Friday, May 22, 2009

Check out for the year - thanks and "BE A GOOD SPORT!"

This is to all the class members...Just a note to say thank you for providing for an interesting, at time stimulating, and even fun experience this past semester. The class, at the end, pulled through, at least most of you did. Your end-of-year-project ans book reviews were excellent and worthy of an upper-level course. Our main problem was for you to get adjusted to a "blog" type class and for me to get used to SA students sending me material which I found was very hard to get back to them....I apologize if this caused a problem for some of you. However, I would like to thank you for your patience and hard work (again, most of you) and wish you the best. Please contact me if there is anything I can do for you in my capacity as a professor of chair of the Department of Communications Theatre Arts at Texas A&M-Kingsville....again, thanks
Bueno bye, y suerte
Dr. Manuel Flores
and, remember, be a good sport

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Final Exam - Thurdsay, May 14 - 1:20 pm

Just a reminder....all assignments are due during our Final Exam schedule date, Thursday, May 14, at 1:20 p.m. in Cousins Hall Room 121 and we will have live feed to San Antonio. Please turn in all pertinent material at this time, including final exam. I will not accept any thing after this class. Also, congratulations to our two graduates from this class this semester - Joseph Hamon and Juan Carlos Reyes. Good luck. It was a pleasure, gentlemen, having you in class.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Final Exam and last two class days

Class...here is the final exam. I will have a "hard copy" available at the Comm-TA Office Monday and will also distribute it in class Tuesday. I will also email it to the SA Students who requested it. We still have some presentations to make and intend for us to meet the last two class days. You must do your book and movie reviews to pass the class. Please make plans to do so. Some of you owe me both.....Okay, here's the final


Sports Writing
Test No. 2


I. Multiple Choice: Please highlight or mark the correct answers:

1. All of the following are events in track and field except:

a. Long jump
b. Triple jump
c. High jump
d. Pole jump

2. In track and field, field events include all of the following except:

a. Hurdles
b. Discus
c. Shot put
d. Javelin

3. All of the following are positions in soccer except:

a. Goalkeeper
b. Halfback
c. Forwards
d. Midfielders
e. Defenders

4. The sport that is often determined by a “penalty kick” is:

a. Football
b. Soccer
c. Hockey
d. Ice Patting

5. Shielding, heading, chesting, volley are all terms used in what sport?

a. Football
b. Basketball
c. Soccer
d. Water polo


6. The nicknames George Herman Ruth was known as during his legendary baseball career includes all of the following except:

a. “The Babe”
b. “The Great Bambino”
c. “The Bronx Bomber”
d. “The Sultan of Swat”
e. “The Colossus of Clout”

7. The movie 61* discussed in class relates directly to:

a. The number of years it took to break Babe Ruth’s home run record of 60.
b. The fact the asterisk (*) means it really didn’t happen that way.
c. The home run chase by Barry Bonds was tainted and should not count.
d. Roger Maris’ home run chase to break Babe Ruth’s record of 60 with 61 home runs in 1961 in eight more games than Babe Ruth needed and it just should not be counted.

8. Essentially, the rules for the game of softball are exactly the same for the game of baseball except that:

a. Players are required to wear hot pants style shorts.
b. There can be no more than 2 extra innings.
c. An international tie-breaker is used if the game is tied after the regulation 7-inning game.
d. Men are not allowed to play softball.

9. The positions of goalie, defensemen, wingers and center can all be found on the following sport:

a. Soccer
b. Ice hockey
c. Basketball
d. Water polo


10. The track event that involves 35 jumps, seven of which are water jumps, along a track of barriers that also includes several hurdles is called:

a. Steeplechase
b. Triple jumping
c. Water jump
d. Hazards

11. The Associated Press recognizes only one collegiate All-America football and basketball team every year. In football, that team consists of selections named either to:

a. The People’s Magazine Choice.
b. Walter Camp’s up to 1924 and the AP All-America team since.
c. Reader’s Digest College Picks
d. ESPN’s All-Americans

12. The Associated Press recognizes only one collegiate All-America football and basketball team every year. In basketball, that team consists of selections named either to:

a. The People’s Magazine Choice.
b. AP All-America team.
c. Reader’s Digest College Picks
d. ESPN’s All-Americans


13. In baseball, which of the major professional leagues uses a designated hitter?

a. The National League
b. The American Association League
c. The American League
d. The Texas League

14. Which team sport uses line judges to make official calls?

a. Basketball
b. Baseball
c. Volleyball
d. Football


15. Which of the following is the correct format in an extended baseball box score when detailing a hitter’s performance in a game?

a. ab r h bi
b. r h e bi
c. bb 2b 3b HR
d. ab h r bi

16. Which of the following is the correct format in an extended baseball box scores when detailing a pitcher’s performance in a game?

a. ip r h er k bb sv
b. ip h r er bb so
c. r er h so w k
d. ip h r er w k


17. In volleyball, rules have been changed to reflect “rally” scoring. Which of the following is not correct?

a. The team that won the point serves for the next point.
b. If the team that won the point served in the previous point, the same player serves again.
c. If the team that won the point did not serve the previous point, the players of the team rotate their position on the court in a clockwise manner.
d. Only the head referee can determine which player will serve, as it is not in the rules.

18. In Volleyball, “rally” scoring now goes to 25 points. The first team to 25 wins the set. Which of the following is not true?


a. The game continues serve-by-serve, with the first team to score 25 points (and be two points ahead, at least) awarded the set.
b. All sets, if tied at 14-14, go into the two-point ahead rule.
c. Matches are best-of-five sets and the fifth set (if necessary) is usually played to 15 points. That means first to three wins.
d. In Texas, High schools play best three-of-five games to 25 with the fifth game played to 15 points. If tied at 14-14, the winner is not decided until one team is two points ahead.
e. In the NCAA games are played best-of-five to 25. If tied, the winner is not decided until one team is two points ahead.

19. There are two ways to get a home run in baseball. Which of the below is/are correct?

a. The ball bounces from the outfield into over the fence and into the stands. This is a home run.
b. A fan reaches over the fence and takes it back beyond the fence.
c. The ball clearly crosses the fence in fair territory.
d. The ball is not fielded by the opposing team and the hitter rounds the bases, all the way home, without being tagged out.
e. All of the above are correct.
f. Only c and d are correct.


20. The correct term for the playing surface in ice hockey is?

a. Ring
b. Court
c. Zamboni
d. Rink

II. Movie/Book Trivia – Circle or mark the correct answer

1. The name of the main character in the movie and book, The Natural,
a. Mickey Mantle
b. The Bambino
c. Roy Hobbs
d. Roy Rogers

2. In the book Brian’s Song, which former Chicago Bears’ running back’s autobiography is profiled?

a. Walter Payton
b. Johnny Roland
c. Jim MacMahon
d. Gale Sayers



3. Friday Night Lights, the movie and book, are based on the occurrences of which Texas high school football town?

a. Dillon High School
b. Highland Park High School
c. Odessa Permian High School
d. Corpus Christi Calallen High School

4. In the classic ice hockey movie Slap Shot (1977) starring the legendary Paul Newman, the name of the hooligan trio that wreaked havoc at Charleston Chiefs Games was?

a. The Corsican Trio
b. The Hanson Brothers
c. The Three Horseman of the Apocalypse
d. Paul’s Killers

5. Hoosiers (1986), starring Gene Hackman as a new coach in town with a problem-plagued small-town high school basketball team that wins the state championship. The film is set during 1952, when all high schools in most states, regardless of school size, competed in one state championship tournament. Which state was the movie based on?

a. Indiana
b. Kentucky
c. New York
d. Texas

6. The classic Olympics movie Chariots of Fire (1981) featured athletes from which county in the 1924 Summer Olympics?

a. The United States
b. Italy (more in particular from Rome)
c. France
d. Great Britain

7. In which classic baseball movie do ghosts come from out of a cornfield to play a “spirited” game?

a. The Natural
b. Bull Durham
c. A League of their Own
d. Field of Dreams

8. Which baseball movie featured the iconic phrase, “There’s no crying in baseball!!!!”

a. The Natural
b. Bull Durham
c. A League of their Own
d. Field of Dreams

9. The golf movie that featured a varmint (gopher or beaver) that caused havoc throughout was?

a. Bagger Vance
b. Tin Cup
c. Caddyshack
d. Happy Gilmore

10. The football movie that showed how an out-of-luck bartender worked his way into the roster of an NFL team was?

a. The Longest Yard
b. We Are Marshall!
c. Remember the Titans
d. Invincible

11. The book that featured the struggles of a black football player as he tried to lead his team to a state championship was?

a. Lone Star Fullback
b. Remember the Titans
c. Brian’s Song
d. Semi-Tough

12. Among the movies discussed in class, comedian Rodney Dangerfield starred in all listed below except.

a. Caddyshack
b. Lady Bugs
c. Rudy
d. He starred in all of above

13. The movie that was sponsored by FIFA and was planned, from the start, to be part of a trilogy is?

a. Victory
b. Goal!
c. Cool Runnings
d. We Are Marshall!

14. The book The Girls of Summer reviews which historic United States sports moment?

a. The great achievements of Babe Didrikson and her teammates.
b. The 2004 results of the U.S. Women in the Olympics.
c. The 1999 U.S. Women’s national team win over China in the Soccer World Cup
d. The book on which the movie “A League of Their Own” was based on.

15. The woman normally regarded as the most versatile female competitor of all time is?

a. Mia Hamm
b. Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharis
c. Brandy Chastain
d. Florence Griffith Joyner

16. The 1999 U.S. Women’s National Soccer team gained several nicknames. Which is not one of them?

a. Title IX Babies
b. Soccer Mamas
c. Babe City
d. All of the Above

III. Briefly and succinctly define the following terms and their significance in sports. Be specific. We have talked about all of these in class.


1. March Madness –


2. MLB



3. NCAA



4. WNBA



5. MLS



6. FIFA




7. WBC



8. World Cup



IV. Write a game story from the following softball box score. Make sure you use first and last names and identify the teams properly. Don’t forget the DATELINE and the score. You have no quotes for this story. However, on line and figure out what the significance of this game was. Please type a story of no more than 400 words.







Box Score
#4 Southeastern Okla. at Texas A&M-Kingsville
Apr 25, 2009 at Durant, Okla. (SOSU SB Complex)


Southeastern Okla. 5 (50-10)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Benita Sanchez 1b........ 4 0 1 0 0 1 6 1 2
Kristi Goins rf.......... 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
Bailey Mathes ss......... 4 2 3 4 0 0 4 2 0
Erika Bernal lf.......... 4 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Marjorie Johnson dh...... 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1
Jennifer Morales c....... 3 0 1 0 0 0 7 1 0
Jaclyn Mullaney 3b....... 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1
Jami McAdoo p............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Laney Anderson cf........ 3 0 2 0 0 1 3 1 0
Morgan Miller 2b/pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Totals................... 31 5 10 4 1 7 21 7 6

Texas A&M-Kingsville 1 (32-22)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Cassie Anderson lf....... 3 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0
Meisha Patterson ss...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 2 1
Ariel Lichtenberger 1b... 3 0 1 0 0 1 7 2 0
Shaun Bryan 2b........... 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 2 1
Melissa St. Clair c...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 8 1 1
Yvette Berlanga 3b....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Jessica Schneider dh..... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Jasmine Ross rf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
Kaycee Bryan cf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Courtney Rigamonti p..... 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 26 1 8 1 0 5 21 11 4

Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Southeastern Okla... 102 010 1 - 5 10 1
Texas A&M-Kingsville 000 001 0 - 1 8 2
-----------------------------------------


E - B. Mathes; M. Patterson; Y. Berlanga. DP - SOSU 1. LOB - SOSU 6;
Javelinas 4. 2B - L. Anderson; C. Anderson; S. Bryan; C. Rigamonti. HR - B.
Mathes 2. SB - K. Goins; C. Anderson. CS - J. Morales; J. Ross.

Southeastern Okla. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Jami McAdoo......... 7.0 8 1 1 0 5 26 26

Texas A&M-Kingsville IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Courtney Rigamonti.. 7.0 10 5 4 1 7 31 32

Win - J. McAdoo (18-3). Loss - C. Rigamonti (27-14). Save - None.
Umpires - HP: Scott Brians 1B: Tracy Avra 3B: Aaron Elloer
Start: 4:30 Time: 1:35 Attendance: 212


V. Go online this weekend to the TAMUK track and field site or the Lone Star Conference site and write a story on how the Javelinas did in this weekend’s Lone Star Conference Track Meet in Kingsville. Include DATELINE and who won the men’s and women’s meets but focus on how Javelinas did.







VI. Write a 500-word sports column on how sports is an integral part of American society and how it permeates the culture of our country. Give examples and be provocative. Maybe, you can even say whether it’s good or bad. Your call! Okay?
?





Thank you for a wonderful semester. I hope you learned about how sports is an integral part of American life and truly does impact world culture and politics. Have a nice summer.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Final Exam Schedule

The final exam at TAMUK for this class is set for Thursday, May 14, at 1:20 p.m. By this date, your final exam must be turned in. I will meet in class at this time to review and grade material specifically for this class. Of course, you have the option (by TAMU policy) to take the final on this date. The final will be posted later this week and you can start work on it at your own pace. Please call me if you have any questions.

thanks
Dr. Manuel Flores

Presentations Start Tuesday, April 28

This is a reminder that presentations on your books start Tuesday, April 28. The presentations are supposed to be in Power Point mode (if our equipment works). If the equipment does not work, be prepared to email me your power point and to make your presentation orally. Okay?

Following are the presenters for Tuesday, April 28, who "volunteered" for today's clas (not necessarily in order they will present):

Joe Hamon - TAMUK -(The Natural - Done)
Cristina Garza- SCSA
Shaun Springfield - SCSA
Alissa Reynolds - SCSA
(Girls of Summer - Done)



Following are the presenters assinged for Thursday, April 30 (not necessarily in order they will present):

Juan Carlos Reyes -TAMUK (When You Get to the Fork in the Road, Take It (Yogi Berra) - Done)
Katrina Alejandro - TAMUK (Brian's Song - Done)
Carlos Alvarado - TAMUK
Emmanuel Dixon - TAMUK
Jacque Hutton - TAMUK (Life the Rough - Done)
Lisa Lane - TAMUK
Noe Longronia - TAMUK
(The Bare Truth About Chicagos' Brashest Bear: McMahon - Done)
Tania Garcia - TAMUK (Lone Star Fullback - Done)
Following are the presenters assinged for Tuesday, May 5 (not necessarily in order they will present):



Andrew Harper - TAMUK
David Mendez - TAMUK
Mark Molina - TAMUK
Lorraine Rodriguez - TAMUK
Sasha Rodriguez - TAMUK
Greg Stelfox - TAMUK (Once a Runner - Done)
Jaime Gonzalez - TAMUK


Please be prepared....thanks

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Movie Reviews Updated List

Class, below is the update movie list along with a list of those who presented Tuedsay. We will continue our presenations, today and Tuesday, as needed.

Top SI Movies

"The Natural" 1984 - Jaime Gonzalez, TAMUK (Presented)
"Jerry Maguire" 1996
"Bad News Bears" 1976 - Lisa Lane, TAMUK (Presented)
"Hoosiers" 1988 Jacque Hutton, TAMUK (Presented)
"North Dallas Forty" 1979
"Field of Dreams"1989 - J.C. Reyes, TAMUK (Presented)
"Rocky" 1976
"Fat City" 1972
“Damn Yankees!” 1958
“Slap Shot” 1977 - Tania Garcia, TAMUK (Presented)
“Raging Bull” 1989
"Bang the Drum Slowly" 1973
"Breaking Away" 1979
"Friday Night Lights" - Noe Longoria (Presented)
“Requiem for a Heavyweight”1962
"Tin Cup" 1996 - Joe Hamon, TAMUK (Presented)
“The Hustler” 1961
“Chariots of Fire” 1981 - Alissa Reynolds, TAMUK-SCSA (Presented)

"Bull Durham" 1988

Auxiliary List of Movies That I recommend

"Rudy" 1993 -
"White Men Can't Jump" 1992 - Mark Molina, TAMUK (Presented)
"Prefontaine" 1997
"We Are Marshall" 2006 - Lorraine Rodriguez, TAMUK (Presented)
“League of Their Own” 1992 - Shaun Springfield, TAMUK-SCSA (Presented)

“61*” 2006
“Victory” 1981 -
"Bagger Vance" - 199? Greg Stelfox, TAMUK (Presented)
“Cool Runnings” 1993
“Grand Prix”1966
“National Velvet” 1944
“Enter the Dragon” 1973
“Lady Bugs” 1992 - Carlos Alvarado, TAMUK (Presented)
“Caddyshack” 1980 - Andrew Harper, TAMUK (Presented)
“MajorLeague” 1989
“Hoop Dreams” 1994
“The Longest Yard” 1974 - Katrina Alejandro, TAMUK (Presented)
“Remember the Titans” 2000 - Cristina Garza, TAMUK-SCSA (Presented)
“Brian’s Song” 1971
"Invincible" 2006 - David Mendez, TAMUK (Presented)
"Happy Gilmore1996 - Emmanuel Dixon, TAMUK (Presented)
"Goal!" - 2004 - Sasha Rodriguez, TAMUK (Presented)

Updated Book Review Assignments

Class, below is the updated list of Book Review Assignments:
Sports Illustrated Top Books That I Recommend

"Paper Lion" (George Plimpton)1965
"Fever Pitch" (Nick Hornby) 1991 - Tania Garcia - TAMUK
"Cosell" (Howard Cosell) 1973
"Season on the Brink" (John Feinstein) 1986
"The Fight"(Norman Mailer) 1975
"When Pride Still Mattered"(David Maraniss) 1999
"Muhammad Ali: Life & Times" (T. Hauser) 1991
“The Boys of Summer” (Roger Kahn) 1971 - Shaun Springfield, TAMUK-SCSA
"The Sweet Science" 1951
"Veeck as in Wreck" (Bill Veeck) 1962
"The Natural" (Bernard Malamud)1952 - Joseph Hamon, TAMUK
"Ball Four" (Jim Bouton) 1970
"Everybody’s All American"(Frank DeFord) 1981
"No cheering in the press box" (Holtzman) 1973
"The Glory of Their Times" ( Ritter) 1966
"Friday Night Lights" (H.G. Bissiner) 1990 - Noe Longoria, TAMUK
"Semi-Tough" (Dan Jenkins) 1972
"A season on the brink"(John Feinstein) 1986
“You Know Me Al,” (Ring Lardner) 1914
“The Game” (Ken Dryden) 1983

Books that I recommend

“Always Dream” (Kristi Yamaguchi) 1998
“Amazing Women Athletes” (Jill Bryant) 2002
“Babe Didrikson: Athlete of Century”( Knudson) 1985 - Sasha Rodriguez, TAMUK

“Big Girl in the Middle” (Gabriellle Reece) 1997
“Game Face” (J. Gottseman, Penny Marshall) 1998
“The Girls of Summer” (Jere Longman) 2000 - Alisa Reynolds, TAMUK-SCSA

“Go for the Goal!” (Mia Hamm) 2000 - Christina Garza - TAMUK-SCSA
In These Girls, Hope Is a Muscle”(Madeline Blais) 1995
“Let Me Play: The Title IX Story” (Karen Blumenthal) 2005
“Living the Dream” (Dot Richardson) 1997
“Mighty Jackie” (Marissa Moss) 1998
“Still Kicking” (Katie Hinda) 2006
“A Whole New Ball Game” (Sue Macy) 1995
“Raising our Athletic Daughters” Zimmerman & Russell)1998
“Brian’s Song” (William Blinn) 1972 - Katrina Alejandro, TAMUK“The Frailty Myth” (Collette Dowling) 2000
“Games Girls Play” (Caroline Silby, Shely Smith) 2000
“Superwomen” (Jodi Buren,Donna Lopiano,Billie Jean King) 2005
"Good Enough to Dream," (Roger Kahn) 1985
"Juiced!" (Jose Canseco), 2002 - Carlos Alvarado, TAMUK
"When You Come to the Fork in the Road, Take It," - (Yogi Berra) 2002 - Juan Carlos Reyes, TAMUK