the other? It is up to the commissioner of each sports to control the behavior of their players. If a player is too immature, he shouldn’t be allowed in the league do to the risk he may cause. “It is sad to see the immaturity of people around the world. The fact that players can carry guns in inconceivable”- Mr.

Weissman

Giant Changes Must be Made: An Offseason Plan

By Aakash Bhatia

The Giants’ season came to crashing end last weekend when they were humiliated by the Vikings. John Mara voiced his opinion on the awful season as he stated that massive changes need to me made. During the last couple of days Bill Sheridan as well as many other defensive coaches were fired as the team tries to changes its defense that slipped to 29^th in the league in points allowed. Here is my opinion in what the team should do to improve on defense for the 2010 season:

1- Hire an aggressive defensive coordinator

Currently the team is in the midst of interviewing a group of coaches including Perry Fewell and Romeo Crenel. While Crenel has the pedigree he coaches a 3-4 defense which the Giants’ roster is not adapted to. Therefore I think Fewell is a great candidate as he coached an aggressive scheme with the Bills and actually produced a respectable defense this season (2^nd in the league in interceptions). Furthermore he was loved by all of his coaches as running back Fred Jackson states and as a result would be a good fit in the locker room.

2- Sign a Middle Linebacker and cut Antonio Pierce

First of all Antonio Pierce needs to be removed from the team. Although he is a respected leader in the locker room he is too slow and no longer a good enough run stuffer to be on the team. Some think that Jonathan Goff can be the linebacker of the future however he was also not fast enough to be effective. Therefore I think the Giants need to invest heavily in a middle linebacker this offseason in a free agent class that is full of them. Carlos Dansby and Demeco Ryans top the class but D’Quell Jackson is also another solid choice. If the Giants can sign of these men it would significantly improve the defense.

3- Draft a Defensive Tackle Early

Clearly the two biggest problems that the team had were the secondary and the pass rush. Although some think that Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck had down years I think the defensive tackle position was the thing that set the team back as they generated no pressure there. As a result quarterbacks could simply step up in the pocket and avoid the pressure unlike in years past. Fred Robbins and Rocky Bernard have no future on this team so the team would be wise to cut them. If Berry Cofield (who actually had a solid season) can be resigned and a defensive tackle could be drafted early (1^st or 2^nd round) the entire pass rush of the team would improve. The return of Jay Alford and a healthy Chris Canty would be huge too.

4- Draft a Safety Early:

The team entered the 2009 season thin at this position and it only got worse when Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips went down to injuries. Therefore if the team can draft a safety in the first or second round they would be able to defend against the pass better.

This might be a lot for the Giants to accomplish however if some of these players can be cut and signed it would improve the team and hopefully make them more competitive for the following season.

LINDSAY VONN

By Rebecca Rosenthal

Lindsay Vonn, born on October 18^th 1984, is an alpine ski racer on the U.S. ski team. Vonn was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and learned to ski at age 4 at Buck Hill Ski Resort in Minnesota.

In 1999, Vonn was the first American to win Italy’s Trefeo Topolino, and after climbing through the ranks of the U.S. Ski Team, she made her World Cup debut at age 16, in Park City, Utah. Vonn made her Olympic debut at the 2002 Olympics, with her best result coming in sixth. In 2003, Vonn earned a silver medal in downhill in the Junior World Championship in France. On March 24, 2004, Vonn was the downhill silver medalist at the U.S. Alpine Championships held in Jackson, Wyoming, and later that year, after claiming the downhill victory in Canada, Vonn climbed onto the World Cup podium for the first time in her career.

In 2008, Vonn won the prestigious overall World Cup Title, and has been only the second woman in history, the first being Tamara McKinney in 1983, to do so. Vonn also established a new all-time record for most downhill victories, having a total of ten, after winning in Switzerland in early March. In 2009, Vonn was again the overall World Cup champion, and later that year sustained a bruised arm after a large crash during the opening run of the World Cup giant slalom. She is expected to return to racing as there was no fracture that would prevent her return and run at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. In my opinion, Lindsay Vonn is the greatest skiier to ever live, and despite her injury, will do fantastically in Vancouver.

Gen Katz

Endurance

Ever get paranoid that your room is not clean enough? Ever wonder if that spec on the wall was dirt or a stain? No worries now with the new sport that has officially hit the streets on NYC. In my backyard there is a huge white room divided into 6 rooms. These rooms are all equal in area and diameter. Equal measurements these 6 rooms are all perfect squares.

Now here’s the challenge, you must clean the room spotless until there are no specs left. You receive 4 boxes of Magic Eraser ™, 4 rags, and a bucket of water. You have a total of an hour to clean the room which has a collection of rotten food, and dumpster trash. There is a hole in the wall in which you may throw away any trash possible. There may not be any remains of trash in the room, and the walls must be completely spotless. I don't want my 6 rooms to be dirty.

Now here’s the catch, after that hour has come, there will be more trash dumped into the room, not as much as the amount when you start, but there will be slim and grim dripping on the walls. Magic erasers are used up very quickly for they disappear quickly so use it wisely.

This sport is new and is jumping. Those who enjoy cleaning will enjoy this competitive sport; winners will receive a 150-dollar gift certificate to Subway. Gotta eat fresh after such a dirty sport!

The Tar Heel Struggles

By Victor Rosario

Everyone knew that this year’s Tar Heels team was not going to be the team that won the championship last year. They lost their four core players in Tyler Hansborough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, and Danny Green. Each of these players, especially Hansborough and Lawson, are somewhat irreplaceable, but the Tar Heels have found some young talent. The problem is that the team has not found a way to use that talent in a way that will be most effective.

The team is relying on the play of their two big men right now, Deon Thompson and Ed Davis. The big men are both averaging above 15 points per game, but where the rest of the team is concerned, the young guards have to prove their worth on the team. Larry Drew II, Donald Strickland, and Leslie McDonald are the three guards on the team that are taking the place of Lawson, Ellington, and Green. However, they are not putting up the same numbers as those three and even combined aren’t even averaging what Ty Lawson averaged on his own. They have to improve their game immensely if the Heels are going to have any chance at advancing in this year’s tournament, if they make it.

The tough part of the Heels’ schedule is out of the way, but this is the period in time where teams like the Heels should be dominating the competition and improving their record. If the Heels lose another game to a non-ranked, non-conference team, they will be looking at a very low seed in the tourney or perhaps not an invitation. I believe the Heels will pull through this transition period and come up as one of the top team in their conference, but as for the top 25 teams, they are looking like a 10-20 ranked team right now.

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

By Max Rosenthal

The Packers came into Arizona for the week 17 showdown but neither team cared about the game. The Cardinals took the approach of the Colts by barley playing their starters so they do not show their game plan and to keep their players safe. That worked out. Only one of the best wide receivers and a top cornerback got hurt and will most likely not play in their rematch. The Packers go into the game with a better offence, defense and record while, the Cardinals go into the game in the same situation as they were in last year when they made it to the Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers comes into this game with pressure of starting in his first playoff game, knowing that if he wins he could have a rematch with his mentor Brett Favre. He comes up short he will have to deal with the comparison to Favre this year and how Favre got farther in the playoffs. Rodgers has had a great season with 30 plus touchdowns and just under 4,500 yards this year. This could be Kurt Warner’s last game and you always want to go out on top. He will have the amazing Larry Fitzgerald to throw to but he will be covered by the best cornerback in football (Charles Woodson). The problem Warner will have is the lack of run production and the absence of Anquan Boldin.

Packers 34 – Cardinals 27

Wild Card Weekend Analysis

By Arlen Blakeman

AFC

JETS VS. BENGALS

The Jets poached the Bengals with their ruthless ground attack. The rematch however is in Cincy so watch out this ones going to be close. However, I think Ochocinco will continue to be a castaway on Revis Island giving the Jets the win.

Jets Win

23-17

PATRIOTS VS. RAVENS

The last time these two teams tangoed the Ravens beat themselves be committing countless penalties. The Patriots without Wes Welker are not the same team because he takes attention away from Randy Moss. Now expect Moss to be double-teamed and have trouble getting open. Tom Brady also has more injuries than the 5 million dollar man. It will be close, but I think the Ravens get it done on the road.

Ravens win

28-21

NFC

COWBOYS VS. EAGLES

Another week 17 rematch, in which the road team was very unimpressive. The Eagles offense was hard to watch even on that mile long TV in HD at the incredible Cowboy Stadium. The Eagles need to make big plays with Desean Jackson for them to have a chance in the playoffs. I think they will have success, but Romo is going to prove he can do it in the spotlight. Its going to be close, but the ‘Boys are going to finally get that playoff win.

Cowboys win

31-24

PACKERS VS. CARDINALS

The Cardinals sleep-walked through last weeks game against the Packers. I think they will show up ready to play on Sunday. However, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers D have been exceptional this season. If they can protect Rodgers the Packers will have success on offense. Plus the Cards possibly won’t have Boldin. I think he’s play will be the difference. The Pack will pull it out in a close one.

Packers win

28-27

Michael Silverstone

NFL Playoffs Predictions

The playoffs are right around the corner, and we have three games that are rematches of Week 17. Here are my predictions for each game.
AFC

Wild Card
New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals
In my honest opinion, the Jets were handed their playoff spot. Their final two opponents basically gave them the final seed. But, nobody expected a 37-0 shut out over the Bengals. This game will be close, but the Bengals will pull it out.
Bengals by 3

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots
Wes Welker, the Patriots star receiver, was taken out on a stretcher in week 17. The Jewish Julian Edelman will be his replacement. The Ravens running game should be able to attack an old Patriots defense, and they will get their first win ever against the Pats.
Ravens by 2

Divisional
Cincinnati Bengals @ San Diego Chargers
The last time these two teams played was the first game following the tragic death of Bengal receiver Chris Henry and San Diego won by 3. San Diego, arguably, is the best team in the AFC, and they are riding an 11 game winning streak following a 2-3 start.
Chargers by 5

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
This matchup has been mismatched since the start of the millennium. The Colts have lost two in a row thanks to benching starters. As long as Peyton Manning stays in the game, and Curtis Painter doesn’t play, the Ravens should continue to struggle against the Colts.
Colts by 9

Conference Championship
San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts
This game should be very entertaining and close. That’s what Chargers and Colts games have been known for not only against other opponents, but also against each other. The Colts awful run defense won’t be a negative factor thanks to San Diego’s 32nd ranked running game.
Colts by 2

NFC

Wild Card
Philadelphia @ Dallas
These two teams played last week in what was expected to be a battle to the finish. The Cowboys won 24-0 and claimed the NFC East after spending most of the year in 3rd place. Now everybody’s views on a once Super Bowl bound team in the Eagles has completely turned around.
Dallas by 4

Green Bay @ Arizona
These two teams also played last week, and the Packers blew them out. Arizona is known for being a better road team, but they’re playing at home this Sunday, and they probably can’t win in Green Bay either.
Green Bay by 6

Divisional
Dallas @ Minnesota
The Vikings started off as one of the hottest teams in football, and with a comfortable lead in the NFC, they almost lost the first round bye. The team easily beat the Giants, who are an awful defensive unit. But Dallas is a different story.
Dallas by 7

Green Bay @ New Orleans
The Saints have been known for having a high-powered offense and a mediocre defense. The Packers have both. New Orleans is collapsing and this is not their dream season. Green Bay and their amazing offense and defense will pull it out with or without Charles Woodson.
Green Bay by 3

Conference Championship
Green Bay @ Dallas
Two low seeds will make it to the conference championship game and whoever wins deserves the NFC championship completely. Dallas needs to get pressure on a week Packer O-Line, but Romo tends to turn it over in the playoffs.
Green Bay by 1

Super Bowl
Green Bay @ Indianapolis
Green Bay’s dream season will end here. The Packers secondary won’t do anything to the best QB in the league, and the Colts led by Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney will toss Aaron Rodgers around like a ragdoll.

Colts by 10

Zack Yablon

Playoff matchups

1. Jets Vs. Bengals

- These two teams will come into the game with similar game plans, each focused on running the ball, and playing great defense. However, the Jets have been dominate on “D” this year, and similarly to how the stuffed the Bengals for zero points in week 17, the Bengals will once again struggle to score. The Jets will jump to an early lead behind two Thomas Jones touchdowns. The Jets will win 24-3. Mark Sanchez will once again throw for under 100 yards, but he will outplay Carson Palmer who will have one pick, and one fumble.

2. Patriots Vs. Ravens

- The Patriots will be playing without Wes Welker, and as a result they will suffer deeply. This game will remain close until the end, but with less than 3 minutes left, Ray Rice will run for a touchdown to give the Ravens the lead, and finally the victory. The final score will be 24-21. Along the way Joe Flacco will throw 2 touchdowns, both to Derrick Mason.

3. Eagles Vs. Cowboys

- Much like their week 17 matchup, the Cowboys will dominate the whole way through. This game will never be close, with Tony Romo throwing three touchdowns, and Donovan McNabb throwing three picks. The final score will be 31-3.

4. Cardinals Vs. Packers

- The Packers will rally behind two first have interceptions, and by the end of the first half they will lead 17-3. However, Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner will combine for 3 second half touchdowns storming back to win the game by a score of 24-20.

Hello and welcome to the Lion's Roar. In this week's group of articles the group focuses on various topics including the flawed bcs system and the baseball season. Zachary Yablon and Max Rosenthal both interview fellow peers about various sports topics while Gen Katz discusses yet another unheard of sport.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

Daredevil?

by Gen Katz

Ever want to challenge yourself to an extreme sport? Ever want to be on the front cover of the New York Times sports section? Well now you can. The newest sport craving has hit the United States.

Travel to high altitudes and parachute out with your friends to play the most exhilarating sport ever. As you may well now by now, skydiving sports are a favorite of Gen Katz, and therefore the newest skydiving sport is finally here. Skydiving dodgeball is the new and improved sport. Why play it on the ground when you could play in the air. There is a catch to the game though. You wont be able to retrieve the balls you throw as they will fall to the ground if you miss, so be wise with the 8 balls you receive in the satchel attached to your utility belt.

Rules are simple. The instance you exit the plane door and are in the air, the game begins. You may not deploy your parachute though, until you are hit. What’s so extreme about this? Well you get hit by the ball, you get to land safely, if your last person left and the winner, you may be too close to the ground…Players must play the game correctly in order to survive and land safely. However, because Gen Katz is such a nice guy, the landing area (in Gen Katz’s backyard) is padded with 100 feet of soft stuff which will cushion your landing if anything were to go wrong. There is no line, no divider, no nothing. It is a free for all game where anything counts. If you run out of the balls you have in your satchel, you may forfeit or you may try to stay alive until the end, which may end up leaving you the winner.

May the best player win. Remember, winner receives a free dinner on Arlen Blakeman.

Week 15 Predictions

by Michael Silverstone

Colts @ Jaguars (Thursday Night Football)

This is a must-win for the 7-6 Jaguars to stay in the race for the wildcard, and they want it more in front of the country. But, the Colts, who have clinched first round bye and are 13-0, will be too much for the surprising Jaguars.

Colts by 3

Cowboys @ Saints

Just like the Colts, the Saints are a perfect 13-0, and have clinched a first round bye in the playoffs. We all know that the Cowboys are a terrible team in December, and in the Super Dome, wins are harder to come by than on the road.

Saints by 6

Bears @ Ravens

Technically, the Bears aren’t out of it yet. The only way that the Bears can make the playoffs is if they win out, and the Giants, Cowboys, and Falcons lose out. Two words: Ray Rice. Two more words for the Bears: no playoffs.

Ravens by 9

Patriots @ Bills

The Patriots have ended their short slump, beating the Panthers 20-10. A Patriots loss will completely turn the face of the AFC East around, and the Bills aren’t playing for anything. But, what happened to Randy Moss? Watch out for my upset of the week.

Bills by 3

Cardinals @ Lions

The Cardinals have been known for their success on the road, but even if they weren’t that good on the road, how can they lose this? Coming off a most embarrassing lost to the 49ers in San Francisco on Monday Night Football, in which the Cardinals had 7 turnovers, the Cardinals should be expected to win a revival game here, and wrap up that awful NFC West division.

Cardinals by 14

Texans @ Rams

It seems that each year, the Texans have been expected to do something, but right now they are 6-7, and in 4th place. Their playoff hopes are alive by a hair, and the Texans know that. This is a must win, and it should be an easy one, over the Rams which have been declining from 3-13 every year, and might go 1-15 this season.

Texans by 10

Dolphins @ Titans

By around week 6, both of these teams, two of the top rushing teams in the NFL, were at the bottom of their divisions and seemed to not have a chance. But some miraculous turnarounds have resulted in the Dolphins becoming 7-6 and the Titans becoming 6-7 after an 0-6 start. A Titans loss would make sure that their playoff hopes are dead, and the Dolphins would be in trouble with a loss here. At home, the Titans should try to ride the hot streak, but it won’t be easy.

Titans by 1

Browns @ Chiefs

Both of these teams have two big things in common. They have both beaten the defending Super Bowl champions, and they are both the worst teams in the AFC. Both teams are showing no sign of improvement whatsoever, and that leaves with no choice.

Tie

Falcons @ Jets

The Falcons started off hot but are basically dead, at 6-7. The Jets started off hot, then died out, but have won 3 in a row now. They are 7-6 and one game behind the Patriots for the division lead. This should be a good game of two talented defenses, and two backup quarterbacks.

Jets by 2

49ers @ Eagles
Following a shootout win over the Giants, the Eagles have taken full possession of 1st place by a game. The 49ers have come off of a huge over the Cardinals, but they don’t stand a chance at a very loud Lincoln Financial Field.

Eagles by 5

Raiders @ Broncos

The Broncos are coming home, and have the wildcard lead in the AFC with an 8-5 record. The Raiders are just the Oakland Raiders that we have seen for the past few years. But, for some reason, it seems that recently the Raiders have always put up a fight against the better Broncos, and have sometimes won.

Broncos by 2

Bengals @ Chargers

Both teams are in first place in their divisions. The Bengals just got crushed by the Vikings in Minnesota last week, but only need one win to wrap up their division in their surprisingly amazing season. After a 2-3 start, the Chargers have won 8 in a row and can go up by at most 3 games in their division if they win. I’m taking the home team here, and the streak will continue.

Chargers by 3

Packers @ Steelers

Nothing has been going right for the Steelers. In a five game losing streak, including losses to Raiders, Chiefs, and Browns, the Steelers have fallen under .500. The Packers have won 5 in a row. A once good game, has turned into a future blowout.

Packers by 12

Buccaneers @ Seahawks

Two of the worst teams in the NFL have come to play. A win is never easy at Qwest Field.

Seahawks by 6

Vikings @ Panthers (Sunday Night Football)

The Vikings win the NFC North if they can pull it off in Charlotte. They should be able to do this easily.

Vikings by 9

Giants @ Redskins (Monday Night Football)

They haven’t been winning games, but all of a sudden the Redskins have been making games good. The Giants have fallen to 7-6 after losing to the Eagles. The Redskins would like another chance to impress the nation as everybody will be watching on ESPN.

Redskins by 3

An Analysis on the Curtis Granderson Trade

By Aakash Bhatia

Despite a weak free agent market and the nation’s poor economic state this year’s MLB offseason has been filled with plenty of big free agent signings and trades. Here is an analysis of the biggest trade: the Yankees acquiring centerfielder Curtis Granderson.

The Curtis Granderson Trade: The first major trade of this offseason was the Yankees’ acquisition of centerfielder Curtis Granderson. Although he came at an expensive price (Ian Kennedy, Phil Coke, and Austin Jackson) he has a chance to be the franchise’s best all around centerfielder since Bernie Williams. Not only can he hit for power (30 HRs last season) but can steal bases as well (20 last year). Also he is a great fielder which makes him an all around presence force on the field. Being the great pull-ball hitter that he is, he will certainly have success in his first year in pinstripes and should quickly become a fan favorite in New York.

It might seem at first that the Diamondbacks did not get a good end of the deal (got Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy and traded Max Sherzer) but they made a move that will stabilize their rotation for a long time. Before going under shoulder surgery Kennedy was one of the best prospects in baseball and moving to his home state and the National League will defiantly benefit him. Furthermore the move for Jackson was great as he was one of the best pitchers in the first half last year (an Allstar as well) and now gets to show off his immense talent in a weak division. This now gives the D-backs a great top four of the rotation and possibly the best rotation in the national league. Only time will tell if the trade works out but I think it does.

The Tigers received the best end of the deal in my opinion (got Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, Daniel Shlerit, Max Sherzer) as they got several prospects which they can build their team around. Jackson is a guy who could hit 20 hrs and steal 20 bases as he enters his prime. Also he is a great fielder which the Tigers need in what is a large centerfield. Sherzer is a great talent as he throws very hard and has great breaking stuff and Phil Coke might do better now in Detroit as the park is much bigger than Yankee Stadium.

Interview with Jared Cohen

by Max Rosenthal

Who do you think should be MVP of the NFL?

While I feel there are many key players at each position, I feel that the Quarterback position is the one that makes a team championship caliber. With that in mind, I feel Drew Brees, or Aaron Rodgers, depending on the outcome of their respective seasons, should be strongly considered for this prestigious award.

Why not Peyton Manning?

Although I feel that Peyton is the most talented play-caller, I feel that many of his team’s wins are a result of strong defense, and the remainder of the team making up for his mistakes. For example, this past weekend, the Colt’s overcame a 3-interception performance by their start quarterback, and played strong defense against a potent Denver offense. Still, he wins games at a rate like no other quarterback in history, and he has much to do with his team’s success. In all honesty, lets just give the other guys a chance.

Who is your favorite for winning the Super Bowl?

I feel that the Eagle’s will make a strong playoff run. With their potent offense, led by DeSean Jackson and Donovan McNabb, they are also complemented by their big-play and opportunistic defense that will take them along way. Still, we cannot overlook the Saints, Colts, or Chargers who all have a legitimate shot at winning the championship.

Who will win Defensive MVP?

I feel that Charles Woodson and Darelle Revis at the cornerback position have been playing at an extremely high level. I also feel a player that is often overlooked is Patrick Willis. He is leading the league in tackles by a hefty margin and also has a competitive amount of sacks and forced fumbles. He also is only 1 interception behind the leading linebacker in the league.

Will The Colts Loses to the Jaguars?

by Vikram Nayyar

The Colts now undefeated are thought by many to be the best team in the NFL right now. However, their winning streak will end on Sunday against the hot Jacksonville Jaguars. One reason the Colts will lose is because of there beast of a running back Michael Jones-Drew. MSJ has been on tear lately with straight games with more than 100 yards. Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis coach, wants to rest up his star players and gives others on the roaster a chance to play. Michel Sims Walker the Jaguar star receiver was participating in practice the whole week and should be amazing when they play the Colts.

Interview With Rebecca Rosenthal

by Zachary Yablon and Rebecca Rosenthal

1) Where were you born?

New York, Ny

2) What is your favorite sport?

Squash

3) Who is your favorite athelete?

Melanie Oudin, and Andy Roddick, its tied.

4) What winter sports do you participate in?

Skiing, tennis, squash, and track.

Thanks for reading, and hope you had a great winter break!!!!!!!!!!

THE NCAA GOT IT WRONG

by Ben Acton

The BCS series is to represent the best of the best. One or two non bcs teams make a game every year. But this year boise state and tcu both made it…to play eachother. This defeats the purpose of a possible upset. It completely ruined the system. The NCAA needs to give every team that deserves it a shot to win a big game. But this year the ncaa completely blew the system.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,

Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. This week features a well written article on Marshall Khakshauri, the freshman sensation that recently hit a game winning shot. Furthermore power rankings are in this week's articles as Max Rosenthal and Arlen Blakeman discuss the teams in the NBA and the NFL.

College previews are also written by Vikram Nayyar and Michael Siverstone so be sure to read them all.

Thank you and enjoy.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

Could a Change in the Knicks’ Identity Lead to the Playoffs?

By Aakash Bhatia

The 2009-2010 Knicks got off to a customary start as they started 3 and 14, the worst start in their franchise’s history. Mike D’antoni, a coach accustomed to winning through a fast break offense, needed to prompt change and he did so by adjusting his rotation. At the start of the year, the coach emphasized on playing 10 men a game as they would be constantly fresh and as a result, play well. However this led to many turnovers and defensive discontinuity as the players could not coordinate well with one another. Now with the shortened rotation, players are used to playing with each other, and as a result are forcing turnovers and mistakes.

This new strategy has significantly changed the culture of the team as a new sense of chemistry has formed between the players. Furthermore, it has created an identity for the struggling team: a high scoring and aggressive team. The Knicks have now won four of the last five games, beating quality teams like the Suns, Hawks, and Trailblazers during their impressive streak. They are now only two games out of the 8th seed in the east and in 3rd place of their own division. Will this streak continue and they ultimately make the playoffs? Maybe not but at least for the time being they have had success.

Miami Making A Run

By Victor Rosario

The Miami Dolphins are making that push that they made last year, the push that got them the division title and a spot in the playoffs. They did that last year by beating their division rivals. They have beaten each of them at least once and now have to focus on the out of division teams that will not let the Dolphins win that easily. They also hope to do this without their number one running back, Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins’ last four games, in order, are against the Jaguars, Titans, Texans, and Steelers. None of these games are walks in the park for any team, especially for the young Dolphin team. The Jaguars have one of the best running backs in the league in Maurice Jones-Drew, the Titans have turned things around in a big way from their 0-6 start and are playing great. The Texans have a very explosive offense with Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. Then there are the Steelers, the league’s defending Super Bowl champions. Need I say anymore about them?

The Dolphins are a very young team; they might crumble under the pressure of trying to defend their division title. A big part to their early success was due to the leadership of Ronnie Brown, the number running back and the QB of their wildcat offense. There are a lot of things that could go wrong without having him in the game, but Ricky Williams and Chad Henne have stepped up big time! Ricky Williams looks like he is 25 when he is playing out there, and Chad Henne has put aside the rookie and became the QB that the Dolphins desperately needed. Their most recent win against the Patriots was because of a game winning drive down the field to win by one point!The Dolphins have to come together as a team in order to get back to the playoffs, and I think that they have done that. However, it won’t be an easy road to capture that playoff spot and maybe even a playoff victory. The Dolphins are a surprising team to a lot of people, they want to show everyone that they are playoff caliber every year, and I think they are capable of doing that.

Why Alabama Will Beat Texas In The Battle Of The Southern Undefeated

by Michael Silverstone

The games are set. Five of the top six teams in the nation are undefeated, and we are ready for a great series of BCS Bowl games. The main highlight of these games is the BCS National Championship game led by the two top teams in the country, 13-0 Alabama against 13-0 Texas in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Both teams have had their ups, but it doesn’t seem that Alabama has had any down.

Alabama’s worst game occurred when they beat unranked division rival Tennessee 12-10 by blocking a last second field goal. Besides a five point win against a good Auburn team, they have won all of their other games by 2 possessions or more. Texas, on the other hand, although they are undefeated, has struggled to win games in the past few weeks. Two weeks ago, they barely survived the 6-6 Texas A & M Aggies, and Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy was beaten in yardage by Aggie quarterback Jerrod Johnson. The following week, the team only beat Nebraska by one point. There was only one touchdown in the game, and the reason that they were able to kick a game-winning field goal was because the officials put one second back on the clock for some strange reason. The odds are, if Nebraska were in Texas’s shoes, the game would be over and they wouldn’t be given a chance.

Alabama’s last win, was an upset over #1 Florida, the defending national champions. They didn’t need a last second field goal. The final score was 32-13. If Alabama can ride the momentum into the national championship, and if Texas keeps on barely winning football games, the Crimson Tide should have no problem beating the Longhorns. In my opinion, this game will not be as epic as people expect it will be. It may be good, but don’t be surprised if this game doesn’t come down to a last second play.

Final Score: Alabama – 30, Texas - 14

Week 13 Power Rankings

by Arlen Blakeman

1. New Orleans Saints (12-0)- Comebacks keep the dream alive.

2. Indianapolis Colts (12-0)- All signs look like a perfect season.

3. San Diego Chargers (9-3)- Always finish the season great.

4. Arizona Cardinals (8-4)- Beating all the good teams.

5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)- Adrian Peterson has hit a road bump in his career.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-3)- Have full control of the NFC north.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)- Looked really good in Atlanta-Really good!!!!!

8. Denver Broncos (8-4)- Back to back wins put the Broncos back in the top ten.

9. Green Bay Packers (8-4)- Best Defense, Great Quarterback makes this team really dangerous.

10. New England Patriots (7-5)- I give up! I backed this team all year, put them higher on the list than their record and this is how I repaid! They can’t win on the road, they can’t cover anyone, they can’t finish games. Watch out Patriot fans here come the Dolphins!

11. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)- Cowboy fans, its going to be a long December, trust me!

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)- Every week is a heart-attack, but they keep winning.

13. New York Giants (7-5)- Back from the dead!

14. Miami Dolphins (6-6)- In the thick of division race.

15. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)- Big disappointment

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)- Bigger disappointment. How does a super bowl champ lose such a critical game to such a bad team.

Baja Eating Competition

by Gen Katz

Ever get sick in the car right after you eat? Ever want to pull over to throw up? Then maybe this isn’t your sport. The newest hit sport has finally come to the states after being played for so long in the Middle East. I have had to clear out my backyard and lay out a full desert course for this new sport.

The rules. You must come prepared with your own Baja racing vehicle, which can range from an ATV to a Protruck with a small black V-8. The course will be a 300-mile course consisting of bumps, hills, winding roads and puddles. Each race team is required to have a driver and an eater. The eater is required to stay in the truck at all times of the race. If a driver needs gas, the driver must be able to make it to the nearest pit stop, and the eater must devour 2 shake shack hamburgers or cheeseburgers in order to get a full tanks worth of gas.

Here’s the catch though. The eater is not allowed to throw up at all. If the eater throws up inside or outside the car the team is immediately disqualified. Why you may ask? Why is such an intense and cruel sport being played? This is because this is America and we take sports seriously.

The first team to cross the finish line wins and because I have decided that it is for pink slips, winner is allowed to take all the other remaining vehicles in the competition. Now you really don't want to loose do you?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN….

NBA Power Rankings

by Max Rosenthal

1. Los Angeles Lakers: Best team, best record, and they have the best player.

2. Orlando Magic: Best team in the East. This looks like last year.

3. Boston Celtics: They still have a great core and bench.

4. Denver Nuggets: Four game winning streak and solid team.

5. Phoenix Suns: I will give them a break because they lost to the Knicks to start their win streak.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers: I am still not sold on them with Shaq.

7. Dallas Mavericks: Playing well with the 7^th best record.

8. Atlanta Hawks: Like the Suns they lost to the Knicks

9. Utah Jazz: Beat the Spurs the other day and are 8-2 in the last 10 games.

10. Portland Blazers Like the Suns and Hawks, lost to the Knicks.

11. Oklahoma City Thunder: They have my MVP in Durant.

12. Houston Rockets: I did not think they would playing this well without Yao but they have.

13. Miami Heat: Wade has been playing well but he has a poor supporting cast.

14. New York Knicks: 6^th biggest win streak. Have beaten 3 teams in the top 10.

15. New Jersey Nets: They won!!!!!

Matchups Week 14

by Zachary Yablon

Steelers Vs. Browns- The slumping Steelers will look to rebound versus a weak opponent in the Browns. This contest will stay close through the first quarter, but with a touchdown pass to both Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward, the Steelers will plow ahead. The final score will be 27-10 Steelers.

Saints Vs. Falcons- The Saints and their undefeated season will come to a close this Sunday with a blowout loss to the Falcons. Michael Turner will come back from injury and rush for two touchdowns, and Matt Ryan will have one. The final score will be 31-17 Falcons. Drew Brees will throw 3 picks.

Packers Vs. Bears- The rolling Packers will continue their streak behind another big game from Aaron Rodgers. This game will never be close, with Jay Cutler throwing 3 picks, and he will continue to lead the NFL in interceptions throughout the season. Final score= 24-10

Broncos Vs. Colts- Peyton Manning will once again shine, finding Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark for touchdowns. Joseph Addai will also have one touchdown as the Colts roll to victory 27-14

Bills Vs. Chiefs- Two struggling teams will face off, with the Chiefs getting the better of the matchup. Matt Cassel will find Chris Chambers for two touchdowns, including the game winner with 42 seconds remaining. Chiefs win, 17-13.

Bengals Vs. Vikings- Two very good teams faced off, and Carson Palmer is able to outduel the aging Favre. Favre will have his worst game of the season throwing 4 picks and a touchdown. He will single-handedly loose his team the game, with the final score being 34-20.

Patriots Vs. Panthers- The Patriots will pounce on a team who may be missing their star running back Deangalo Williams. Randy Moss will catch a touchdown pass, and the Patriots will win 21-7

Ravens Vs. Lions- Surprisingly, this game will remain close throughout. Then, in the fourth quarter, Lions running back Kevin Smith will find the end zone with 1 minute left to take the lead. The Lions will win 17-14

Seahawks Vs. Texans- The Texans will cruise behind Matt Schuabs' 3 touchdowns, and will win 21-7

Rams Vs. Titans- The Titans will get back on track, with the dismantling of the ‘Rams. Chris Johnson will run for 160 yards and two touchdowns, while Vince Young runs and throws for a touchdown. A Final score of 25-3 in favor of the Titans.

Jets Vs. Buccaneers- The Jets will look to make a run for the playoffs by beating the Buccaneers 27-10

Cardinals Vs. 49ers- The Cardinals will put up 44 points and will simple overmatch the 49ers. 44-21 the final.

The Heisman Award

By Vikram Nayyar

The Heisman award ceremony is coming up and there are five players that have been invited to New York: this has not happened since 1981. The Trophy will be awarded at 8:00 this Saturday. The Awards are given by the college football player that has been amazing all years. It is given out once a year.

Players that have been invited:

Colt McCoy- (Texas- Sr.- QB)
Toby Gerhart- (Stanford- Sr.- RB)
Tim Tebow- (Florida- Sr.- QB)
Mark Ingram- (Alabama- So.-RB)
Ndamukong Suh- (Nebraska- Sr.-DT)

The polls now show that Colt McCoy is in the lead for the Heisman trophy. Colt threw for 3512 yards, with 27 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. Second in the race is most likely Alabama running back Mark Ingram. This man has run for an astonishing 1542 yards which is amazing for a college football player. Also in the race is DT Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska. Suh is the first defense player to be invited to the ceremony since 2001. He proved to be a tight contender in the Heisman race with three and a half sacks against Colt McCoy.

Marshall Khakshouri: The Foul Shot Technique

by Rebecca Rosenthal

Standing at approximately five feet six inches, Marshall Khakshouri, a freshman on the Columbia Prep Freshman Basketball Team, can shoot some marvelously sensational foul shots. Marshall was inspired to try out for the basketball team because according to him, “basketball is my lifelong love, and my passion.”

To accomplish these amazing foul-shots, Marshall dribbles the ball twice, bends his knees, and while bending, spins t

he ball, stands up straight, inhales, exhales, bends his knees again, and then shoots the ball.

The official Children’s Basketball Association of Des Moines says in order to accomplish successful foul shots you need to get in a good position, and then if you are right handed, your right foot should be lined up with the rim. Your shoulders should be square and you should feel balanced, because being off balanced will affect your control. The CBADM reminds you to keep your eyes on the front of the rim before you shoot and while you shoot. They also remind you to keep your shooting arm parallel to the rim when you shoot the ball, and bend your knees, because the strength of your shot should come from your legs rather than your arms.

I encourage you all to come see Marshall shoot some sensational foul shots, either Thursday December 10^th, or Monday December 14^th.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,

Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. This week features some indepth analysis on the Giants' and Bears' recent struggles from Michael Silverstone while Max Rosenthal discusses the struggles of some other New York sports teams.

Rebecca Rosenthal also gives a biography on the renown life of our own Zachary Yablon while Victor Rosario talks about the Knick's future.

Thank you and enjoy.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

Why Jay Cutler Is Struggling

by Michael Silverstone

Expectations were very high when Jay Cutler came to Chicago. The Bears became an instant Super Bowl favorite. The team was lacking a quarterback for such a long period of time that now, perhaps, the team was complete. Following a season with nine wins and sevens losses, being led by a mediocre quarterback named Kyle Orton, how couldn’t the Bears win at least 12 games this season with a 4,500 yard all-pro passer.

But the dreams never came true and reality came into play. Jay Cutler instantly opened the season in disastrous fashion, by throwing a career high four interceptions in a 21-15 loss to all-time rival Green Bay Packers. After fine performances from week 2-4 against the Steelers, Seahawks, and Lions, it continued to go downhill. His worst game, so far, occurred against the 49ers in which he threw a career high five interceptions and no touchdowns. Entering week 13, he will have 16 touchdowns and a league-high 20 interceptions, with a quarterback rating of 74.4.

But you cannot blame all of these interceptions on Jay Cutler. There are a few huge reasons why the poor play of Cutler is occurring because of the lack of productivity on the offense. It is known throughout the NFL, that a good running game opens up the passing game. So far this year, Bears running back Matt Forte’s productivity has sunk very low and he is averaging just over 2 yards a carry. The lack of a good running game results in a higher percentage of passing plays in the game. This brings us to the offensive line. Additions to the offensive line such as Orlando Pace and Frank Omiyale have yet to pay off as the squad is continuing to struggle to protect the quarterback. A lack of protection results in Cutler having to release the ball very quickly, and generally inaccurately.

This leads to the receivers. One thing that Cutler can be blamed on is his red zone picks, only because of fact that he tends to single out one target, Greg Olsen. This has led defensive units to cover Olsen more, yet Cutler still tries to get the ball to him, and this commonly has resulted in an interception. One thing that can be blamed on the receivers is the lack of talent. There are no Bears receivers ranked in the top 20 and dropped or tipped passes by speedsters such as Earl Bennett, or bad route runs performed by Devin Hester, have led to most of Jay Cutler’s interceptions.

The main things that the Chicago Bears need to do in the offseason is remake their offensive line and hire young proved stars, not players who are past their prime such as Orlando Pace. They also need to add a star wide receiver. It is taking way too long for the young receivers on the Bears to develop into pro bowl wideouts, so the team needs to go after a proven player who can bring success to the team. These changes and additions can lead to a successful time in Chicago for Jay Cutler.

The ETS

by Max Rosenthal

The last time a team in New York ending with “ETS” made the playoffs was 2006 (when all of them made it). There are three New York teams that ends with ETS, the Jets, Mets, and Nets. They are responsible for the worst team in each sport for New York City and East Rutherford. The last time they won a championship was in 1986 when the Mets won the World Series. The Jets have won one super bowl and that was in 1968. The Nets have never won a NBA championship but won an ABA championship in 1974 and 1976.

As a Mets fan I can say that watching them is like watching a plane crash. They take off well and are on pace to have a smooth journey. Then, September comes along and they start losing and losing. They clasped in 2007, had a similar collapse in 2008 and this year they all got hurt. The Jets have been like the Mets. Last year they started out 7-1 in 2008 with future hall of fame quarterback Brett Favre. Then they ended the season 9-7 and missed the playoffs. This year they started out 3-0 with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez but are now 5-6.

The Nets are now 0-17 and are tied for the worst start in NBA history. Their head coach Lawrence Frank has already been fired and they have nothing to look forward to in this young season. They are going to try and get someone this summer because there will be some all-stars including Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh will all be free agents.

Why the Giants’ Coordinators are at Fault

by Aakash Bhatia

The Giants have lost 5 of the last 6 games, and it is still a mystery of why they have endured this collapse. A rushing attack which was so potent last season (led the NFL in rushing yards and had two 1000 yard backs) has been stagnate as Brandon Jacobs has been a shell of his former self and Ahmad Bradshaw has been experiencing foot injuries. The defense though has been the biggest disappointment as they have been outhustled and outplayed for the last several weeks. Questions have arisen from angry fans about the causes for the collapse. Some blame the players as they think they are overpaid and not disciplined while others feel that the tough schedule has exposed their untalented roster. However I disagree as I think that the coaches and their improper play-calling is the major cause for the team’s failures. At the start of training camp, defensive end Osi Umenyiora left practice after a confrontation with newly hired defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. Although he had been praised for his work ethic and familiarity by general manager Jerry Reese, many players felt that he does not have a connection with some of the players the way former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnola had. As a result, he does not know his player’s strengths and weaknesses which can result in failure for his squad. If one observes the way the Giants’ defense played last year (ranked 4th in the NFL in opponent PPG last year) they could clearly see that they were an aggressive group who constantly blitzed and tried to get pressure on the quarterback. They were willing to take risks and blitz as many players as possible as long as they knocked the Quarterback on his back. However this year they have been extremely tentative and as a result, do not get pressure on the quarterback. This makes opponents more comfortable and gives them more time to expose the defense. Therefore this new scheme established by Bill Sheridan is not effective and the results have shown on the field.

Kevin Gillbride has generated a passing game which is 8th in the NFL and a rushing game that is 5th ranked. However at times they have struggled to drive down the field in big situations and lack explosiveness. Eli Manning and other players on offense have complained that some of the plays that are called are too predictable as they often line up in unimaginative formations which reveal the play.Therefore the Giants have a lot of “soul searching” and thinking to do. If they make drastic changes to their strategy and play calling down the stretch, they have a chance to make the playoffs, but if not they will spend January on the couch.

A Biography Zack Yablon

By Rebecca Rosenthal

As I am sure many of you probably do not know, Zack Yablon, a defining member of the freshman class, is an extremely talented tennis player. Zack plays about 12 hours of tennis a week, and has been playing since age 3. Zack plays tennis at the West Side Tennis Club, and at Sporttime on Randalls Island.

Zack thinks of tennis not only as a fun activity, but as something that brings him great inspiration. Zack is mainly inspired by Roger Federer, and James Blake, and constantly watches their matches.

Zack plays in tournaments around twice a month in level one, 16s, a very prestigious honor for a player the age of fourteen. To train for these matches, along with practicing daily, Zack consumes many carbs, and runs five miles a day.

Zack hopes that one day he will play in the U.S. Open, and we all wish him the best of luck, and can’t wait to watch him succeed.

The 2010 New York Knicks

by Victor Rosario

The big question around the Knicks, at this point, is, what are their plans for the next year? Obviously this is centered around whether or not they will acquire LeBron James. In my opinion, that is not the smartest move for the Knicks to make if they intend to become a playoff caliber team. Donnie Walsh says that the Knicks could have enough money to bring in two superstars, even though LeBron James will be the focus of the free agency. Whatever goes down after the end of this season, I believe that the Knicks are better off not going after LeBron James. The Knicks have about 8 players that are at the end of their contracts, which means that Donnie Walsh has to decide which players are going to stay with the team. It is said that David Lee and Nate Robinson are the two players, if any that will stay on the team after the year is over. The two of them have made their marks in a Knick uniform and the fans love to see them play, so you have to keep the fan favorites. I don’t know how big a contract they will each receive, but I’m sure it will be sufficient for them to stay.

Now, on the subject of LeBron James, throwing all the money you can at him just to bring to New York is not the way that Donnie Walsh wants to rebuild the team. If he can afford two really good players instead of one superstar, then he should focus on the other people who will become free agents after the year is done. In my own opinion, the Knicks should bring Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson to New York. The two of them together, along with David Lee and Nate Robinson, is a good enough core to carry a team to the playoffs. LeBron is a great player, but the problem with LeBron’s teams has been that he has no supporting cast. That will be the same fate for him if he goes to New York.Even if James comes to New York, I will be as happy as the next guy that he chose New York. It will make more people go to games, watch them on T.V., and hope for better a outcome when the playoffs roll around. However, if the Knicks should lose with LeBron, then nothing would have changed. If the losing continues with LeBron, he might even feel the want to leave the team and then Donnie Walsh will have wished that he reconsidered other options in the 2010.

Davydenko Wins It All

by Zachary Yablon

During the past two weeks or so the top eight tennis players in the world have been battling it out in London. It was the last tournament of the calendar year, and with Andy Roddick pulling out of the tournament before the round robin stages, Sweden’s Robin Soderling was granted the final spot. The men who qualified for the tournament included Roger Federer, Rafeal Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro, Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco, and Robin Soderling. These people were then split up into two groups of four, where they would each play every single person within their own group. The top two finishers in each group would advance to the semifinals, where the one seed from one group would play the two seed in the other. The two winners would then meet in the finals for the title.

In the first group were Federer, Murray, Del Potro, and Verdasco. Federer ended up beating Verdasco in a deciding third set, and Murray ousted del Potro in a tough fought battle. The two losers then squared off in the day session, with Verdasco once again falling, this time to Del Potro. Then Federer fought back after loosing the fist set to Murray, allowing him to gain sole possession of first place in the group. As of now, Federer was 2-0, Murray was 1-1, Del Potro was 1-1, and Verdasco was 0-2. Each player had one match left to play. Federer took on Del Potro for the first time since loosing to him in the finals of the U.S. open. However, he lost again, making both players record 2-1. Murray then beat Verdasco, and he to ended up 2-1. However, Federer and Del Potro had won more total games and so they both got to move on. Federer became the one seed from that group, followed by Del Potro.

The second group included injury plagued Rafeal Nadal, one time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic, Russian Nikolay Davydenko, and the big swinging Robin Soderling. Soderling won his first two matches against Nadal and Djokovic, but then fell to Davydenko giving him a total of 2 wins and 1 loss. Next, Rafeal Nadal lost to all three of his opponents, putting him in last place with an 0-3 record. Both Djokovic and Davydenko finished 2-1. So in the end Soderling and Davydenko ended up advancing because they had a greater total sets record than Djokovic.

In the first semi-final Davydenko took on Roger Federer. They had faced each other twelve other times, with Federer coming out on top every time. However Davydenko got the better of him this time, allowing him to advance to the final. The next semi final match showed Juan Martin Del Potro take out Robin Soderling and advance to the finals. Davydenko then crushed Del Potro 6-3, 6-4 to take the title.

Mailroom Madness

by Gen Katz

Ever wonder what goes on behind the United States Postal Offices? How all the mail is sorted? Well now there is a sport available for those who were interested. It's a simple game, simple rules, and up to 10 players can play at a time. There are some twists and turns to this game that has recently hit the market.

Rules:

A 50 by 50 foot room is located in my backyard available for rent for game play. Each wall has a bunch of boxes labeled with addresses and zip codes. Each player receives 50 letters and the first person to properly place the letters in the boxes wins. However, the playing field is full of obstacles and things to avoid. In order to reach the wall and the proper mailbox, one may also need to climb up the wall on wooden stumps placed strategically placed by the one and only Gen Katz. If one wants to be able to climb to the proper box he or she must climb up and place the letter in box. Players also receive 3 pills that let you fly for a very short period of time. Use it wisely!

Award:

Winner receives 13 dollars and a gift certificate to Gristides.

Cowboys on a Rampage

by Vikram Nayyar

The Cowboys have been on a rampage as their record is 8-3. They are the first in the NFC East. They have the fourth-ranked offense in the NFL and they have the second-ranked scoring defense. However they have truly sucked for the past ten years in December, with a 19-34 record since 1996. The Cowboys have won 5 straight games , and have shown that they can truly be an elite football team in a very tough NFC. However, their true colors will show in the up coming games of December.

One of the teams' wide receiver said, “That's the month we're judged on around here," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "I don't know why it's been like that in December. We've got to change that. We know what's in front of us. We control what happens."

Hopefully the Cowboys will be able to get passed their recent difficulties with December games and continue their domination of the NFL.

Week 12 NFL Power Rankings

by Arlen Blakeman

1. Indianapolis Colts (11-0)- Clinched division already all they have to play for is homefield advantage and perfection.

2. New England Patriots (7-3)- Showdown with the Saints

3. New Orleans Saints (10-0)- Showdown with the Patriots.

4. Minnesota Vikings (10-1)- Favre MVP?

5. San Diego Chargers (8-3)- Explosive offense and good Defense equals a long run in the playoffs.

6. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)- Can get a step closer to a division title with win over Giants.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (7-4)- Missing Westbrook.

8. Arizona Cardinals (7-4)- Matt Leinart is not the answer.

9. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)- On the outside looking in.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)- Fun to watch Dennis Dixon, even though he blew the game.

11. Denver Broncos (7-4)- Impressive on Thanksgiving.

12. Green Bay Packers (7-4)- Beating up on bad teams.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5)- Would make the playoffs if they started tomorrow, but still have a lot of work to do.

14. New York Giants (6-5)- How did this team win the Super Bowl?

15. Tennessee Titans (5-6)- What a comeback story this season has been.

16. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)- The bird is falling fast.

The Halladay Sweepstakes

By Ben Acton

There is no real perennial pitcher on the market this year. Cliff Lee would have been the prized pitcher had he stayed with the Indians. John Lackey is the best pitcher by far but does any team really want him? Roy Halladay is the prized player, except he has to be traded. Does any team really want to give up a big prospect for a 32-year-old pitcher whose career could be ending in the near future? Whose Holiday will be increased by Halladay?

The two major players in the Halladay market are the Yankees and the Red Sox. Other teams who are willing to part with prospects could be the Angels or the Cubs. The Mets could be a good fit for him but they don’t have good players to give up. In order for the Yankees to get him, a package would have to consist of at least Phil Hughes and/or Joba Chamberlain. Plus they would have to give up to minor leaguers such as Austin Jackson or Jesus Montero. For the Red Sox they would have to give up Clay Buckholtz and/or Jose Iglesias, plus someone like Jed Lowrie. The Blue Jays will obviously pit the two rivals against each other trying to see who will give up the better prospects.

All in all, I think that the New York Yankees will end up with Halladay. They will unfortunately lose Joba Chamberlain and Austin Jackson but Halladay will lead them to another championship. Also the Yankees have the money to give him a big contract and also sign a center fielder for the future. Halladay will be wearing pinstripes by the Holiday.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,

Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Welcome to the CGPS Lion's Roar

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. This week's group of articles features many NFL forecasts such as Max Rosenthal's predictions for the AFC division winners as well as Arlen Blakeman's analysis and power rankings.

Michael Silverstone also covers the NFL as he gives his opinion on who should be this year's MVP while Vikram Nayyar and Gen Katz talk about some unappreciated sports.

Be sure to also check out Rebecca Rosenthal's extensive interview with Columbia Prep's own Cameron Beaudreault about his running in the New York City marathon.

Thank you and enjoy.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

Rowboat Racing
by Gen Katz

Happen to have an extra rowboat and a large body of water in your backyard? Kind of like Gen Katz? Well hop on in that rowboat get a friend, and tell him to bring their rowboat. The newest sport has hit the lake. Rowboat racing. Simple but fun!

You need about 1 mile of water and two players per rowboat. Each rowboat receives a marshmallow cannon and 1000 marshmallows. But don't even think about just trying to hit the other players. The first rowboat that reaches the 500 feet park can upgrade their marshmallow cannon to a paintball gun. Once the players reach the one-mile mark, you must be able to row back without being hit too many times. And by being hit too many times I mean forfeiting because you are in pain from the paintballs.

Rowing is made harder because of several obstacles in the lake. You must swerve in and out of obstacles there will also be a wave machine and you must make sure your rowboat does not flip over. You may not restart if you fallout or tip over, that is game over.

The winner receives free ice cream from Gen Katz as well as a trip to Iceland. What a game isn’t it? Yeah, I thought so. Created it all by myself.

New York Sports is…

by Zachary Yablon

THE NEW YORK JETS:

- After a 3-0 start the Jets have lost 5 of their past 6 games and appear to be lost in the world of football. They seemed poised to fail once again, and Mark Sanchez is no help. His 14 turnovers have killed the team, as their #1 draft choice is performing terribly. The season’s end is closer than the beginning, but it remains to far. The Jets must prepare for next season as the will surely loose at least five of there next 7 game. Unless they switch sports. They all know how to play football so their is no excuse to be bad, while if they tried basketball their excuse could be that they have never played before.

NEW YORK GIANTS:

- This team started the season 5-0 and looked poised to go to another super bowl. Sorry! It’s just not happening this year. The team has fallen victim to a loss in their past 4 games and maybe should start playing the ACC (a college division). That’s how bad they are! There are not two many teams that can loose 5 straight games, and we will see if the Giants can continue their terrific slump. I even hear people are paying others to take their tickets. It’s a crazy world.

NEW YORK KNICKS:

- QUIT! This season is over. The Knicks have won 1 of their first 10 games and continue to lose as fast Usain Bolt. They still have many loyal fans that fail to see how bad their team is. These people are morons and I advise you to chose a different team. Quickly. Save yourself from a prolonged life of misery. Once again, don’t be a Knick fan. You wont regret it!

NEW JERSEY NETS:

- WOW! How bad can a team possibly get? Ten chances at a victory, and not a single win. This is utterly pathetic. I have come to wonder whether they will win a game before they break the record for worst start in a season. 10 down, 7 to go. They are loosing people to injuries and seem to have a lock on last place. Personally, I would be embarrassed to be associated with the team, and if I were, I would leave the country. Don’t watch this team. For all you know they do not exist.

Cameron Beaudreault: A First Time Marathoner

By Rebecca Rosenthal

Cameron Beaudreault, a junior at the Columbia Prep School, ran the ING New York City Marathon almost three weeks ago. Cameron trained for this prestigious marathon for around two years. Cameron loves to run long distances, and is an avid member of the Columbia Prep Cross Country team. In August of 2007, Cameron decided he would run the marathon because he loves to take on new challenges. He prepared for this race by running 3 miles a day at first, and then practiced over time as he increased his mileage. Cameron often ran 10k races in practice which are around 6.2 miles each.

The night before the race, Cameron ate around 2 pounds of pasta. The next morning, at 4am, Cameron woke up. He did not have breakfast, because as he tells me, “You are not supposed to eat anything the morning of the race.” To the race, Cameron wore shorts from the Hamptons Gym, running socks, Nikes, and the official ING New York City Marathon t-shirt.

Cameron completed the marathon in a very impressive four hours and ten minutes. Right after he finished the race, Cameron ate an apple given to him at the finish line. “It was the best apple I have ever tasted,” Cameron says, “while running the marathon I was starving, so anything I ate would have tasted great.” When Cameron got home later that evening, he passed out on his bed, and slept until dinner. Congratulations Cameron!

Week 10 Power Rankings

by Arlen Blakeman

1. Indianapolis Colts (9-0)- Time to start thinking of 16-0.

2. New England Patriots (6-3)- How did they lose?

3. New Orleans Saints (9-0)- Yeah I know they are undefeated, but come on they almost lost to the Rams.

4. Minnesota Vikings (8-1)- Yeah so they beat the Lions.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (7-2)- Cincinnati is the football capital of the world right now.

6. Arizona Cardinals (6-3)- On the rise!

7. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)- What a horrible performance on Sunday in Green Bay.

8. San Diego Chargers (6-3)- Best in the AFC west.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)- The champs are looking like chumps.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)- Brian Westbrook is a big loss.

11. New York Giants (5-4)- Sunday’s biggest winner.

12. Baltimore Ravens (5-4)- Tough game against the Colts coming up.

13. Denver Broncos (6-3)- Free falling!!!!!!!

14. Green Bay Packers (5-4)- Back in the hunt after Dallas win.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)- We’re back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

16. Atlanta Falcons (5-4)- Don’t have an easy schedule to push them to the playoffs.

AFC Playoff Predictions

by Max Rosenthal

1. Indianapolis Colts (AFC South):

They are undefeated and Manning looks unstoppable. They have the south title in the bag and a two game lead in the AFC. I think they will make the Super Bowl but lose there, as their lack of a run game will hold them back.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North):

Surprise! Who would have thought they would make the playoffs and win their division as well as a first round bye. Sadly I think their luck will run out in the playoffs especially if Cedric Benson’s recent injury is serious. Carson Palmer is showing why he was a great player at USC as well as a top QB in the NFL.

3. New England Patriots (AFC East):

They should have beaten the Colts but have smooth sailing into the playoffs with only one hard game (at. Saints). In addition, the Jets have been horrible and Ronnie Brown is out for the Dolphins, which basically eliminates their dangerous Wild Cat formation. The Pats will make the playoffs where anything is possible.

4. San Diego Chargers (AFC West):

Right now they are not on top in the AFC West, but they play the AFC West leader in the Broncos this coming up weekend and with Kyle Orton questionable I think they will win that game and become the west leader. Also, the Chargers are known for slow starts to a year but finishing the year with great records as they have a 4 game winning streak, which should become 5 after this Sunday.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (Wild Card):

The defending World Champions and have a stellar record in 6-3 despite the loss to the Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger has been great this year and like always, their defense is great. Rashard Mendenhall has stepped up a lot since Willie Parker got hurt and the Steelers receivers have been great.

6. Denver Broncos (Wild Card):

I would love for the Broncos to win the West but that seems unlikely so they will grab the last Wild Card spot. They have been really solid offense which is well balanced and their defense is in the top 10 in football.

NFL MVP Predictions

by Michael Silverstone

Last year, the Most Valuable Player in the NFL threw for 4,002 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for a spectacular 95.0 QB rating. He led his team on a surprising comeback, rising from a record of 3-4 to 12-4, receiving the first wild card spot in the AFC. His name is Peyton Manning.

Throughout his stellar career, Peyton Manning has thrown for almost 50,000 yards, with 353 touchdowns and only 172 interceptions. His best season, without a doubt, had to be in 2004, when he surpassed Dan Marino on the all-time list for most touchdown passes in a single season, with 49. Tom Brady, who threw 50 TDs, would later break the record in 2007.

This season, Peyton Manning is off to a very quick start as the Indianapolis Colts are 9-0, and without doubt, the best team in the NFL. He’s not going to have the season that he had in 2004, but this could be his second best. Through Week 10, Peyton Manning has thrown 20 touchdowns, with only 7 interceptions. The Colts rank first in the passing game, with an unbelievable 315.1 passing yards a game. Even if the team ranks 29th in rushing, the Colts still have the 3rd ranked offense in the NFL.

Peyton Manning is on pace to throw almost 40 touchdowns, only 15 interceptions, and very close to 5,000 yards. The odds are against it, but maybe we’ll start hearing about Peyton Manning breaking another Dan Marino record, most passing yards in a single season. His rating is above 100, and already, the Indianapolis Colts are heavy Super Bowl favorites.

The future Hall of Famer is out to win his second championship, and with the monster season he is having, he could be well on his way to yet another MVP honor.

Paintball
by Vikram Nayyar

Many people do not know that paint-balling is a professional sport. It is possible to get recruited to teams in the United States. The sport is very sophisticated because there are many individual games that can be played within the sport of paintball. There are so people that have many paintball guns, they buy additional accessories in an effort to improve them. They have made their paintball guns out of aluminum which makes it extremely light and easy to carry. These accessories include bigger barrels which acts as larger capacity for paintballs. There are also interchangeable switch boards and better bipods for snipers and so on.

There are many different games in the game of paintball. You can play capture the flag and there is a game where you have to protect a certain person. This game, called protect the V.I.P, states that if the protected person is hit the game is over. There are also games like search and destroy and so on. The games are all centered around paintball and shooting. There are also leagues that you can join so that you can joins teams to make money. Therefore paintball is a game that is on the rise and is quickly becoming a popular sport in America.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,
Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the CGPS Lion's Roar. This week's article features a lot of praise for the Saints as Max Rosenthal, Arlen Blakeman, and Vikram Nayyar have them as an elite team in the NFL. Be sure to read their predictions and power rankings for them and the rest of the NFL.

Rebecca Rosenthal takes over the role of Gen Katz as she analyzes the unusual sport of four square and Michael Silverstone gives his input on Isiah Thomas' first game with Florida International.

This week's edition also includes an interview of Columbia Prep's very own Jason Raden as he discusses CGPS sports as well as the Yankees and Giants.

Welcome to the CGPS Lion's Roar

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. This week, Max Rosenthal covers the NBA as he predicts which players will rise up and win awards this season. Rebecca Rosenthal writes an elaborate and insightful biography and the Steelers' Troy Polamalu.

World Series articles are also featured as Zachary Yablon and Vikram Nayyar outline game 1. Also be sure to read Ben Acton's article about the hardest position to play in sports as well as Michael Silverstone's top 5 sports movies.

With a variety of sports and topics involved, this week's articles are sure to be entertaining and informative. Thank you and enjoy.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

Can Coughlin Turn It Around

by Ben Acton

The Giants have lost in three straight weeks, two of which were complete blow outs. The ball hasn’t been moving, Eli is turning it over, and the once great Giants' defense cant touch the QB. CAN THEY TURN IT AROUND?!?! Tom Coughlin has said that the game against Chargers is the season. I disagree but still think that this game is important. Eli has no chemistry with his receivers, the coverage in the secondary has been horrendous thus they can’t blitz, and with out Wind, Earth and Fire have done nothing.

I want to see a strong all around performance this week. I want to see the Giants establish the run to set up the big pass. I also want to see all the holes in the defense get plugged up so the Giants get back to their game of forcing turnovers. If the Giants can’t do this in this week or the next, the 2009 season is over.

I have confidence that the upcoming game against Chargers will be the jumpstart they need. They will pound the ball, create havoc and most importantly…win.

The Cleveland Cavaliers

By Victor Rosario

The Cleveland Cavaliers have not started this season the way they were planning to. They have played six games so far, two on the road and four at home, posting a 3-3 record. Now, everyone knows how dominant the Cavs were at home last year. However, they have played four games at home and have only won two of them. They also lost their first game of the season to Boston, at home. Good teams usually want to take care of business at home. If you don’t play well at home, then you probably are not going to be in the playoffs.

Although, starting the season 0-2, the Cavs have won three out of their last four to get back to .500. LeBron James has been leading the way, as usual, scoring 25.2 points per game, 7.8 assists, and 7.7 rebounds. Unfortunately, the King has not had a lot of help from everyone else on the team. The only other two players averaging over ten points a game are Mo Williams (16.3) and Shaquille O’Neal (11.8). Their bench has been ineffective, and that is the main reason for their unsuccessfulness.

The Cavs are also playing with a lot of uncertainty, due to the fact of LeBron James who might be leaving the team after the season is over. All the publicity that he is getting could easily be affecting the team’s play. However, nobody expects them not to make the playoffs this year and there are split feelings about the next destination of the King after the season. But for right now, I am sure that the Cavs will pull it together and start to show all the teams in the NBA that they are still one of the elite teams in the NBA. I know that winning a championship could be a huge factor in the LeBron James situation, so keep that in mind when the playoffs come around.

Week 9 Power Rankings

by Arlen Blakeman

1. Indianapolis Colts (7-0)- As much as I hate them, I think they are the best team in the league.

2. New Orleans Saints (7-0)- Hands down the best in the NFC.

3. New England Patriots (5-2)- Should be able to stop the Wild Cat.

4. Minnesota Vikings (6-1)- Running away with the north.

5. Denver Broncos (6-1)- Had to loose sometime.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)- Best in the east.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)- The champs are not the team to beat.

8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2)- Looking good, but may disappoint fans in the long run.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)- Who dey! Who dey! Who dey! Think going to beat them Bengals!......The Ravens.

10. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)- Better than their record.

11. New York Giants (5-3)- Another tough week for big black and blue.

12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)- Its going be a struggle for the Falcons to return to the playoffs.

13. Arizona Cardinals (4-3)- Warner has been very streaky.

14. Houston Texans (5-3)- First appearance in my power ranking!

15. Chicago Bears (4-3)- If they can beat the Vikings they still have

a good chance in the division.

16. San Diego Chargers (4-3)- Can’t tell how good they are.

Florida International vs. UNC--a College Basketball Preview

by Michael Silverstone

After quite a few dreadful seasons for the New York Knicks under coach Isaiah Thomas, they decided it was time for him to go. This was after the 2008-2009 NBA season in which the Knicks finished in last place in the Eastern-Atlantic Division with a record of 26-56. Isaiah Thomas spent a year without a team, until April 4th of this year, when he was picked up to coach Florida International University, after the firing of Sergio Rouco. The team was coming off five losing seasons and a record of 12-19 in the 2008-2009 season.

The drama started right when this year’s college basketball schedule came out for all of the teams. What caught Coach Thomas’s eye was the fact that the team would be playing the #4 ranked, defending national champions, North Carolina Tarheels. He reacted in a mad way because of this game, and demanded that his team would play Ohio State instead, but his wish wasn’t granted. The two teams will be playing on Monday.

Don’t look at the fact that this match up features a small school and the national champions. Don’t think that this game will be a blowout for UNC. Well, don’t think it, yet. The fate of Florida International still has not been determined yet, and if college sports stars sometimes struggle to make it work in the pros, then why can’t it go the other way? Why can’t a struggling professional coach find success at the collegiate level? A great example of this is Lane Kiffin, former coach of the Oakland Raiders. He was fired only after four games in 2008, and finished as a coach with a 5-15 record. He was then picked up to coach for the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He has helped a team that went 5-7 last season, now own a record of 4-4. That may not seem great, but the fact is that the Volunteers have had one of the hardest schedules in the nation. They have not lost a game by more than 10 points, and that game was to the #1 Florida Gators. They have already beaten talented teams such as once ranked South Carolina by 18 points.

So don’t sleep on Florida International yet. The odds are against them as Isaiah Thomas is immediately thrown into his first challenge. Watch this game because it will be interesting to see how this newly coached Florida International team can do this season under once great basketball player turned-miserable coach, Isaiah Thomas.

Four Square

By, Rebecca Rosenthal

As a child, I am sure most of you played four square, the game loved by both childre, and adults, and it involves 4 squares and a ball. In short, Four Square is played with a rubber playground ball on a square court with four players. When the ball is bounced onto your square you must bounce it back out without it bouncing twice on your own square or else you're eliminated. The goal is to eliminate players on higher squares so that you can make it to the 'four square' and score the most points.

The official four square rules are as followed. The game is played on a 16 inch square court divided into four smaller squares. The squares are numbered one through four. New players enter into square one and the ball is served out of square four. Players are allowed to stand, walk, or run anywhere on the court, but they should remember that is important to protect their own square by not letting the ball bounce on it multiple times. The official league ball is an 8.5” rubber playground ball inflated to two lbs. This league prefers solid colors without markings or logos if possible. During play the ball may be hit with one or two hands, from the elbow to the fingertips, open or closed fist, in the same manner as official volleyball. The player in the highest rank, called four square or 'royalty,' serves the ball into the lowest ranking square, called ‘one square’. After a single bounce in one square, the player must hit the ball into any other legal square before it bounces again. Each time the ball is bounced in any square, that player must hit it into any other player's to stay in the game. The game continues until a player makes an error by letting the ball bounce twice, or hitting the ball out of bounds.

If there is a dispute between players that cannot be settled by the officials, then the only proper way to come to work out the disagreement is through the Showdown. The Showdown is mini-game of two squares with no custom rules and the loser is knocked out of the game. In the event of a Showdown, there are no points or errors logged for the players, and the winner of the showdown is simply allowed to stay in the original game. Max Rosenthal believes that “four square is awesome, and involves "a lot of strategy.”

Saints

by Vikram Nayyar

I think that the Saints have a chance this year to go all the way to the Super Bowl. They have the right balance of Offense and Defense, which will allow them to be successful. The Saints have scored an average of 39 points a game and have scored 273 total points from the start of the session.

I believe that the Saints will keep their good record due to this formula and will be successful down the stretch as a result.

Interview with Jason Radin
by Aakash Bhatia

What do you make of the Giants recent struggles? Is their anyone particular to blame or is it a team problem?

I think the injuries are a major problem that have contributed to it. I don’t think there is one player to blame. Keep in mind that every team struggles. I don’t believe they are as good a team as when they won the Superbowl and I don’t think they can win it this season. However I think that they are a better team that they have shown and I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn a corner in the next couple of weeks.

What do you think about Eli Manning? Has he struggled due to his injury or has he shown the effects of not having experienced receivers?

Eli Manning is never going to be the type of QB that is going to put up stats like his brother. I think that is due in part to the run first offense that the giants have as well as the wind in the meadow lands. Everyone struggles. I also think that part of his struggles are due the fact that defenses have changed their approach to the receivers. He will have to make adjustments

The Yankees won the World Series recently. Thoughts? Reactions? What was the main reason why they were able to prevail in your opinion?

99 percent of World Series champions have aces that they can go to. The Yankees had Sabathia and he came up big and proved that he is worth the contract they gave him. In the MLB playoffs, its normally the hottest teams that win and not the best. I think that there is no coincidence that the first year that arod produced in the postseason is the year he won his first championship.

After an on and off 2009 season, Hideki Matsui came up big in the playoffs and that final World Series game. What are the chances in your opinion that he comes back to New York?

Honestly I don’t see him as a Yankee next year. Damon is more valuable and Melky Cabrera is a young centerfielder of the future. Top prospect Austin Jackson is ready to come up soon so therefore I don’t think they should invest too much money in an aging player.

After coming off a World Series victory there is obviously a lot of pressure to repeat. What do you think the team needs to do in the offseason to make sure this happens?

I think they need to keep investing money in their farm system and develop young players to call up. They should resign Pettitte for a maximum of 1 year if he doesn’t retire. They should not overspend for veteran players at a high age and keep bolstering their pitching staff. I think that Joba should be a permanent reliever after his performance in the playoffs.

After several weeks of open gyms and tryouts, which players have stood out to you? Any people who you think will take it to the next level this year?

It looks like its going to be a rough year for CGPS basketball this year. No one has really stood out for me which should translate into a frustrating season. I heard that York Prep has gotten a 10th grader that is so good that USC has come to see him play. Hopefully we will make states again but it will be tough.

You are a prominent podcaster. Tell us about it?

Mr Wikkum has a new elective which is called advanced podcasting. In order to take it you need to take regular podcasting as a prerequisite. The class includes me Jake and Kevin Murphy and we have a podcast about football called the 5 minute drill where we discuss fantasy football, talk about various football centered topics. We also do various pieces on other things such as open gyms and we are doing this special on Mr Prevus and you should stay soon its on the school website weekly. If you are interested please email me or Mr Wikkum.

NFL Week 9 Predictions

by Zachary Yablon

Redskins Vs. Falcons- This matchup will be decided after 8 minutes or so. Michael Turner and the Falcons' offense will roll over the terrible Redskins and coast to a 24-7 halftime lead. Jason Campell will be benched, only leading to a second half that resembles that of the first. The final score will be 37 to 17 in favor of the Falcons.

Cardinals Vs. Bears- This game will stay close to the end with the Cardinals" high-powered offense up against a stiff Chicago defense. Kurt Warner will rebound from a 5-interception performance against the Panthers. During the game Larry Fitzgerald will catch 2 Td’s, but it will not be enough as Chicago wins 24-21.

Ravens Vs. Bengals- This will be a tough divisional matchup with two playoff contenders trying to solidify their team as one of the best. Joe Flacco will throw for over 250 yards and 3 Td’s, as the Ravens storm back from a 10-point halftime deficit. The final score will be 21-17 in favor of the Ravens.

Texans Vs. Colts- Both these teams rely on a relentless passing game. The Colts have not suffered a defeat this season, and I do not expect this week to present them with their first loss. In a high scoring affair, Peyton Manning will be simply too good as the Colts will win 38-27.

Dolphins Vs. Patriots- This game has become highly anticipated after Joey Porter had some rude things to say about Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady. However, I believe the hype is all for nothing as the Patriot’s will continue to roll. They will be able to stop the Wildcat this time around, and will force 2nd year quarterback Chad Henne into multiple mistakes. I predict a final score of 27-10 in favor of the Patriot’s.

Packers Vs. Buccaneers- Boring. This will be the most one-sided game of the week as the winless Buccaneers continue to struggle. Aaron Rodgers will lead a fearless passing attack from Green Bay as this game will be a blowout. Packers win by a score of 30-6.

Chiefs Vs. Jaguars- Maurice Jones-Drew will rush for 135 yards as the Chiefs continue to lose games. With a final score of 24-10 Jaguars, the Chiefs better look ahead to the draft if they want things to improve.

Lions Vs. Seahawks- Here’s the storyline. Two bad teams going against each other. This will be a game filled with mistakes, ending with the Lions winning their second game in two years. The final score will be 17-14.

Panthers Vs. Saints- It seems as if the Saints are invincible. No matter how many mistakes they make they always find a way to win. However, the surging Panthers led by running back DeaAngelo Williams will score on their final possession and shock the Saints 27-24

Giants Vs. Chargers- The Giants are losers of three straight games and they play host to the underachieving Chargers. In this game Eli Manning will return to his old self-throwing 2 Td’s and no interceptions. This game will remain close to the end, but Ladanian Tomlison will be unable to convert on a 4th and 2 with 1-minute left. The Giants win 20-17.

Cowboys Vs. Eagles- This is an extremely important midseason game for both teams. The winner will obtain first place in the NFC East. The first half will be very close, but Tony Romo will throw 3 picks in the second half, as the Eagles will win 24-20.

NFC Playoff Predictions

by Max Rosenthal

1. New Orleans Saints (7-0):

They are undefeated, have the best offense in the NFL and have one of the best defenses in football as well. Drew Brees is this year’s favorite for the MVP despite the fact that they run the ball more the any team in the NFL. They have a 3 game lead in the NFC south and there is a strong possibility that they do not even lose three games this year.

2. Minnesota Vikings (7-1):

It hurts me to say this as a Packer fan but the Vikings are a top team in the NFL. Adrian Peterson is still the best running back in football and Favre is playing like he was in his golden days as a Packer. Jarred Allen and the rest of their defense are dominate and even in their one loss to Pittsburg, all three parts of their team (offense, defense and special teams) played well.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2):

Yes, they lost to the Raiders, but they showed how good they are after their stellar play against the Giants. Brian Westbrook does not have as much pressure as last year because of the new receiving core of the Eagles as well as their wildcat system. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin have made big plays this year and LeSean McCoy has played well for the injured Westbrook.

4. Arizona Cardinals (5-2):

They are not the 4^th best team in the NFC but because they play in the NFC West they will get the 4^th seed in the playoffs. They are the only team in their division with a record over .500 and their only competition is the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are on a three game losing steak though so it seems likely that this inconsistent team will make the playoffs.

5. Atlanta Falcons (4-3):

They are a very good team but just not as good as the Saints. Michael Turner and Matt Ryan have done extremely well and have only lost to very good teams. In addition, they have a couple of easy wins ahead of them which will get them in the playoffs as the 5^th seed.

6. Green Bay Packers. (4-3):

Their three loses are to talented teams. The Vikings are responsible for two of there three loses and they have all many easy games ahead of them. They have the 8^th ranked defense and have four more games against people who are under .500.

Thank You for Reading!! 

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to: 

thelionsroar@cgps.org 

Until next time, thank you. 

Sincerely, 
Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Welcome to the CGPS Lion's Roar

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. This week, Max Rosenthal covers the NBA as he predicts which players will rise up and win awards this season. Rebecca Rosenthal writes an elaborate and insightful biography and the Steelers' Troy Polamalu.

World Series articles are also featured as Zachary Yablon and Vikram Nayyar outline game 1. Also be sure to read Ben Acton's article about the hardest position to play in sports as well as Michael Silverstone's top 5 sports movies.

With a variety of sports and topics involved, this week's articles are sure to be entertaining and informative. Thank you and enjoy.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

Outmatched

By Zachary Yablon

As the World Series slowly gets under way nobody doubts the Yankees ability to go all the way. They have not lost a game at home, and with some dominating pitching from their ace, CC Sabathia, they seem unstoppable. They now host the Phillies who have rolled through the playoffs with Ryan Howard and their high-powered offense. This series will surely be entertaining and will keep many captivated throughout its course.

My Predictions:

Games one and two:

The Phillies have already won game one; so I will move on to game two. I predict that the Phillies will win this game by a score of 5-3. Pedro Martinez will go 6 strong innings giving up two earned runs. His rival for the day, A.J. Burnett will go 7 innings and give up 4 runs. During the game both Mark Teixeira and Ryan Howard will hit home runs. If this comes true the Yankees will have a massive hole to dig out of.

Games three, four, and five:

After being down in an 0-2 hole the Yankees will battle back against last years World Series MVP Cole Hamels. Andy Pettit will be dominating, as he gets some help from an A-Rod 3 run HR. The Yankees win 7-1.

With Joe Blanton pitching against CC Sabathia on three days rest, I predict the Phillies to get out to a fast start and never look back. They will score 5 runs in the first 3 innings, and are able to avoid a late rally by the Yankees. The Phillies will win 6-4.

The Phillies are now one game away from the title, and they have their best pitcher on the mound. This spells TROUBLE for the Yankees, as they once again struggle to hit against Cliff Lee. Despite a strong performance from A.J. Burnett, the Yankees fall 2-1. It had been a good season for both teams as the Phillies win the title for the second year in a row.

NFL Power Rankings

By Arlen Blakeman

1. Indianapolis Colts (6-0)- Peyton and co. just getting it done every week.

2. New Orleans Saints (6-0)- Reggie Bush should be in the dunk contest this year.

3. Denver Broncos (6-0)- Another test in Baltimore this week.

4. New England Patriots (5-2)- After slow start, the Pats look back in winning form.

5. Minnesota Vikings (6-1)- Favre has first poor performance of his Viking career. Will it continue?

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)- Here come the champs!

7. New York Giants (5-2)- Not on top of the world anymore.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)- Won’t be the talk of the town for at least a week.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)- Cedric Benson gets his sweet revenge against the Bears.

10. Arizona Cardinals (4-2)- Not under the radar anymore.

11. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)- They found the answer in a undrafted receiver from Momouth University.

12. Green Bay Packers (4-2)- Ryan Longwell returns to Lambeau.

13. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)- Need to make a statement against Denver.

14. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)- Tough remaining schedule and falling behind the Saints.

15. New York Jets (4-3)- Ok so they beat up on the Raiders……big deal!

16. San Diego (3-3)- If they find their groove they can be dangerous again.

A Biography on Steelers' Legend: Troy Palomalu

by Rebecca Rosenthal

Troy Polamalu was born in Garden Grove, California in the year, 1981, and is of Samoan descent. At 5’10 and 207 pounds, he is the strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Polamalu was drafted by the NFL to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003, and has led them to two victorious Superbowls since then. Polamalu is known for his hard hitting, tenacious playing style, and his fantastically long curly hair.

Polamalu was widely regarded as one of the top five safeties in the league. The Chargers, who had the fifteenth overall pick, had a major need to replace their safety, Rodney Harrison, but instead chose quantity over quality and decided to forgo the opportunity to select Polamalu by trading down and getting Sammy Davis, and Terrence Keil.

In the last game of his college career against Iowa in the Orange Bowl, Polamalu injured his hamstring while warming up before a game, and had very limited action in the game that day. Subsequently, the hamstring caused Polamalu to miss the Senior Bowl and 2003 NFL Combine as well. Polamalu was able to perform for scouts at his USC pro day. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1st round pick #16 and was signed to a 5-year contract worth $8.275 million dollars.

The Triple Entente

by Ben Acton

There is a great debate over what is the toughest position to play in professional sports. Some argue that it’s the quarterback, some say the point guard, and I say it is the special teams tandem known as the FIELD GOAL. The three parts of this vital organ are the long snapper, the holder, and the place kicker. If one of them errs up the whole play is over. One of the most memorable messes-ups of all time was when a team needed the points the most.

On January 2, 2006 the Seattle Seahawks took on the Dallas Cowboys. The game was 21-20 with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter. Martin Gramatica lined up for a field goal, which was even shorter than an extra point. Sure handed and accountable Tony Romo was the holder. The man who led them to the playoffs. The ball was snapped and Romo dropped the snap. The kicker didn’t even have a chance to kick the ball. If Romo had done such a little thing as catch the, the Cowboys would have been in the Super Bowl.

Disaster can strike at the worst time. When you’re near the endzone, and the longsnappper airmails the snap, your team got a safety. If the kicker misses the field goal, all the hardwork of the snap and the hold go to waste. When one of them fails, they all fail, when one of them successede, they all successede. As you can see the three-headed monster known as kicker, long snapper, and holder, can change the outcome on Any Given Sunday.

The World Series

By Vikram Nayyar

In game one of the World Series, the Yankees did horribly. They lost the game to the Phillies 6 to 1. For many of the Yankees player this is there first world series including: Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano. This is also the first time that the Phillies have been in the World Series two years in a row.

CC Sabathia did not play as well as he normally does, but he did not single handedly lose the game for the Yanks. The Yankees were not hitting, running and covering the bases. The Yankees have played 20 of their 26 World Series wins in Yankee Stadium. Six years since the Yankees have played in the World Series they have already lowered there chances of winning a 27^th World Series.

Cliff Lee, last years Cy Young award winner, rocked the house on 28^th of October. He helped the Phillies pull the easiest win ever. Cliff Lee pitched a full win letting up 1 run and striking people. He also walk no batters in a full game witch is rare. He only let up six hits throughout the whole game. Chase Utly also helps the Phillies, the second basemen Silver Slugger, got 2 homeruns.

Brian Bruney pitched not even an inning but still let up 3 hits and 2 runs. Jeter played well, going 3 for 4 with a double, but no one backed him up. The team did not play as a team, so they were terrible. The Yankees have to step up their game if they want to win this World Series.

Need a new pair of sneakers?

by Gen Katz

The newest of all sports. What is you might be wondering? Good question. It’s shoe racing. What might the rules be you may thing? Its simple. The game can be played with up to 10 players, but no less than 3 players. There are three stages to this new exhilarating sport.

First stage. The players start off at the beginning of the dirt path in my back yard. Yes ,if you haven’t been noticing I have many playing fields in my back yard. The first stage is 100 feet long and full of 4 feet mud. Each player receives 15 total pairs of shoes throughout the game. If you loose a shoe, you are now allowed to retrieve it in the mud, you must put on a new pair of shoes.
Stage two. The playing field is full of sticky glue that glues within 30 seconds of contact. You loose your shoe? You got to go in your bag and grab that new pair of sneaks. There are obstacles in this course to. It will not be an easy straightaway race. Logs, walls, lumps, bumps and oiled down surfaces will be in the way for players to run around.

Stage three. Once you get out of the second stage that is if you have any pair of shoes left, you are lead to a dense forest with traps and mini games. All these games and traps will find ways to make you loose your shoe. Smart? Well then your set, you will be able to find ways around these traps and games without loosing a shoe. The first one across the finish line will be the winner. The winner is awarded 13 dollars. Every shoe left over in your bag, you will receive an extra 11$ extra for every shoe.

Who wouldn't want to play this game? Exactly. So come play and sign up at Gen Katz’s apartment. Thank you.

My Top Five Sports Movies
by Michael Silverstone

5. Any Given Sunday – Starring Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid

This film from 1999 describes the made up story of a football team called the Miami Sharks. Entering the season, the team was predicted to win it all, but injuries to their starting and back up quarterback in their opening game turned the season into a disaster. The third-string quarterback is called in to play. The story is about the journey of the underdog Sharks and their run to the football championship.

4. Brian’s Song – Starring James Caan, Billy Dee Williams
This 1 hour and 15 minute classic from 1971 portrays the story of the late Brian Piccolo’s life as fullback for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s. During the film, the friendship between Piccolo and first year ballot hall of fame running back Gale Sayers is greatly expressed.

3. Remember The Titans – Starring Denzel Washington

This 2000 classic is about the career of TC Williams High School football coach, Herman Boone, the school’s first African American coach. The film mainly concentrates on the racist acts that occur in the locker room, and the story of a high school football team that brings the city of Alexandria, Virginia together as a peaceful and tolerable place.

2. Coach Carter – Starring Samuel L. Jackson

This movie is about the true story of a basketball team in Richmond, California that welcomes in a new head coach, former Richmond High School superstar, Ken Carter. His welcoming is bitter, after the team finished off the previous season with a total of only four wins. This movie is about not only the team’s run to the state tournament, but also the idea of turning these kids into students and better people. Carter’s methods help the kids avoid the predicted lives of the average Richmond teenager and leads them to live long and fulfilling lives.

1. The Express – Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton

It surprised me that this movie didn’t bring in that much revenue. The film is about the life of Ernest R. Davis, the first ever African American football player to win college’s most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy. Succeeding Jim Brown, whom arguably is one of the greatest running backs of all time, Ernie is sent to Syracuse University, where he filled Brown’s position as running back. The film dives into the theme of racism in the south during the 1950s, when the Orangemen play multiple universities in the south, such as West Virginia, and Texas in the national championship. Following his stellar career at Syracuse, Davis is drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the first overall pick in the 1962 NFL draft. The college sensation was unable to play a single snap in the pros, because of the tragic death he obtained at the age of 23. The Cleveland Browns retired his #45 jersey anyway.

NBA Award Predictions

by Max Rosenthal

MVP:

Kevin Durant (OKA)

Kevin Durant will be this year's NBA MVP. No not Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul or Dwight Howard but Kevin Durant. To open up the Thunder’s 2009-2010 season he had a double double with 25 points, 11 rebounds an d 4 assist. With my prediction in my previous article about the Thunder making the playoffs and him leading him their he will get votes just for that and then more votes for his outstanding play.

Defensive Player of Year:

Dwight Howard (ORL)

He won it last year and is by far the best defensive player in the NBA who is just gaining more experience and really has no tough competition. He lead the league in blocks per game with almost three and he was first in the league in blocks with around 14 pr game while Troy Murphy was second with 12.

Coach of the Year:

Scott Brooks (OKA)

If he coaches his team to the playoffs there is no doubt he will not win the Coach of the Year unless there is an even bigger surprise. Last year the thunder only won 23 games but in order to make the playoffs they will need to win at least 45 but most likely in the 50’s. Their only big offseason move was drafting James Harden but otherwise their team is very similar to last years.

Rookie of the Year:

DeJuan Blair (SAS)

There has never been a second round draft pick to win the rookie of the year award in the NBA. That will change this year when DeJuan Blair wins the award. The Pittsburg star fell surprisingly and the Spurs stole him with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round. There is no stellar rookie in this class especially with the early injury to Blake Griffin.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,
Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Welcome to the CGPS Lion's Roar

Hello and welcome to this week's eddition of the Lion's Roar. This week, Victor Rosario and Max Rosenthal outline this year's western conference playoff picture while Ben Acton discusses his view on the recent struggles of MLB umpires. Gen Katz continues his articles on eccentric sports as he outlines how frogs can be used in sports instead of bats and balls.

Be sure to read our rookie writers' (Rebecca Rosenthal and Zachary Yablon) articles as Rebecca journies to Beijing to discuss their annula marathon while Zachary talks about the recent struggles of New York's football teams.

With a variety of sports involved, this week's articles are some of the best we have had in recent week. Thank you and enjoy.

From the entire CGPS Lion's Roar writing staff:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)

NBA Standings Predictions
By Victor Rosario

These are my predictions for how the standings will turn out at the end of the regular season for basketball’s western conference:

Western Conference

Northwest	W	L	Pct.	GB
Denver	59	23	.720	-
Portland	56	26	.683	3.0
Utah	55	27	.671	4.0
Oklahoma City	30	52	.366	29.0
Minnesota	25	57	.305	34.0

Pacific	W	L	Pct.	GB
LA Lakers	70	12	.854	-
Phoenix	48	34	.585	22.0
LA Clippers	37	45	.451	33.0
Golden State	23	59	.280	47.0
Sacramento	18	64	.220	52.0

Southwest	W	L	Pct.	GB
San Antonio	56	26	.683	-
New Orleans	54	28	.659	2.0
Dallas	50	32	.610	6.0
Memphis	39	43	.476	17.0
Houston	36	46	.439	20.0

The playoff teams will be Lakers, Denver, San Antonio, Portland, Utah, New Orleans, Dallas, and Phoenix. In order of best record.

The Beijing Marathon

By Rebecca Rosenthal

Held every October since 1981, The Beijing International Marathon has taken place in Beijing, China. In addition to the main marathon there is a 9km run, a mini marathon, and a half marathon. The Beijing International Marathon has been organized by the Chinese Athletic Association, who has funded it since the year they began it.

In 1986, Taisuke Kodama of Japan set the course record time of 2:07:35. In 1988, this time was equaled by Abede Mekonnen of Ethiopia. In 2003, Sun Yingjie of China set the current women’s record of 2:19:38. The age limit for the marathon is 18 and above, for the half marathon it is age 16 and above, for the 9km marathon it is ages 15 and above, and for the mini marathon, it is ages 13 and above. In the Beijing Marathon there is a time limit for all the events. The marathon has to be completed in 5 hours maximum, 2 hours and thirty minutes for the half marathon, an hour for the 9km, and 25 minutes for the mini marathon. Runners who fail to complete their events in the designated times are asked to get on a pick-up vehicle.

This year, the race took place on Sunday October 18th, and began at approximately 8:00am. The winners of this year’s marathon were for the men, Samuel Mugo from Kenya who ran an impressive 2:08:20, and for the women, Bai Xue from Beijing who ran a 2:26:27.

Since When Was Punt Returning Easy?
By Michael Silverstone
Most people say that special teams don’t help a football squad to win a ball game. It’s all about the offense and defense, am I not correct? Who cares about the kickers and the punt returners anyway, there’s no effort and skill to those positions, right? People overlook the position of punt returner. Just because they don’t touch the ball that often makes people believe that the position is easy and unnecessary. I will prove you wrong and argue why punt returning is the hardest position to play on the 100 yards of green.
The punt returner is always fired up; he’s ready to take it to the house. Besides, he’s not greeted right away by the defense and he has plenty of open field to sprint across. People believe this, but it is rarely the case. The average punt sails about 40 yards down field and has a hang time of around 5 seconds, giving the punting unit time to get down field and force the return man to call a fair catch. A whopping 30 of 100 punts will not be returned because they are either booted out of bounds or the return man has to wave it off and just make the catch and not return it. When the player can run, the average return is only brought back for 8 yards. Fielding the punt is the major difficulty. With only a few seconds to run backwards if the punt goes over the return man’s head, it is extremely difficult to get under the ball in the first place. Another factor that makes it difficult is muffing. There are two ways that a return man can muff the football. One way is if it bounces off his hands. No, the play isn’t dead when it hits the ground like an incomplete pass; rather it’s a fumble. The second way of muffing is when the ball hits the ground and a player from the punting unit pushes a player from the return unit into the ball. The punting unit can jump on the ball to recover. When the punting team recovers a muff or fumble, they will generally start inside the opponent’s 30, and also have a chance of returning the fumble for a touchdown.
The punt returner is the hardest position to play. Every little movement can lead to a big mistake, and these mistakes can greatly factor into changing the game. A team is more likely to return a kickoff for a touchdown because a fair catch is extremely rare on a 65 yard kick, and the ability for a team to return just one punt return for a touchdown is simply amazing.

Western Conference Playoff Predictions: 2009-2010

by Max Rosenthal

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are by far the best team in the NBA. They won it all last year and they improved by obtaining former defensive player of the year, Ron Artest. Additionally, I predict that no other teams in their division will make the playoffs, thus providing the defending champs with an easy rode to the playoffs.

2. San Antonio Spurs

In the last 10 years they have won the title 4 times which gives them championship pedigree. They have an amazing lineup which now includes high scoring Richard Jefferson. Also, I loved how they drafted DeJuan Blair and hopefully Manu Ginobili will be healthy for the playoffs.

3. Denver Nuggets

They made the Western Conference Finals last year and while they did not improve like the Lakers they did not regress in any way. Chris “Birdman” Anderson is a great 6th man who brings loads of energy off the bench while Carmelo Anthony and Chauncy Billups are some of the most talented players in the NBA.

4. Dallas Mavericks

They made a major off-season move by obtaining forward Shawn Marion. They were a solid team last year and this move only improves them, thus propeling them into one of the elite teams in the West. Their problem (like another Dallas team) is their owner and having good but old players who are past their time (Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd).

5. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are one of the NBA’s top "up and coming" teams. They acquired Andre Miller and tried to get Hedo Turkoglu but were not able to do so. Greg Oden has been a bust so far, but they have Joel Przybilla and LaMarcus Aldridge who have helped the team to succeed.

6. Utah Jazz

The Jazz have a great team but always seem to under perform. They have one of the leagues best point guards in Deron Williams and three amazing big men in Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap. They should make the playoffs on this talent but things seem to change when the play in the postseason.

7. New Orleans Hornets

They have the best point guard in the NBA in Chris Paul. They also have a solid big man in David West and I think they improved at the Center position by trading Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor. While they are old, they have solid role players in James Posey and Peja Stojakovic.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder

While you may be surprised, the Thunder have great potential. Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the NBA and the second best small forward (behind LeBron James). Russell Westbrook is a great point guard who will only get better. Aakash Bhatia quotes “James Harden will be the Rookie of the Year.” They have solid younger role players like Jeff Green and Thabo Sefolosha which gives them great depth off the bench.

Ribbit!!!!!
By Gen Katz

Frogs. Who thought frogs could be part of a sport. Well now it is. Hitting ESPN in couple weeks is a new frog game which can be played with up to 50 frogs. The game is simple for the most part. A course is laid out in a yard (I have several courses set up in my yard) and the frogs are released to race. The course can be set up in any format that the racers wish. However, the twist to this game is crucial to pay attention to. Each frog must race on the course then the frog’s owners must skydive with one parachute. The backup parachute is taken out of the backpack.

The skydiver must try and collect floating balloons in order to gain more points. The quicker the frog is able to finish the race the more balloons will be available to collect. The game is not a safe one however, Arlen Blakeman is the world champion and says it’s worth the rush and excitement. Once you land on the ground, you must dig in a field to find the buzzer button.

There are 50 white circles on the ground, which give you options of where to dig.Children cannot play this game, but anyone over 18 has to sign a waver form in order to understand the dangers of the game. In the history of the sport only 1 person has been injured. Henry Eff only sustained a fractured ankle and was able to recover within a day. He is an immortal apparently. Once the buzzer button is pressed the game is over and the winner is awarded with 19 belts and 12 gift cards to Hallmark.

Week 6 Power Rankings

by Arlen Blakeman

1. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)- Another "bye week" against the Rams.

2. New Orleans Saints (5-0)- Offense looked sick against the Giants.

3. Minnesota Vikings (6-0)- Brett Favre has been the answer for this team.

4. Denver Bronocos (6-0)- Great teams find ways to win. They aren’t amongst the elite teams yet, but they are well on their way. Their schedule remains tough down the stretch which will be a major test for them.

5. New York Giants (5-1)- Their secondary looked like Spongebob on Sunday against the Saints. They will need to find a replacement for C.C. (Can't Cover) Brown.

6. New England Patriots (4-2)- Brady’s performance was impressive at all levels. The question is though, are the Patriots back or are the Titans just that bad.

7. Atlanta Falcons (5-1)- Tough schedule ahead, but I think they can handle it.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)- Showdown with Favre and Vikes.

9. Chicago Bears (3-2)- How good is this team? A loss against Atlanta last week demonstrated their inconsistency.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)- What a disappointment last week against the Raiders.

11. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)- On the rise as they have won in consecutive weeks for the first time since their magical playoff run.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)- I still have no opinion on this team yet. I'll have to wait a couple of more games to give my judgment on how good this team really is.

13. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)- Frank Gore’s back which means it’s time for this team to make a move in the standings.

14. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)- The defense is sorely missing Rex Ryan.

15. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)- The door’s open after the Giants and Eagles both lost last week. Will they salvage this opportunity?

16. Green Bay Packers (3-2)- Their division is too hard for them to compete.

N.Y. Football

By Zachary Yablon

During the first few weeks of the 2009 football season the New York teams had it perfect. The Jets were playing playoff style football with their newly prized quarterback, and the Giants had the appearance of a team who would not be satisfied unless they ended the season on February 2nd, 2010. However during Week 6 opinions were changed and fans were left stunned. Nobody would have been able to predict that both teams would suffer humiliating defeats only hours after each other.

The Giants were traveling to New Orleans for a One o’clock kickoff on Sunday afternoon. The Giants and the Saints were both undefeated, and it was thought to be the most compelling game of the week. Both teams came in with high hopes, each viewing themselves as the best in the business. However, after the first possession the game would never be close, as the Giants had absolutely no answer for Drew Brees and the Saints high-powered offense. The Saints scored on their first four possessions, leading to a 48-27 throttling of the New York Giants. In the game Brees threw 369 yards with four touchdown passes. In total seven different Saints scored, a team high.

Just moments after the Giants had suffered a less than classy defeat, the New York Jets were ready to kick off. They were playing against the divisional rival Bills who were 1-4 on the season. The Jets had come into the game with 2 straight losses, but were looking to rebound against an inferior opponent. The Jets got out to a pretty good start and led 13-3 at halftime. Their quarterback Mark Sanchez had looked less than perfect, but Thomas Jones’ running game had been so good that it didn’t really matter. Then in the second half everything started to change. Mark Sanchez started throwing interception after interception, allowing the Bills to crawl back into the game. All of a sudden the score was tied in the waning seconds of regulation.

Overtime! The Jets won the toss and elected to receive. No matter how many times they had the ball, Sanchez was unable to lead his team down the field. One would get the feeling they would lose the game or at best it would end in a tie. The Bills had 4th down on the Jets 30 yard line and were attempting the game winning field goal. Ryan Lindell came on trying to erase the memories of the kick that he missed earlier in the game. The snap is perfect, and the kick sails through the uprights. The once hopeful Jets had now been beaten by the Bills and their season was now starting to disappear. In the end it was all ALL Sanchez’s fault, as he threw five interceptions, and totaled only 119 yards passing. The Jets have to wonder how he'll get passed this agonizing performance.

Parody of the Umpire

by Ben Acton

These days, being an umpire puts one in a scrutinizing position. Now with the addition of the home run replay system, umps are questioned more than ever. The thing I want to know is, with the advancement of this replay technology, will umpires start losing their jobs?

In Tuesday night's Yankee game, there were two terrible calls. The first bad call was when Second Base ump, Dale Scott, ruled Swisher safe while the replays clearly showed that shortstop Eric Aybar tagged him out. Next Third Base ump, Tim McClelland, made two bad calls. First, Damon hit a fly ball to center and Swisher tagged up at third in an attempt to score. The Angels appealed that Swisher left early and Tim McClelland ruled him out. When looking at the replay it was obvious that Swisher left on time. Additionally, in the replay it was shown that Tim McClelland wasn’t even looking at base at all which gives him no athority to make the call. If not for the Yankees outpour of runs, they may have lost the game.

In this year’s ALDS Game 2, Jim Joyce completely blew a call. Joe Mauer slapped a line drive down the left field line which Joyce called a foul ball. However the replay review showed that the ball was fair by about 3 feet, costing the Twins a double and perhaps the game.

Due to the recent outburst of terrible calls, one has to wonder what is next for the sport of baseball. Will managers receive challenge flags like in football or will there have to be a umpire designed especially to review every play and signal the home plate umpire if there is a bad call. Nevertheless, the game of baseball has forever changed due to advancement in technology and only time will tell what the future holds for America's pasttime.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,
Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. This week features several playoff articles written by some of our best analysts: Victor Rosario and Max Rosenthal. Rookies Rebecca Rosenthal and Zachary Yablon continue to write their superb and detailed articles. Rebecca covers the intriguing life story of tennis star, Melanie Oudin, while Zachary discusses the Jet's failure during the last couple of weeks. Furthermore Arlen Blakeman and Michael Silverstone discuss the surprising Denver Broncos and how they stack up against the rest of hte league.

On behalf of the entire Lion's Roar team, thank you:

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Ben Acton (Writer)

A Preview of the 2009-2010 Knicks
by Aakash Bhatia

In the minds of Knicks fans, the 2009 season is nothing more than the last season of misery. After enduring five losing seasons, the once great team is ready to return to form as they plan to sign one of many superstar free agents next summer including Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. Therefore this season represents the last year of struggles for this franchise, as they plan for the future. Here is an analysis of the current team and how they stack up for the upcoming season.

Center:

David Lee: David Lee is a very athletic big man and is one of the best rebounders in the league as he ranked 2nd in the league last year only behind Dwight Howard. Under Mark D’antoni’s fast tempo system, Lee experienced his best season as he averaged 16 points per game and over 11 rebounds per game. Lee also led the league in double-doubles and improved his free throw percentage and assists per game. Although Lee spent most of the offseason negotiating a contract he has claimed that he worked on his shooting game, something that he has lacked during his career. This would add another dimension to his offensive game and he would be one of the top centers of the league. Although he is not physical at all on defense, he is nice fit for D’antoni’s system and should only get better in his second year under it.

Eddy Curry: After being described as the franchise player for the Knicks by Isiah Thomas a couple of years ago, Curry has endured some of his worst seasons in the NBA during the last two years. Curry’s points per game, rebounds per game, and field goal percentage have all significantly dipped last season and he doesn’t seem to be fast enough, or have the shooting ability to be in the Knicks’ fast pace rotation. The team spent the entire offseason trying to trade his massive contract (he is set to earn 10 million dollars this upcoming season) but was not successful. They might play Curry to increase his value, but he doesn’t appear to play a big factor for this season.

Darko Milicic: Milicic, the 2nd overall pick in the 2003 draft, could not have had a worse career as he plays constantly in the shadows of superstars like Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Milicic has never averaged more than 9 points game and has been on four different teams. However, the Knicks think that Milicic can contribute in his contract year as he is returning to a fast past European style of basketball—the style that made him a superstar. He still lacks toughness in the paint but he is a better shooter and ball handler than most centers, therefore the Knicks can expect some solid production out of this player.

Jordan Hill: Hill, the 8th pick of the NBA draft, didn’t have his most pleasant day when he was drafted by the Knicks during the summer. Despite a very successful college career, Hill heard boos as Knicks’ fans were disappointed by the pick as they hoped that the team would have picked college superstar Stephen Curry instead (Curry was selected by Golden State one pick before). Hill possesses good height and is very fast for someone of his size which has drawn him a lot of comparisons to Amare Staudemire. While he still needs to build up some size which will give him an edge in the paint, that speed could create match up problems this season and as a result, result in a fairly successful rookie season for him. Hill is a very good shoot blocker which is something that the Knicks have finished in last place in the last five years.

Power Forward:

Al Harrington: Al Harrington, the Knicks’ leading scorer last season, set a goal for himself in the off-season: to be a member of his hometown team past this upcoming season. This might be a very difficult thing to do as the team is looking to clear as much salary space as possible, however Harrington thinks that his offensive game will earn him a new contract. The power forward has tremendous speed and can shoot threes unlike other people who play his position. However he does lack defensive skills and can be a little too emotional sometimes which clouds his judgment. While he will most likely not be resigned in the off-season he can still be a very valuable trading chip during the trading deadline.

Jared Jeffries: Jeffries, who the Knicks tried desperately to trade during the off-season, has been nothing but horrific during his tenure with the team. Despite the defensive potential that former GM Isaiah Thomas saw in him a couple of years ago, he is extremely un-athletic and lacks physicality. The Knicks will continue to try and trade him during the season as he has clearly showed that he cannot play in New York successfully.

Small Forward:

Wilson Chandler: Chandler is a former 1st round pick of the Knicks and had a fairly successful sophomore season as he doubled his rebounds and points per game. Chandler, who is only 22 years old, has great speed and a surprisingly impressive mid range game. Mike D’antonni stated that he loved the way that Chandler improved his three point game during the off season and believes that this will translate into an overall great season for the talented forward. Expect big things from Chandler this season.

Danilo Gallinari: Gallinari, the Knicks’ first round pick last season, showed his vast potential last season, however suffered from a back injury which derailed most of his season. Scouts have said though this off season that the Italian has progressed mightily in his health and has even improved his already impressive range. While he is only a sophomore, D’antoni thinks that he can win a spot in the starting lineup this season.

Shooting Guard:

Larry Hughes: Larry Hughes was acquired by the Knicks for several players during the trade deadline last season but had an inconsistent second half of the year. While Hughes has scoring ability he doesn’t seem to be a good fit in the fast tempo season. He might not have too much playing time this season, but if other players have injuries and force him into the lineup, he could be a surprising force given his past performances.

Point Guard:

Chris Duhon: After signing with the Knicks, Duhon endured his best season as he had almost 8 assists per game and shot almost 35 percent from the 3 point line. Duhon is also one of the best free throw shooters in the league and is an undeniably good game manager which makes him a great fit for the Knicks’ offense. While he had a great first half of the year, he struggled the second half as the high amount of minutes he played caught up to him and his body broke down. However, the team expects big things from him during his contract year and he certainly has the talent to do so.

Nate Robinson: Nate the great had his best season in the NBA as he came in 2nd in the 6th man award last season and scored more than 17 points per game. (second highest on the Knicks). Robinson can be an absolute all around force in games at time and surprisingly had one of the biggest player efficiency’s in the league. Robinson was tremendous as he adapted to the system and got more playing time. Therefore expect big things from the little guy this upcoming year.

Tony Douglass: Douglass, the second first round pick of the summer draft, is a very talented combo point guard who the Knicks have been searching for many years. While he has tremendous athleticism and shooting ability he needs to cut down on his turnovers and improve his defense. He should get some playing time this season given Duhon’s injury history.

Top 5 QB’s in the NFL
By Ben Acton

1. Peyton Manning- Manning has passed for 300 yards every game this season. Despite a poor receiving core he still manages to tear up defenses. He has turned no name receivers into perennial all-stars.
2. Drew Brees- I know people think that Brady should be number two but really it is Brees. Last year’s Offensive Player of the Year is on pace to win MVP if not for Peyton Manning. If he had one quality receiver his numbers would be through the roof.
3. Tom Brady- He has an accurate arm but has fallen off a bit. After last year’s injury he hasn’t seemed to have gotten back on track to his 2007 MVP stats. Despite some injuries to receivers, he should be performing at a higher level.
4. Ben Roethlisberger- He led them to the promise land and looks good this year. The one thing I admire most about him is his ability to avoid a sack. He has great pocket awareness and great arm strength.
5. Kyle Orton- He has led an unsuspecting Broncos team to a 5-0 record. He has thrown 7 TDS and 1 INT and that was on a Hail Mary at the end of the 1st half. Besides getting rid of Jay Cutler adding Kyle Orton may have been a great move.

Are the Broncos for Real?

by Michael Silverstone

After a 3-0 start last season, the Broncos ended the year with an 8-8 record, and missed the playoffs. A few days after their crushing loss to the Chargers in Week 17, legendary coach Mike Shanahan was fired, and in came Josh McDaniels, former Patriots personnel assistant, and it looked ugly. Right off the bat, McDaniels tried to trade for Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel. Broncos starting QB Jay Cutler was not happy with this attempt at a trade and refused to return calls from the Broncos staff. Eventually, he demanded a trade and his wish was granted. Jay Cutler and an undisclosed 3rd and 5th round draft picks were traded to the Bears for Kyle Orton and 2 first round draft picks.

Entering the 2009 season, questions were brought up. People believed that Kyle Orton would never play up to the level of All-Pro Jay Cutler. Most experts predicted a 3-win season for the Broncos at most. They have already proved that prediction wrong. The Broncos are off to a 5-0 start, not thanks to Kyle Orton, but mainly to the #2 defense in the NFL. Since 2005, their defense deteriorated. They went from being the best to the absolute worst by the end of the 2008 season, even with weapons such as Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams. This year, the Broncos have one of the top defensive units in the league, and they seem unstoppable.

The first place Broncos, powered by their defense, have come off surprising wins over the Cowboys and Patriots. Their next challenges include San Diego, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, three very talented teams with explosive offensives. The schedule only gets harder for Denver, and making it through this stretch will most likely prove if they are contenders or pretenders.

A Broken Promise

by Zachary Yablon

After a 3-0 start the Jets seem to have lost their stranglehold on not only their division, but the team as well. The Jets defense, which was once one of the top units in the league, is now faltering. After being given the lead late in the 4^th quarter, a position where the team prospered in the past, the Jets defense fell apart and gave Miami the lead with 6 seconds left. The defeat has left the team depleted of confidence, and they must go back to the drawing board and fix some key mistakes that would have led to a New York victory.

After traveling to Miami with newly acquired receiver Braylen Edwards, the last thing on the minds of the Jets was defense. One week ago their defense had given up 10 points to a high-powered Saints offense. They would now play a team who virtually did not throw the ball. All they would have to do was stack up against the run, and punish Ronnie Brown for even trying. However, things did not go as planned, and Ronnie Brown dominated the Jets out of the Wildcat formation, (A direct snap to the running back).

Miami was able to gain 110 total yards in the Wildcat formation. This helped lead to a Dolphins 31-27 victory against a supposedly superior divisional opponent. After a solid first half, in which the Jets led 13-10, it appeared that the Jets were simply going to run away with victory. The Jets then opened up the third quarter but were unable to put any points on the board. This continued until the final drive of the quarter, in which Miami was able to drive the ball deep into Jets territory.

When the start of the fourth quarter rolled around Miami was able to punch the ball through the goal line. Miami now led 17-13. This touchdown set the tone for the remainder of the game, as both teams started trading blows. There was a total of 5 lead changes in the fourth quarter, but the final one came with 10 seconds left. Miami was on the Jets 2 yard line, and with a direct snap to Ronnie Brown sealed the win. The Jets, who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, will not soon forget the two-yard touchdown run by Brown.

NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 5
by Arlen Blakeman

1. Indianapolis Colts (5-0)- Peyton Manning is too smart for any team that doesn’t have a coach named Bellichick.

2. New York Giants (5-0)- Big test against New Orleans this week.

3. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)- Jared Allen is running away with the defensive player of the year award.

4. Denver Broncos (5-0)- No one predicted this surprising start including me. Josh McDaniel’s has all the good and bad qualities of Bellichick.

5. New Orleans Saints (4-0)- Big test against the real New York team.

6. Atlanta Falcons (3-1)- Matt Ryan is terrific and the defense plays as a unit. Expect big things from the Falcons.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)- Finally got a great defense to compliment Ochocinco and co.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)- Bye week against Oakland this week.

9. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)- Hit a bit of a wall these last two weeks, but I still think highly of this football team.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)- Not looking like Super Bowl champs at all.

11. Chicago Bears (3-1)- The Bears have the easiest schedule down the stretch. Therefore they should finish well down the stretch.

12. New England Patriots (3-2)- Brady looks like just another average quarterback.

13. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)- Once again are flying under the radar.

14. New York Jets (3-2)- Not what we thought they were even with Braylon.

15. San Diego Chargers (2-2)- In a big hole in the division, but they have been there before.

16. San Francisco 49ers (3-2)- Frank Gore better come back soon or their offense will self-destruct.

Melanie Oudin
By Rebecca Rosenthal


If you watched the U.S. Open at all this year you were sure to see the adorable, bubbly, blonde, and of course talented 17 year old from Georgia. Her name is Melanie Oudin, and she is now ranked number 42 in the country. Oudin shocked tennis fans by beating both Elena Dementieva, previously ranked 4 in the world, Maria Sharapova, who was number 29, and Nadia Petrova, previously the number 13 seed. In the quarterfinals, after a long fight, Oudin lost to Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2.
Oudin has been home-schooled since the 7th grade, so she can focus more of her time on her game, but is often known to say that she envies her twin sister, who has had a regular school experience. At 5’6, Oudin says her idol is Justine Henin, because “she proved you don’t have to be tall to win things.” Both Melanie and her twin sister Katherine were inspired to play tennis by their grandmother, when she bought them racquets, and gave them lessons at a very young age.
After her success at the U.S. Open Melanie went on to Play at the Bell Challenge in Quebec City, where she decided to withdraw because of a left thigh injury. After this, Oudin was supposed to play at the China Open in Beijing, where she fell in three sets (6-2, 5-7, 3-6) to fellow American Alexa Glatch. Glatch was only able to break Oudin’s serve once in the first set, but combined for seven more breaks in the following two sets. This was the first time since May that Oudin failed to qualify for an event in which she was participating.
I believe that Melanie Oudin is a fantastic role-model for teenage girls aspiring to be tennis stars, and according to Gen Katz, she is “amazing, and my dream girl.”

This upcoming basketball season should feature some exciting division battles as well as surprises. While it might not be as good as the West, the Eastern Conference has many exciting playoff battles. These are my predictions for how the standings will turn out at the end of the regular season for the conference:

Atlantic W L Pct. GB

Boston 60 22 .732 -
Philadelphia54 28 .659 6.0
Knicks 43 39 .524 17.0
Raptors 42 40 .512 18.0
Nets 37 45 .451 23.0

Central W L Pct. GB
Cleveland 64 18 .780 -
Detroit 48 34 .585 16.0
Chicago 46 36 .561 18.0
Indiana 36 46 .439 28.0
Milwaukee 30 52 .366 34.0

Southeast W L Pct. GB
Orlando 65 17 .793 -
Miami 50 32 .610 15.0
Atlanta 49 33 .598 16.0
Washington 37 45 .451 28.0
Charlotte 32 50 .390 33.0

NBA East Playoffs Predictions

By Max Rosenthal



Eastern Conference



1. Boston Celtics

The Celtics are in the easiest division in the eastern conference. In addition, they made great improvements by adding Wallace and KG is fully healed. With a finals victory last year and one of the best teams in the NBA you should easily expect them to win the Atlantic but have the best record in the East. Also, you saw the stellar play of Rondo and that would only get better.



2. Orlando Magic

The Magic is trying to defend their Eastern Conference Championship and will win their easy division. Only the Hawks will make the playoffs from the Southeast. Like the Celtics they improved by obtaining 8 time all-star Vince Carter.



3. Cleveland Cavaliers

Shaq will not help the Cavs. Lebron will have a great year (not MVP though) and lead his team once again to the playoffs. They will not struggle winning the Central but they will have the worst record of the division winners. In addition, they have the hardest division in the east.

4. Atlanta Hawk

Like last year the Hawks will be the four seed in the east. They have a well-balanced team with an all-star at shooting guard and Al will be an all-star soon. Also, Bibby is a very solid point guard and they have a good bench.

5. Chicago Bulls

I like the departure of Ben Gordon which will provide more opportunities for Rose, Deng, and Salmons. Rose had a great rookie year and will have an even better sophomore year. If they could take a series in the playoffs against the Celtics to seven they could improve their seed from 7th last year to 5 this year.

6. Philadelphia 76er’s

They were the 6th seed last year and they will be the 6th seed this year. They have Iguodala who is a top player in the NBA and Young is up and coming and like the Celtics they have an easy division.

7. Detroit Pistons

With great payers like Hamilton, Prince and Stuckey and the addition of Gordon and Charlie they will make the playoffs. They will have a slow start but end strong. They have a group of veterans and a new coach so they have huge question marks about where they will go this year.

8. Indiana Pacers

They have a good young team where everyone is on the rise and they have an all-star in Danny Granger. They have a deep bench, which includes T.J. Ford. They will barely make the playoffs but will make a run and continue to gain experience.

Unicycle League
By Gen Katz
The craziest new sports phase has arrived in the United States. It's the one and only unicycle racing. But before you dismiss the sport listen to the rules of this sport. Each player may bring his or her own unicycle to the one and only Gen Katz Unicycle race circuit in my back yard. Each player must customize their own unicycle for it to be able to withstand bumps, and paintball pellets. The unicycle must attach paintball guns to their bike and have a way of firing it while riding.
The rules are simple. Each player must be able to survive the race circuit while being bombarded by paintball pellets from other players. Whoever is able to reach the finish line first is the winner of the game. The course is 5 laps and the course consists of bumps, puddles, ramps and paintball mines. If you fall off your unicycle you may get up but you may get up only 5 times so make sure to keep your balance.
The players who complete the challenge receive free t-shirts with the Gen Katz Unicycle logo and a free ticket to the movies. The first place winner receives a free pimped out unicycle AND a free t-shirt!!! However, if you do not make it across the finish line after 5 laps, the players will be forced to eat 2 full pies in one sitting.

Thank You for Reading!!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,
Aakash Bhatia (editor and president)

Hi and welcome to the 3rd edition of THE LION'S ROAR. This week's articles offer in-depth analysis of NFL teams, predictions, and much more. A special thanks goes to our hard working staff who try their hardest to perfect the articles and give the best form of writing possible.

Michael Silverstone makes his NFL predictions for the week while Max Rosenthal and Zachary Yablon discuss the weekly Brett Favre drama. An analysis on the Jets and Giants are written by both me (Aakash Bhatia) and Victor Rosario. Enjoy!

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)
Mr. Weissman (Advisor)
Gen Katz (Senior Writer)
Arlen Blakeman (Senior Writer)
Victor Rosario (Senior Writer)
Zachary Yablon (Writer)
Max Rosenthal (Writer)
Michael Silverstone (Writer)
Rebecca Rosenthal (Writer)
Vikram Nayyar (Writer)

A Preview of the Packers-Vikings
by Max Rosenthal

This Monday will feature a game to remember as NFL legend Brett Favre squares off against the team where he made himself a legend, the Green Bay Packers. Both teams have gotten off to fast starts as they began the week 1^st and 2^nd in the NFC north respectively. Although Brett Favre has impressed the NFL thus far with his strong play, the Packers have a distinct edge which will propel them to an epic victory.

Favre obviously has a lot of tension and distractions to deal with, not only due to the opponent he is facing, but the fact that the Packers are the only team in the NFL he has never beaten.

Many analysts and football fans criticized him when he came out of a second retirement as they felt that he would care more about defeating his former team than helping the Vikings win a championship. If Favre lets his emotions carry himself away, he could endure a rough night and the criticism will continue.

I believe that Favre will not play well in this game as he will succumb to the pressure to perform and as a result, will try to force balls down the field like he has in the past. This will lead to turnovers and a poor performance by the 39 year old veteran.

This awful habit by Favre as well as a talented Packers' secondary led by Charles Woodson could pose as a bad match up for the Vikings. Favre’s former teammate, Al Harris, has had a great season in his first year in the 3-4 defense as he has had multiple late game interceptions. Woodson and Harris will stagnate Favre and will have multiple interceptions as a result.

While the Packer's pass defense has been brilliant, their 20^th ranked rushing defense has been detrimental to their success. Adrian Peterson has ran wild against any defense he has faced and should continue his success against the Packers.

Aaron Rodgers, Favre’s replacement, has been brilliant in his short NFL career and should continue his success against a poor Vikings’ pass defense. Greg Jennings faces off against talented cornerback, Antoine Winfield, but has enough speed and height to have a big game.

Overall, while I think these teams are matched evenly, the difference in this game might be the quarterbacks. Brett Favre will struggle against the talented Packers' secondary while Aaron Rodgers will continue to be a great game manager. This discrepancy will ultimately propel the Packers to a close victory.

NFL Standings Update

By Aakash Bhatia

Three weeks have great football have been played this season as the AFC East has lived up to its hype and shaped up to be a tremendous race to watch. Mark Sanchez and the Jets have surprised the NFL with their fast start which includes a seemingly impossible win against the rival Patriots. The Dolphins and Bills have struggled so far, however they still have the talent to rebound and finish strong. Here is an in depth analysis of each team in the tight division and how I project them to finish.

AFC East:

1. New York Jets (3-0)

Mark Sanchez and a stagnating defense has led the Jets to a perfect start, including a stunning victory over the rival Patriots. However Thomas Jones has struggled and they need him to rise to form in order to be formidable on the offensive side of the ball. They have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the season and that defense should propel them to 10 or 11 wins.

2. New England Patriots (2-1)

Tom Brady seems to be a bit rusty after returning from his injury, however he is still 3^rd in the league in passing yards. Fred Taylor had a strong game last week which could finally take pressure of Brady to throw the ball and give New England a balanced attack. The defense is shaky but their offense should get better as the season moves on. I still think this team will win the division with around 11 or 12 wins.

3. Buffalo Bills (1-2)

Fred Jackson has been one of biggest surprises in the NFL this season however Trent Edwards has not developed the way the NFL expected him to. Terrell Owens and Lee Evans, two players who they hoped would be the center stones of their offense, have struggled mightily. The return of Marshawn Lynch should help but their offense and defensive lines are just too young to help this team. I expect around 5-6 wins at the end of the season.

4. Miami Dolphins (0-3)

Last week’s lost might have signified the end of their season, but the injury to Chad Pennington was the real dagger. Pennington was the heart and soul of that team and now they have to rely on the inexperienced Chad Henne for the rest of the season. However they do have some talent with Ronnie Brown and a strong rush defense. Expect a strong finish as Henne becomes more experienced and they should finish with 6-7 wins.

Zachary Yablon
A Revenge Story

This Sunday the Green Bay Packers will visit the Minnesota Vikings in a game that will surely have much tension. Starting Quarterback Brett Favre will surely look to obtain revenge on division rivals, and his former team The Green Bay Packers. At the end of the 2007-2008 season Favre retired and was expected to never return to the game of football. He then asked to be re-instated by the Packers who refused, as a result of their new and upcoming quarterback named Aaron Rodgers. However, in the beginning of August 2008 he made a quick decision. He would now play for the New York Jets who were due for a lucky break, especially after a history that doesn’t even represent a group of professionals.
When the season started Favre was on fire, and led the Jets to an 8-3 record, as well as first place in the AFC East. The team was firing on all cylinders and the road to the playoffs was now crystal clear. In the following five weeks Favre started throwing pick after pick, and ended up killing what was once a promising season. The Jets were unable to make the playoffs, and Favre decided to retire once again at the end of the season. He had unfortunately prolonged his career, and in the process may have killed a part of his legacy. However he realized his mistake, and was now leaving a game in which he once was the meaning of greatness. Or so we thought.
In the offseason following his second retirement Favre was once again spotted negotiating a contract with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are a divisional rival of the Packers, (a team he had spent 16 years playing for). He then signed a two-year deal with the Vikings, and besides many critics, was the starting quarterback or Minnesota in week one. The Vikings have won their first three games of the season and are leading the NFC North by one game. This week they will take on the Packers, and Favre is sure to bring his “A” game, as his incentive to win against the team that abandoned him will be boundless.
The game is taking place on Monday Night Football, and will be sure to attract a swarm of viewers. Personally, I hope that Brett will be sacked 12 times and in the process will break both legs. I hope the Packers will crush the Vikings, especially in front of all the people in Minnesota. Even with this said the game will be tension filled, and will be played like a Super Bowl.

Who Will Lose First?
By Victor Rosario

The Jets and the Giants have both started this season undefeated. The only question remains is, who will remain the more dominant New York team. The Giants are set to play the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Jets are getting ready for a good matchup against the New Orleans Saints. My prediction is that the Giants will destroy the Chiefs, while the Jets suffer their first loss of the season at the hands of Drew Brees.

The Giants will exploit the Chiefs defense and utilize their dominant running game. Brandon Jacobs will exceed 100 yards in this game for the first time this season, while Eli Manning will do what he does and find his new favorite receiver, Steve Smith. The Chiefs, in my mind, have no shot of winning this game. The Giants are much superior on offense and their defense will just dominate, as always. When it is all set and done, my prediction for a score will be 41-13.

Now, for the Jets, they will have to go up against the unstoppable offensive game of the New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees has about 900 yards passing with 9 touchdown passes in only three games! Their running game has been unexpectedly good, but if the Jet secondary does not bring their A game, there is no chance of beating the Saints. Now, if the Jets put together a good running game with Thomas Jones and the fact that Mark Sanchez has proved that he can play in the big games, the Jets will have a chance to win. However, in the end, I think the score will come out to 30-17.

In my mind, the Giants have a much better chance of staying undefeated this season, but I still think that the Jets could surprise everyone with a double digit win season. If they keep playing the way that they are, I think that we will see both of these teams in the playoffs, but the likely hood of a New York Super Bowl is very slim.

NFL Week 4 Predictions

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
The Lions are coming right off of their first win in 20 games, ending a 19-game losing streak. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has the 3rd worst quarterback rating in the NFL, which probably will not be a good matchup against a highly improved Bears pass defense.
Bears by 10

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are off to a horrific start, ranked dead last in offense, and 30th in defense. Don’t be fooled by the Bengals mediocre stats for they have beaten two of the league’s top teams, the Packers and the Steelers. Their only loss came on an 87-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left to the Broncos.
Bengals by 7

Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans
A matchup of dreadful defenses can mean a productive day for JaMarcus Russell, meaning 150 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Raiders sophomore running back Darren McFadden should also have a good game. But, the duo of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson is unstoppable.
Texans by 13

Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts
Seneca Wallace had an okay start in a 25-19 loss to the Chicago Bears. Peyton Manning has had a phenomenal season so far, highlighted by his four-touchdown performance last week against the Arizona Cardinals. The Seattle Seahawks improved defense will limit Manning’s performance a little bit, but the Colts running game should have a big day against the 25th ranked run defense of the Seattle Seahawks.
Colts by 6

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Titans started off 10-0 last year, but this year, they are off to an 0-3 start. This is where the losing streak ends. A very good Titans rushing game should be able to power through an average Jaguars defense. Both sides will find more success running than passing, but the Titans running will have a better day.
Titans by 3

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Giants and Chiefs are two completely opposite teams. One rests at the top of the league, and one at the bottom. The addition of former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has not paid dividends yet for Kansas City. The Giants passing game will dominate in this matchup, thanks to improved play by Steve Smith and Mario Manningham.
Giants by 17

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots
One of the top matchups of the week features two of the top teams in the NFL. Both teams are coming off of wins. The Ravens crushed the Browns last week 34-3, and the Patriots beat the Falcons 26-10. Tom Brady’s injury sustained last year seems to have greatly affected his play this year for the worse. On the other side, Joe Flacco has proved to be a developed QB, with a rating of 101.4.
Ravens by 4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins
Two of the league’s most undeveloped teams face off this Sunday. The Bucs are yet to get a win and the Redskins are coming off of a most embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions. The Redskins have all of the pieces, but have not found a way to put them together. This Sunday, expect that to change, at least for this game. Josh Johnson should find trouble in his first career start, but it will be a close one.
Redskins by 3

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
Last week, the Bills shut down Saints quarterback Drew Brees, but could not stop the running game in a 27-7 loss. The defending AFC East champion Dolphins are looking for their first win in a season haunted by a ridiculously challenging schedule. The Bills have been improving and are slowly developing into a team that in my opinion can go 8-8 this year. Despite the record, Miami is the better team, but I see an upset.
Bills by 4

New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints
One of the top offenses in the league is facing one of the top defenses in the league in this matchup of the undefeated. Mark Sanchez has gotten off to a terrific start in his rookie season, and Saints quarterback Drew Brees can reach 1000 yards passing this game. The Jets are off to a hot start defensively and offensively, but I can see the defense breaking down in this one. This will be a high scoring, but close game.
Saints by 5

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos
The Broncos have gotten off to a 3-0 start, but the combined record for the teams that they have beaten is 3-6. This game should prove if the Broncos are contenders or pretenders, and it won’t look good for Denver. Dallas has the defense that can stop the Broncos running and passing game that has torn through the less than average defenses of the Bengals, Browns, and Raiders.
Cowboys by 14

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers almost reached 3-0, but a touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Greg Lewis with 2 seconds left prevented that. The firing of Mike Nolan and the addition of Mike Singletary at head coach has paid off well as the 49ers are off to a 2-1 start. The Rams seem to be getting worse and worse each year, and are a team that proves that you can go worse than 2-14. The 49ers should cruise by in this one and the Rams struggles will continue.
49ers by 20

San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have lost two straight and are 3rd in the AFC north division. The struggles can continue against a very talented Charg