Categories
Rees' Pieces

Rees’ Pieces

Ben Rees & Ben Garner (A Collaborative Effort)

Urban Legends

Urban legends and mythology have to come from somewhere. There is no way that a story like Icarus and his father or the idea of leprechauns came to be solely through the imaginations of our elders. Someone must have seen something ridiculous and told the story. That story got told again and again over the years, so currently, what we are dealing with in terms of mythology is a long, twisted game of telephone.

Although the only thing that has stemmed from the Jersey Devil myth is a mediocre hockey team, the tale is based upon a woman who birthed her 13th child, only to find that it was a demonic creature. The creature now roams the woods of New Jersey (mull that one over). This 18th century “Rosemary’s Baby” type creature definitely is not as scary as we think it is. As weird as it is to have a baker’s dozen of children, especially when modern medicine was nothing more than a birthing trench out by the smokehouse, I’m sure that the child was just really ugly.

The legend of Icarus is not all that remarkable. In fact, I’m fairly sure the Wright Brothers were only a few mishaps away from becoming a fiery ball falling towards the Earth.

Theseus’ encounter with the ghastly half-man, half-bull creature–the Minotaur–might be nothing more than a simple misunderstanding. As we all know from the riveting Jack Black blockbuster, “Year One,” human beings millennia ago did not really differentiate the household from a barn. That said, a gung-ho farmhand encountering a disgruntled bovine in his intricate maze (or labyrinth, if you will) of shrubs could simply have been a chance encounter between a steer, or an exaggeration of a difficult argument with his significant other. People are known to embellish, you know.

Everyone understands the mythical-esque crime-fighting prowess of the street savior Batman. He soars through our concrete landscape upon polyurethane wings, establishing himself the most masculine of all winged mammals (actually, it is the only winged mammal, but I digress). What is truly a mystery, however, is the origin of his effeminate boy-wonder, Robin. He’s as light as a bird, eats like a bird, dons a unitard and doesn’t even fly. My hypothesis is that he emerged as the result of a mass cultural, hegemonic shift towards the war effort. His first comic appearance was in 1940, stemmed from the collective national effort to cut back on frivolity during dire economic times. By this I mean, “The Great Trouser Drought of WWII.” Men on the battlefields needed protective leg-gear, thus limiting the amount of woolen sheathes available to cover quads on the home front. Robin’s unitard represents the benefits of conservative behavior and the generally positive affects movements on home soil can have on foreign efforts. The story of this movement can be viewed in the Oscar-Winning, Tom Hanks film, “Saving Ryan’s Private.”

I hope I have debunked some of the general populace’s misguided beliefs. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer. Tune in next week when I prove that gift-horses adore being looked in the mouth.

Categories
Opinion

Friendliness and common courtesy are lost among students on campus

Julian Dorey

Staff Writer

More and more, I see the “little things” losing their meaning and place in our society. If I had a nickel for every time I saw two people walk by each other and look down—as if they were afraid of what the other person might think of a smile or a “hello”—I would be a millionaire. I see it all the time here at the University. Students seem to be overly self-conscious of what others might think of them, no matter who they are.

I’ve seen doors closed in students’ faces. I’ve seen groups of guys slide in front of girls trying to get into a building. I’ve seen students cut each other off at a stairway and not even acknowledge it. I’ve seen people bump into each other by accident, look at each other with no emotion and then move on. I think I’ve seen enough.

I’m not here to be a social cop or anything like that, and I’m certainly not saying that the University is the breeding ground for our society’s waning manners and basic interactive behaviors, but I believe that our social discourse has reached a point where our motives are completely wrong.

For example, when a guy likes a girl, he calculates his every move and tries to be as polite, friendly and mannerly as possible (the inherently good guys are like this, at least, and I believe most of the guys on this campus fall into this category). He’ll often ask how the girl is doing today, tell her he likes what she’s wearing and hold open almost any door that the girl walks through if possible.

If it’s just another girl that he doesn’t know that well or isn’t romantically interested in, this whole act seems to go out the window. Oftentimes, he won’t even smile or he’ll try to avoid eye contact altogether. Instead, he’s only worried about sending the wrong signals if he does something as outrageous as flashing a smile.

Saying thanks takes less than a second, and it doesn’t cost more than a breath. I guess people are worried that someone might think they’re “weird” or “not cool” if they actually thank someone. For a while, I think I may have fallen into this trap, but now I make sure I at least give some recognition. After all, saying “thanks” is one of the most basic manners there is.

If everyone would just be themselves and let their friendliness come out in whatever ways are most comfortable to them, we would live in a happier environment and social fears would go out the window.

I’ve started to focus on it more. I shoot smiles in passing whenever I can, I say hello to those I know and I try very hard to always recognize people who do something for me, with a smile and a genuine “thanks.” My hope is that all University students can take this article and focus on doing these things as well.

Even the smallest acts of social kindness can go a long way. It might seem crazy that asking someone how he or she is today can save a life, but it really can. 

Categories
Bison Athlete of the Week Sports

Bison Athlete of the Week: Lenny Joseph ’13

 

The Bucknellian Archives
The Bucknellian Archives

Andrew Arnao

Sports Editor

Leonard “Lenny” Joseph ’13 has worked hard for a long time, and thanks to his dedication and perseverance, a school record is now his. Joseph was one of two Bison men last weekend to set new school records at the Bison Outdoor Classic, as he threw the hammer for 209-11, shattering the previous mark that had stood for 17 years. Joseph was also the only thrower in his event to clear 200 feet, allowing him to easily win gold.

Joseph has had a great year for the Bison in both indoor and outdoor field events. In 2012, he registered a distance of 157-10 in the discus, good for seventh-best in school history. A couple of months ago, Joseph moved into the second place all-time in the weight throw with a distance of 65-0 3/4, which is second-best all time and just 10 inches behind the current record holder Tyler Hoffman ’07.

But the hammer throw has become Joseph’s crowning event. He has yet to be defeated in the event this spring, claiming two gold medals in both meets he has participated in. Both of his distances have already qualified him for the IC4A Championships in May.

Other recent honors for Joseph include being named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team along with fellow record-breaker Luke Webster ’13 following the indoor track and field season. Joseph also earned All-East honors after earning first place in the weight throw at the IC4A championships in March.

“The first couple meets have given me a solid start and a pretty competitive national ranking, and that I’m looking forward to the championship portion of the season,” Joseph said. “Also, I’m very optimistic about [Webster’s] chances in the discus going into the national meet.”

Joseph is nearing the end of his career as a Bison, but he has certainly left his mark. He has won three individual Patriot League Championships, including back-to-back victories in the hammer throw and a top finish in the weight throw last year. Considering his dominance in the hammer event, expect more awards to come Joseph’s way by the end of the spring season.

 

Hometown: Whitesboro, N.Y.

Major: Psychology

Best hammer throw distance: 209-11 (school record)

Best weight throw distance: 65-0 3/4 (second all-time)

Best discus distance: 157-10 (seventh all-time)

Categories
Sports Water Polo Women

Water polo finishes fifth in tournament

Andrew Arnao

Sports Editor

The women’s water polo team travelled to Rhode Island to participate in the Southern Championships last weekend where it finished fifth overall. The Bison fell by final scores of 13-4 against No. 12 Princeton and 8-7 against George Washington, but managed to rebound and defeat Mercyhurst 9-4.

The Bison got things started on April 13 against tournament top-seed Princeton. Princeton scored two early goals in the first quarter, then added five more goals in the second quarter to break it open. Facing a 7-1 deficit at halftime, the Bison managed to pick up the offensive pace in the second half, but could not stop the bleeding as Princeton scored six more goals. Krystle Morgan ’13 led the Bison offense with two goals, while goalie Rena Heim ’14 recorded five saves.

The game against George Washington looked much more promising for the Orange and Blue, as the Bison jumped out to a 3-1 advantage in the first quarter and held a 4-3 lead going into the second half. A 5-3 run by the George Washington squad put it back on top, and the Bison were unable to regain the lead. Heim recorded 11 saves for the Bison, while Tara Murao ’13 contributed with two goals and an assist.

After the tough set of games, the Bison returned on April 14 against Mercyhurst, a team they had already beaten twice this season. The Orange and Blue worked a 4-1 lead in the first half, and continued to score goals in the second half as they moved out of reach. Mackenzie Ferry ’14 scored three goals for the Bison, while Morgan added two goals and two assists. Heim had an outstanding game, matching her season-high 12 saves and limiting Mercyhurst to only four goals, tied for the fewest allowed by the Bison this year.

After a week off, the women’s water polo team will travel to Michigan for the Eastern Championship, which will take place next weekend.

Categories
Beyond the Bison Sports

Beyond the Bison: Sports News Across the Nation

 

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Kobe Bryant suffered a torn achilles heel, and his future in the NBA is cloudy at best.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Kobe Bryant suffered a torn achilles heel, and his future in the NBA is cloudy at best.

Julian Dorey

Staff Writer

“Storm Warnings”

Father Time caught up with Kobe Bryant in a big way. All it took was one wrong step and a hollow pop.

The greatest player of the post-Jordan era (LeBron James is still too young for this distinction) has put on a stupendous show year-in-and-year out. Despite all the mileage on Kobe’s 34-year old engine, he has defied all odds by improbably dominating with each passing year. But unfortunately, one bad break can bring any string of success to a screeching halt.

In a must-win game for the Lakers against Golden State, Kobe had the ball at the top of key and preceded to “make a move I’ve made a million times,” as he put it. In catastrophic fashion, he planted his foot as his body’s momentum moved forward in a force that no human leg is meant to sustain. He lost all sensation in his foot and he knew that what had just happened was a disaster.

A torn Achilles can be a death toll for any athlete, let alone an athlete on the wrong side of 30. The injury takes six to nine months to heal after surgery, and for those players who are lucky enough to regain their “explosion” after healing, it takes another year to do so. Unfortunately, many players never regain that explosion at all. In basketball, where so many players rely on the “first step,” the ability to shift direction laterally, and vertical athleticism, Achilles tears are the very worst injuries they can sustain. It’s no coincidence that Achilles tears effectively ended the careers of great players like Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Bryant may never regain the form he boasted for so many years—and if so, the final storm that will wash away what’s left of his career may be on the horizon. It’s sad when you think about it. Kobe’s legacy includes five championships, an MVP, scoring titles and legendary status in the history books of one of the NBA’s most prestigious franchises.

It was just getting to the point where I was going to drop the whole “how much does Kobe have left?” argument. The performances he was giving featured no evidence of physical decline whatsoever and his confident and borderline arrogant swagger (which is well-earned) seemed to indicate that his great play and, ultimately, his career would end on his terms. How naive I was to think that a human being could actually make that determination. Even Jordan had declined when he stepped away for the last time in 2003, and he played in even fewer games than Kobe has to this point.

We’ll have to see how a determined Bryant returns from this injury, but despite my belief in his talent and confidence, I’m not hopeful that we’ll ever see the Kobe Bryant we’ve seen for the last 15 years again. It was perhaps the harshest way he could have reminded us, but Father Time had to let the sporting world know that no one, not even Kobe, can remain undefeated forever.

Categories
Lacrosse Men Sports

Men’s lacrosse falls to rival Lehigh

 

Chloe Chou | The Bucknellian Alex Spring '16 handles the ball against Lehigh. The Bison scored seven goals, but it was not enough to defeat their Patriot League rival.
Chloe Chou | The Bucknellian
Alex Spring ’16 handles the ball against Lehigh. The Bison scored seven goals, but it was not enough to defeat their Patriot League rival.

Reed Dempsey

Staff Writer

In a game to determine the host of this year’s Patriot League Championship, a 5-0 run by Lehigh proved too much for the hosting Bison, propelling the Mountain Hawks to an 11-7 win and the Patriot League Regular Season title.

With strong defensive play on both sides, the game remained scoreless over the first six minutes, before Brock Ghelfi ’16 found the back of the net at the 8:50 mark. Just 31 seconds later, the Bison would extend their lead when Peter Burke ’14 scored off a pass from David Dickson ’15. Lehigh finally put itself on the board at the 7:07 mark, but the Orange and Blue would respond with another goal of their own to regain their two-goal lead.

Over the next two quarters, the Mountain Hawks completely shut down the high-powered Bison offense, aided by a 12-save performance by the Lehigh goalie. During the second quarter, the Mountain Hawks were very efficient, scoring three goals on just five shots and taking their first lead of the night.

As the second half opened, Lehigh scored twice more, establishing a three-goal advantage.

The Bison stopped the bleeding at the 7:41 mark, when Dickson found Chase Bailey ’13 to cut into the Lehigh lead. The Orange and Blue then fired off 12 shots, but were unable to convert for a goal. On an ensuing clear, the Mountain Hawks’ goalie fired the ball downfield against the Bison 10-man ride, finding the back of the net and pushing the Lehigh lead to three.

The Orange and Blue were able to respond with a goal by Todd Heritage ’14, but a pushing call against the Bison at the very end of the third quarter allowed Lehigh to take advantage of a man-up situation, adding another goal. Lehigh then added another point, bringing the score to 9-5.

Sean Doyle ’16 then scored his first goal of the day, but the Mountain Hawks would find the back of the net twice over the next eight minutes, for a comfortable five-goal lead. Bailey added his third goal of the game with just under a minute to play, but Lehigh would hold out for the win.

The Bison will be back in action Saturday, visiting Colgate for their final regular season matchup. The game will be shown live on CBS Sports Network at noon.

Categories
Baseball Men Sports

Baseball takes three games from Lehigh

 

Heather Oros | The Bucknellian Carter Bumgardner '13 takes a hack in one the Bison's recent games. His efforts at the plate helped contribute to the Bison's four wins.
Heather Oros | The Bucknellian
Carter Bumgardner ’13 takes a hack in one the Bison’s recent games. His efforts at the plate helped contribute to the Bison’s four wins.

Katherine Harris

Senior Writer

The baseball team continued its effort to finish the season on a strong note, winning its series with Lehigh over the weekend 3-1, and continuing its winning streak with a victory against Towson on April 16.

The Bison started their final road series of Patriot League play on April 13 with a doubleheader against Lehigh. Bryson Hough ’15 led the team on the mound in the first game of the day, pitching a strong complete game while allowing only one earned run. The Bison grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to home runs by Travis Clark ’13 and Rob Krentzman ’15, but the offense went silent as Lehigh fought back with four more runs in the final 4-3 loss.

The Bison offense came out strong in the second game of the day and led the team to a 7-6 victory to split the doubleheader. Justin Meier ’14 had three hits in the game, while five of his teammates contributed two hits apiece. Max Kra ’16 also earned his second career save in the tenth inning by retiring three consecutive batters to ensure the Bison victory.

“This weekend was another good weekend for our team,” Clark said. “We lost the first game of the series but were able to bounce back and win the next three. Our team is really coming together in every aspect of the game and it’s all happening at the right time.”

The Orange and Blue continued their momentum into the second part of their series with Lehigh on April 14. Dan Goldstein ’13 led the team with a complete game on the mound in the first game, allowing only five hits and racking up six strikeouts in the 7-2 victory. The Bison offense was led by Joe Ogren ’16, who finished the game with three hits, two RBIs and one run.

Pitching again played a major role in the second half of the doubleheader, this time with Andrew Andreychik ’16 allowing only six hits and one run in eight innings. The Bison were up only 2-1 going into the eighth inning, but an explosive five-run inning including a bases-clearing RBI double by Clark set the Orange and Blue up for an eventual 8-1 victory.

The Bison then took on Towson at home. Clark led the offense once again, totaling four hits and three runs, while Luke Lombardi ’14 and Anthony Gingerelli ’15 had two hits apiece. With the score tied at 4-4, the game went into extra innings, with Kra keeping the game scoreless for 2.2 innings. Kra eventually picked up the win after an RBI single in the 11th inning by Matt Busch ’13 secured a 5-4 victory for the Orange and Blue.

“We have put ourselves in a great position to contend for the first seed in the Patriot League tournament and that’s our goal,” Clark said. “We are looking forward to playing the next two weekends at home and would love support from the campus.”

The Bison will host Army for a series this weekend which will include doubleheaders on April 20 and 21.

Categories
Sports Tennis Women

Women’s tennis earns two wins

Emily Evancho

Writer

The women’s tennis team dropped the ball in a home match against Army with a 7-0 defeat on April 13 but the Bison bounced back from their upsetting loss by securing a 6-1 victory over Lafayette on April 14 and then hit the road to grab a 5-2 win from Lehigh on April 16.

In the match against Army, the Orange and Blue couldn’t maintain a foothold in their doubles play as all three doubles teams fell to their Army counterparts. The No. 1 doubles team of Maria Cioffi ’16 and Elena Vidrascu ’14 came close to obtaining a triumph for the Bison but couldn’t hold onto its lead, falling with an 8-5 defeat. None of the Bison could pull out a victory in the singles matches, leading the Orange and Blue to defeat.

The Bison swung back from their loss with a swift win over Lafayette. In doubles play, the Orange and Blue lost only one match, with the team of Cioffi/Vidrascu pulling out an 8-5 victory, followed by the team of Sam Madnick ’16 and Stephanie Pino ’16 who secured an 8-2 win. The Bison managed the same turnout in singles play with only one defeat. Cioffi and Pino delivered the best scores for the singles matches, both maintaining 6-0, 6-1 scores. Jen Bush ’15, Christie Schneider ’15 and Elizabeth Morgan ’14 also triumphed in their games.

The team brought an end to its Patriot League regular season by triumphing over Lehigh. In doubles play, the teams of Cioffi/Vidrascu (8-4) and Lydia Colvin ’15/Pino (8-5) won their matches while the Bison only suffered two losses in singles play. First to finish was Pino who set the Orange and Blue off to good start with her 6-1, 6-0 decision. Cioffi clinched the match with a grueling 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 turnout over Lehigh in her singles match. Colvin and Schneider also pulled through with victories.

“It has been a great season and we have enjoyed playing together as a team,” Pino said. “We have played well through some tough matches and some incredible wins. Every team member has contributed to make this a great season. We look forward to ending the season on a high note at the Patriot League Championships.”

The Bison will return home for their next match when they host Bloomsburg on April 24 at 4 p.m.

Categories
Softball Sports Women

Softball pitchers dominate

Thomas Walter

Senior Writer

Dana Nielsen ’16 was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week and Amanda Fazio ’16 earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors as the women’s softball team swept Lafayette last weekend, recording three shutouts in four games and reaching .500 in Patriot League play to move into fourth place in the Patriot League standings. After splitting a doubleheader against Saint Francis (Pa.), the Bison are now 14-25 overall and 6-6 against Patriot League rivals.

Fazio and Nielsen got things started on April 13 with two dominating performances that resulted in one-hit shutouts for both pitchers. In game one’s 4-0 victory, Fazio took a perfect game into the seventh inning and faced the minimum, when the only runner to record a hit was thrown out at second base by Mariah Midyette ’16. Fazio recorded nine strikeouts, gave up no walks and has now thrown a shutout in three of her last five appearances. Fazio was backed offensively by Kristen Zahn ’15, who recorded three RBIs thanks to a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly, and Erin Cox ’15, who singled and scored on an error.

Nielsen followed up Fazio in game two’s 2-0 triumph with a dazzling effort of her own, allowing only a third-inning single and striking out 12 en route to her own complete game shutout. The offense supported Nielsen with a pair of RBI singles from Cydnee Sanders ’15 and Cheyanna Young ’16, scoring Cassie Greenhawk ’13 and Midyette, respectively.

“We feel like we are finally putting all the pieces together and getting the sweep helped us feel like all our hard work we’ve put in all year is finally paying off,” Nielsen said. “We just have to keep this momentum and I think we will continue being successful.”

On April 14, Fazio returned in game three with another gem, throwing 5.1 shutout innings and combining with Cindy Cherness ’16 for another 4-0 shutout. Three different Bison contributed RBIs to the effort, while Zahn led the team with two hits. The Bison completed the sweep with an 8-3 win in the night game, with Nielsen recording her second win of the series after allowing only one earned run and striking out seven in 5.0 innings. Cox and Midyette homered in the final game to help pace the Bison offensive onslaught.

“I think we have focused a lot this season on just taking the season one game, or even down to one inning and one out at a time,” Fazio said. “It is exciting thinking about playing in the tournament, but we have to put the work in now and focus on one inning at a time in order to have a shot at the tournament.”

The Bison finished up their slate for the week with two games against Saint Francis (Pa.) on April 17. The Orange and the Blue triumphed in the first game after coming back to win 4-3, but could not mount the same comeback as Saint Francis (Pa.) held on for a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

Saturday was also Senior Day for the Bison, with Greenhawk, Mary Horton ’13, Bridget Gates ’13, Alex MacLean ’13 and Laura Sandford ’13 all being honored.

The Orange and the Blue will look to continue their strong play as they travel to face Army in another Patriot League series this weekend.

Categories
Men Sports Tennis

Katten sets m. tennis record

Lauren Boone

Senior Writer

The men’s tennis team fell to Army 4-2 on April 12, but managed to come back and sweep Lafayette 7-0 on April 14 and prevail in a 4-3 nail biter against Lehigh on April 15. The three-game home series was highlighted by Josh Katten ’13, who broke the school record for most careers wins with a singles victory over Lafayette.

Against Army, the No. 1 doubles team of Aidan Lynch ’14 and Evan Zimmer ’13 claimed the first victory of doubles play for the Bison, winning its match 8-4. To clinch the doubles point, the No. 3 team of Octavio Canibe ’15 and Kelly Morque ’13 won its match by a close score of 8-6.

Unfortunately, the Bison were not as successful in the singles play, where the Black Knights won all but one match. The lone Bison exception was Zimmer, who won in a close three-set match with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

“It was a great first annual alumni weekend for the men’s tennis program,” Katten said. “Friday night against Army was a tough loss, but it was in front of a great crowd. The match could have definitely gone either way, and as a team we are looking forward to hopefully playing Army again at the Patriot League tournament.”

Against Lafayette, Katten broke the record for most career wins with a 6-1, 6-3 singles victory. Katten now holds a 152-93 career record, topping the program record previously held by Ryan Sandburg ’09 with a record of 150-113.

Katten and Nick Bybel ’16 gathered an easy 8-0 victory at the No. 2 doubles position early in the day. The No. 1 doubles team of Lynch and Zimmer pulled out an 8-5 victory, while the No. 3 doubles team of Canibe and Morque clinched an 8-4 victory. The Bison kept the momentum going into singles play, where all players won their matches in straight sets.

“The Lafayette match was a solid team sweep, and it was a very memorable moment when my friends arrived to see me break the all-time combined wins record,” Katten said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better moment, and it was great to do it at Bucknell with friends and family around to see it.”

The Orange and Blue played their last Patriot League regular season match against Lehigh. The Bison and Lehigh were neck-and-neck when Kyle Rosen ’14 clinched a singles victory, winning the match for the Bison.

The Bison dominated in doubles play. First off the court was the No. 2 doubles team of Bybel and Katten, who handily won its match 8-0. The No. 1 doubles team of Lynch and Zimmer as well as the No. 3 doubles team Canibe and Morque both won their doubles matches with a score of 8-4. The victory for Lynch and Zimmer increased their undefeated record to 7-0, which is the longest winning streak of the season for the Orange and Blue.

Despite the ease in doubles play, the singles competition proved to be much more challenging. Bison captains Katten, Morque and Zimmer all fell to their Lehigh opponents. Bybel was able to win his match 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, while teammate Canibe stayed strong to win his three-set match at No. 6 singles.

With the overall score tied at 3-3, all eyes were on Rosen as he competed in his No. 5 singles match. Rosen lost the first set 3-6, but he was able to fight back and win the last two sets 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the overall victory for the Bison.

With this victory, the Bison end their regular season play with a 13-7 overall record, and a 3-2 record in conference play. They will compete in the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 3 seed, starting Friday in Hamilton, N.Y.