Forward Theater Review: “King James” Is a Play About Basketball and Friendship

by Jacob Dunn and Jules Da Costa

We recently attended Forward Theater’s “King James” written by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Michael Burke. While the run has ended, the Wisconsin premier of this two-man show captured audience attention with its exploration of friendship, conflict, maturation, and fandom.

“King James” gets its title from basketball legend LeBron James, whose career is the foundation of the story. Set in four quarters, like a basketball game, the comedy follows the relationship of two young men from Cleveland. Both love basketball and LeBron James.

Shawn, played by Marques Causey, is a thoughtful and reserved young Black man with ambitions of being a writer. Matt, played by Greg Pragel, is a young white man who wants independence and success but finds himself indebted to his parents. [Read More]

Cristiano Ronaldo: Breaking Records and Shining on the World Stage

by Gerardo Ramirez, age 10

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, most commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a famous soccer player born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Ronaldo was given his name in honor of his father’s favorite movie actor Ronald Reagan, who was the US president at the time.

Ronaldo is six feet and one inch tall, and he started as a right-winger before transitioning into a forward. At the age of 15, Ronaldo was diagnosed with a heart condition, which required medical treatment that allowed him to continue playing soccer. He first joined Clube Desportivo Nacional de Madeira and later transferred to Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he made his senior debut.

Ronaldo made his professional debut in 2003 when he signed with the English powerhouse Manchester United. This is where he became world-famous, helping the team win the Premier League and the Champions League in the 2007-08 season. During that season, Ronaldo scored 42 goals and won the Ballon d'Or in 2008. [Read More]

Injuries Cloud Kawhi Leonard’s Basketball Future

by Jacob Dunn, age 15

NBA star Kawhi Leonard is reported to be out indefinitely just as his Los Angeles Clippers teammates start the 2024-25 season.

Leonard is out due to inflammation in his right knee. Kawhi Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, six-time All-star, and has twice been named finals MVP. He has won two defensive player-of-the-year awards. Kawhi is a beloved player among basketball fans for his determined, no-smile look.

Kawhi Leonard learned the game of basketball in Riverside, California, where he played at Martin Luther King High School. In the 2009 college basketball recruiting class, experts ranked him as one of the top small forwards in the country and the 48th-best overall player. During his senior season, Leonard averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3 blocks per game. [Read More]

Baseball History in Wisconsin: The Story of the Milwaukee Brewers

by Max Moreno, age 12

The Milwaukee Brewers were not always called the Brewers, and the story of the team's origin stretches back more than 100 years. The history of the Brewers name is a fascinating chapter in American sports history.

Baseball appeared in Milwaukee around the 1840s, and the first team was known as The Cream City Club. They obtained this name from the light-colored bricks used in many of Milwaukee's city structures. Milwaukee's first professional team, the Grays, started in 1878 in the National League. The name had been thrown around before but it wasn't until around the 1900s that the name Milwaukee Brewers was associated with Major League Baseball (MLB) with the name stemming from the rich brewing history of Milwaukee. In the year 1900, they were one of the eight charter members of the American League.

The Grays franchise moved to St. Louis, where they played as the Browns for 53 years before moving again to Baltimore to become the Orioles. After the Grays moved locations another team with the name the Milwaukee Brewers took their place. This team would prove to be more enduring. The club began to play in 1902 and was a Minor League team that found a home in Borchert Field along Chambers Street. The team attracted lots of young fans including the future owner of the Brewers and MLB Commissioner, Bud Selig. [Read More]

Injury Ends WNBA Star’s Stellar Rookie Year

by Jacob Dunn, age 15

WNBA star Angel Reese, also known as the Double-Double Barbie and the Bayou Barbie, is out for the rest of her rookie season. Reese hurt her wrist in September during a Chicago Sky win over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Angel Reese was having one of the best rookie seasons ever. She averaged 14 points and 13 rebounds over 34 games this season.

Even before Reese came to the WNBA, she was a star. Drafted in the first round, basketball fans in Chicago knew she won a national championship with the Louisiana State University. Reese became known for her double-doubles, meaning she regularly had games with 10 or more points and 10 or more rebounds. [Read More]

Chris McIntosh to Lead UW Athletics Through 2029

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, 16

The University of Wisconsin Madison is announcing that Chris McIntosh, UW’s athletic director, is agreeing to stay with the UW Athletics program for a few more years.

McIntosh is from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and was a former Badgers offensive lineman. He played just two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and wanted to be an athletic director. He joined the department in 2014 as the director of development and later was promoted to the athletic director.

McIntosh’s contract increases his base salary to $1.45 million yearly with a $50,000 increase each year. With this new contract extension, he will continue to work for UW Athletics until 2029, where his contract expires. Jennifer L. Mnookin, the chancellor of UW, said in a press release, “Chris is an extremely effective leader at a time of unprecedented change across the collegiate athletics landscape. He continues to position the Badgers for long-term success in the top tier of college sports.” [Read More]

Madison Night Mares Softball Team Enjoys Successful First Season

by Aria McClinton, age 13

Madison’s new collegiate women’s softball team, the Madison Night Mares, completed their first season this summer. The team is part of the Northwoods League Softball Summer Collegiate League, which also includes teams from La Crosse, Wisconsin, Minot, North Dakota, and Mankato, Minnesota.

The Madison Mallards announced the formation of the Night Mares in a statement earlier this year. At that time, the team was referred to as “Madison Softball.” The team’s general manager, Samantha Rubin, is also the first female general manager of the Madison Mallards Baseball Club.

Through a “Name Your Team” contest, softball enthusiasts around Madison were able to pick the name of the team. The new name was shared with the public during a April event at the Orpheum Theater in Madison. [Read More]

Overtime Elite A New Pathway to the NBA

by Jules Da Costa, age 16

The Overtime Elite (OTE) basketball league is paving a new pathway to the NBA, separate from that of the NBA G-League and college ball.

OTE is a professional basketball league for 16-to-19-year-old prospects, who have the chance to make at least six-figure salaries. The league provides the athletes with an annual base salary of $100,000 or a scholarship contract if the athletes want to play in college. The league, founded in 2021 by Dan Porter and Zack Weiner, was created for fans of popular and highly rated high-school players. They decided to build a business around the millions of fans who would enjoy watching these athletes compete against each other.

Twins Amen and Ausar Thompson were the faces of OTE. The 6’7” brothers skipped their senior year of high school to play for OTE. They then became the first players from the program to be drafted into the NBA and in the top five too. Amen was drafted by the Houston Rockets as the fourth overall pick, while Ausar was chosen by the Detroit Pistons as the fifth overall pick. This year's second-overall pick, Alex Sarr, also played for OTE and was selected by the Washington Wizards. [Read More]

The Green Bay Packers, From Bankruptcy to Community-Owned NFL Legacy

by Kaleab Afeworki, age 11

You may have heard of the Green Bay Packers, but did you know that this successful NFL team once faced bankruptcy? It's true!

Back in the early days, Green Bay, the smallest city in Wisconsin to join the NFL, had a relatively small fan base and limited financial resources. This situation left the Packers in precarious financial shape during the 1920s. In 1935, they hit a critical point, ultimately going bankrupt. To navigate this financial crisis, they established a new company known as Green Bay Packers Inc. and raised $15,000 by selling stock shares of the team to the public.

The team's founding fathers, Ed "Curly" Lambeau, after whom the stadium was named, and George Calhoun, played pivotal roles in the Packers' history. The name "Packers" itself has an interesting historical connection. It was inspired by Lambeau's affiliation with the Indian Packing Corporation, a meatpacking company. This choice resonated with the working-class residents who made up the core of the Green Bay community during that era. [Read More]

Doc Rivers Says Bucks 2024 Draft Adds Two “Intriguing” Players

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

The Milwaukee Bucks recently introduced new draft picks, AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith. The NBA team hopes the unproven rookies can prove themselves to be hidden gems.

Coincidently, guard AJ Johnson and forward Tyler Smith were Athletic Amateur Union (AAU) teammates in ninth grade and now they are teammates on the Bucks.

“We knew each other for a minute so it should be pretty easy to get along,” Smith said in a press conference. [Read More]

New Golf Complex Proposed in Monona

By Ayelen Flores Ruiz, age 14

Topgolf, a sports entertainment company, has revealed plans to build a driving range and golf center in Monona. It will be located just off the Beltline on West Broadway. The site is between WPS Health Solutions and South Towne Mall.

Topgolf is a Dallas-based company which has over 90 golf complexes across the U.S. and locations in 10 other countries. There are two located in the suburbs of Chicago and another near Minneapolis. There is also a planned golf complex in West Des Moines, Iowa. That facility will open this fall.

Finding a location was not easy. The company has been looking in the Madison market for five years. In Monona, the company plans a project worth $30 million that would replace five current buildings. The location was discussed with the city plan commission in June. The company's real estate development director Todd Waldo said, “We feel that we have found the right spot.” [Read More]

Jackie Robinson, The Legend Who Changed Baseball

by Max Moreno, age 11

Jack Roosevelt Robinson, also known as Jackie Robinson was a legendary baseball player who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball by becoming the first Black American to be in the MLB. However, Robinson wasn't just any ordinary baseball player.

Robinson was born on Jan. 31, 1919, and grew up in Cairo, Georgia. During high school he played many sports like baseball, basketball, football and track. He was also named the state's MVP in 1938. He attended UCLA, where he was the university's first student to win varsity letters in four sports. In the 1940s Robinson met his future wife, Rachel Isum, when they were attending UCLA and got married in 1946. However he had to drop out of UCLA just shy of graduation because he didn't have enough money. After moving to Honolulu Hawaii, Robinson played football for the semi-professional league but his season was cut short as the United States entered WWII. He was drafted to the war from 1942 to 1944 and served as a second lieutenant but never fought in combat. After he was discharged from the army, Robinson began to play baseball but at that time baseball was segregated and white and Black people played in different leagues. [Read More]

Bucks Hire Darvin Ham as Lead Assistant

By Jules Da Costa, age 16

Former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham is set to return to the Milwaukee Bucks as the lead assistant to coach Doc Rivers.

Ham was let go by the Lakers after the team went 90-74 during the last two seasons. Prior to coaching the Lakers, he spent four seasons with the Bucks franchise and helped lead them to their 2021 championship. Ham is also a former Bucks player.

This off-season, Ham was highly sought after as he had been one of the top assistant coaches in the NBA prior to taking the Lakers job. Ham ultimately decided to go with the Bucks because he already has relationships with staff and several key players. [Read More]

Wisconsin Basketball Adds Two Talented Recruits

By Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

The Wisconsin Badgers basketball program added several important assets to their roster during the offseason. Losing key players like AJ Storr, Connor Essegian, and Chucky Hepburn, the Badgers responded and recruited several talented players through the transfer portal. Now, they have picked up another 6'11 player Andrija Vukovic from Serbia.

Badger basketball coach Greg Gard made the following statement about Andrija Vukovic: “We are excited to announce the addition of Andrija to our program. We were fortunate to find such a tremendous player and person that will fit in perfectly with our program.”

Vukovic is a 6 '11 center who recently played basketball for KK Vršac in Serbia. He averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists while playing about 13 minutes a game. Overall, he shot 66% from the field. Vukovic provides skills the Badgers need in terms of roster depth at the inside positions. [Read More]

Shohei Ohtani: MLB's Rising Superstar and Record-Breaker

by Jacob Dunn, age 15

Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese player in Major League Baseball (MLB), is making a big name for himself. Ohtani is breaking all types of baseball records and could be the next greatest player in the MLB.

Shohei Ohtani, born in Oshu, Japan, was brought into baseball early as his family loved the sport. Both his parents were impressive athletes themselves: his father played semi-professional baseball while his mother was a badminton player. By the time Ohtani was in high school, he was a two-way athlete, playing as a designated hitter and pitching. At 17, he was on the field throwing pitches as fast as 99 miles per hour. His talents had professional scouts looking to draft him. Ohtani dreamed of being in the MLB, but there was still a long way to go.

In 2012, his professional career started when he entered the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league draft. Shohei Ohtani was the first pick overall and was drafted by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. For four years, he made a name for himself as a two-way player. [Read More]

Doc Rivers Seeks to Revitalize the Milwaukee Bucks Amid Coaching Slump

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

Doc Rivers, the new head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, is facing a slump in his coaching career. However, he is continuing to find ways to improve the team.

The Bucks replaced Adrian Griffin with Doc Rivers. Although Rivers accepted the coaching opportunity, he is currently in a coaching slump. After the Bucks lost three straight games to the Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies, and Toronto Raptors, Damian Lillard said in a post-game interview, "I just feel like we're a lot better than that. We're a more mature and responsible team than we've shown by allowing these games to get to the points they've gotten to and then putting ourselves in a dogfight and giving it a chance to end this way. But it's part of the game." Doc Rivers also responded similarly to Damian Lillard, saying, "The last three were against three bad teams. To me, that's inexcusable. For all of us. As I told them, this is on me. I gotta figure out what we gotta do to play at a higher pace." Rivers has noticed how disjointed the offense and defense have been during the last season.

Glenn Anton Rivers, known as Doc Rivers, was born on October 13, 1961. He was nicknamed "Doc" because he attended a summer basketball camp at Marquette University while wearing a "Dr. J" T-shirt of Philadelphia 76ers player Julius Erving. Rivers began his coaching career in 1996 after retiring as a player for the NBA. Rivers played for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and the Boston Celtics. He started off coaching the Orlando Magic from 1999-2003. Rivers expanded his coaching opportunities throughout the years by coaching for numerous teams. He led the 76ers to a third seed in the playoffs and fell short against the Boston Celtics in the 2022-23 playoffs. During the 2023-24 season, the Milwaukee Bucks organization fired Adrian Griffin after just 43 games with the Bucks, despite having one of the top records in the league. [Read More]

Meet Victor Wembanyama: The 7-Foot-4 Basketball Phenom

by Kaleab Afeworki, age 12

Victor Wembanyama is one of the best rookies this year, according to National Basketball Association (NBA) commentators. He gained popularity for his tremendous height reaching 7 feet 4 inches at just 20 years old. He was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall pick of the NBA draft.

Wembanyama was born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France. He was greatly known for his height, at the age of nine he was 5 feet 11 inches tall. At ten years old, he joined the Nanterre basketball team and gained gained skills on the court and enhanced his abilities to shoot, pass and defend. According to Wembanyama, it was during these times that he developed his desire to play basketball at a professional level. Over time, he taught himself English as he knew it was the language of the NBA, and he continued to practice his skills.

In 2019 at the age of 15, Wembanyama made his professional debut by appearing in the European professional basketball competition EuroCup with Nanterre's senior team. They were able to win a silver medal in the tournament. In 2020, Wembanyama played in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament and helped the Nanterres win second place. [Read More]

Team USA Fires Men's Soccer Coach

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

Gregg Berhalter, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team coach, was fired recently after the team’s July loss against Uruguay in the Copa America league.

Before hiring Berhalter, the U.S. Men's National Team’s goal was to ensure the team was able to qualify for that year’s World Cup. As the U.S. Men's National Team was selected to co-host the 2026 World Cup, Berhalter’s job became to establish a young core of American players and develop them into future contenders.

After disappointing results from team U.S.A., Berhalter was already expected to be fired. The last straw was when Colombia beat the U.S. in a pre-Copa exhibition game 5-1. [Read More]

Golden State Valkyries Announced as Bay Area's New WNBA Team

by Jules Da Costa, age 16

The Bay Area is now officially part of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), with the unveiling of the Golden State Valkyries.

In October 2023, it was announced that there would be a WNBA affiliate of the Golden State Warriors (GSW), but the team name and brand identity were only recently revealed. The team will start in 2025 as the WNBA’s 13th active team. They will host games at San Francisco’s Chase Center and practice at the GSW’s previous training facility. The Valkyries will be the WNBA’s first expansion since the Atlanta Dream in 2008.

The team name originates from Norse mythology. Valkyries are a “host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering,” as defined in a press release by the WNBA. The brand represents Golden State’s interpretation of Valkyries: powerful, confident, and fearless. Their primary color is “Valkyrie Violet,” which, according to the press release, symbolizes “power, ambition, nobility, and women’s empowerment.” [Read More]

How FC Bayern Munich Became a Soccer Powerhouse

by Oliver Zink, age 13

FC Bayern Munich is one of the most prestigious and classic teams in the world of soccer. They have won almost every trophy in the world.

The team was founded in 1900 in Munich, Germany. Their first 31 years were slow, but gained momentum and eventually won their first title. They were the only club to accept Jewish players in the 30s which gave them the nickname “The Jew’s Club.”

In the 40s, many young men were fighting in the World War, so soccer was not as important and it waned in popularity. In 1955, they narrowly avoided bankruptcy because of their poor performance. The five years before 1955 yielded no titles and they slowly lost support and money. [Read More]

Milwaukee's Mistake: Jrue Holiday Leads Celtics to 2024 NBA Title

by Owen Ayite Atayi, age 16

It looks like Trading Jrue Holiday was a huge mistake for the Milwaukee Bucks. During the 2023-24 season, the move certainly disrupted the team’s previous defensive prowess and team chemistry. This lack of defense jeopardized the Bucks’ chances of another championship. Ultimately, when Giannis Antetokounmpo got injured, the team’s defense didn’t hold up.

Regardless of the trade, Jrue Holiday remained an excellent player. In fact, after being traded to the Boston Celtics, he was again a key contributor. Not only has he been a steady player, but he guided his new team to the 2024 NBA championship.

One person who has questioned the trade is Philadelphia 76ers Most Valuable Player (MVP) Joel Embiid. He recently tweeted on social media, “Did the Bucks give them the championship?” Embiid was implying “them” as the Boston Celtics. He tweeted this late Wednesday as the Celtics had gone up 3-0 in the series. [Read More]

Wisconsin Basketball Team Loses Some Key Players, then Adds New Talent from the Transfer Portal

by Jules Da Costa, age 16

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team lost several key players to the transfer portal this spring. But more recently, the team has responded with three intriguing additions of their own.

The transfer portal was brutal to the Badgers after the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, with eight players choosing to transfer. Two starters, AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn, were key contributors last season and a third, Connor Essegian, made the Big Ten’s all-freshman team in 2023.

The departures left gaps to fill in the 2024-25 roster. Losing some of the team’s star players highlighted for Badger fans how new transfer rules in college sports and the modern “play for pay” environment will affect Wisconsin’s basketball program. With the old transfer rules, players who wanted to transfer had to wait a year to play and coaches could restrict where you could go. [Read More]

Ja Morant's Journey from Small Town to Big League Success

by Kaleab Afeworki, age 12

Ja Morant was selected in the 2019 NBA draft as the second overall pick to the Memphis Grizzlies. He is also one of the most athletic players in the NBA, which includes being one of the most precious point guards in the NBA.

Morant’s net worth is now exactly known. In his first season as a professional basketball player, he earned $8.7 million. Morant currently has a two-year $17.9 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. He also signed a multi-year deal with Nike.

Morant was born on Aug. 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina. Morant’s parents are Tee and Jamie Morant, and he also has a younger sister named Teniya. Morant always wanted to be an NBA player, and he would train daily with his father and sister in their backyard. [Read More]

NCAA Faces Legal Battle Over Name, Image, and Likeness Regulations

by Jules Da Costa, age 15

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been involved in legal battles regarding its name, image, and likeness (NIL) guidelines.

In the ongoing case Tennessee and Virginia v. NCAA, the states want to remove rules regulating players' compensation for their name, image, and likeness. The NCAA is the largest college sports governing body in the US. They earn billions from the revenue their player's NIL brings them. College athletes receive several benefits but are not being compensated for their NIL. The suit claims the NCAA has violated the antitrust laws by denying athletes the ability to earn total compensation. They seek an injunction to do away with the NCAA's NIL rules. Florida-based sports attorney Darren Heitner claims there has been misclassification of athletes and that they should be referred to as employees rather than student-athletes. This lawsuit brings the total number of antitrust lawsuits the NCAA is defending to at least five, three of which also seek employment status for college athletes.

In a statement, the NCAA claims that taking this legal action and suspending the NIL regulations would further encourage what they consider a "wild west atmosphere." The NCAA worries about uneven playing fields between neighboring states and student-athletes being vulnerable to exploitation without the proper safeguards. According to the statement, the association does want to protect NIL rules but is also open to expanding NIL rights and opportunities for its athletes. [Read More]

Mohamed Salah's Journey to Soccer Stardom in Liverpool

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 8

Mohamed Salah is a professional soccer player who has played for multiple teams over the years. He is one of the best forwards and a serial winner with Liverpool Football Club (FC) since his arrival in 2017.

Salah was born on June 15, 1992, in Basyoun, Egypt, a city north of Cairo. When he was young, he admired professional soccer players such as Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima and tried to imitate their moves on the field. At age 14, he joined the Egyptian club, El Mokawloon’s youth team. His amazing speed caught the attention of Swiss club FC Basel, which led him to a contract in 2012. He helped lead the team to the Swiss Super League title and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa League semifinals in 2012. During that season he earned the Swiss Golden Player award for being an outstanding player.

Salah transferred to Chelsea FC of the Premier League in January 2014, where he struggled and only had six Premier League matches before he was loaned to Italy’s top league, Series A in 2015. Salah’s performance improved during his time in the Italian league, and later he was loaned to another Serie A team, AS Roma. He completed a permanent transfer to AS Roma and soon achieved 19 goals and 13 assists in the 2016-17 season. This gave him recognition as AS Roma’s player of the year. [Read More]

Regular Season to Championship, How the NBA Playoffs Work

by Jacob Dunn, age 15

The biggest annual tournament in basketball is the NBA playoffs, where the best teams in the league battle it out in a quest for the title of the nation's best team. Each year, before the playoffs begin, the regular season determines the seeding for each team.

Based on their win-loss record, the top eight teams from both conferences, Eastern and Western, qualify for the playoffs. The team with the best record in each conference earns the top seed, the second-best team earns the second seed, and so on. The NBA playoffs consist of four rounds with each matchup being a best-of-seven series. The higher seeds host games one, two, five, and seven, while the lower-seeded teams host games three, four, and six. Out of the 16 teams that play each other, the team that wins four out of seven games first advances to the next round.

The first round is often referred to as the conference quarterfinals, putting the top seed versus the eighth seed, the second seed versus the seventh seed, and so forth. The first round is very suspenseful and many upsets happen in this round as lower-ranked teams can beat higher-ranked teams. After teams make it past the first round, they advance to the conference semifinals. Here, the remaining eight matchups play to make it to the conference final. The conference finals take two teams from each conference who have made it through the tournament. The winners from the two games are named their conference champions. The champions of each conference face each other in a seven-game series to see who will be declared the best team in the nation. [Read More]

Virgil Van Dijk Shines as Liverpool's Star Defensive Player

by Oliver Zink, age 13

Virgil Van Dijk has shown that he is a world class defender and can compete at the highest levels in competitive soccer. He proved that by joining Liverpool in 2018 to play at a higher level after playing on smaller teams, such as Willem 11, FC Groningen, and Celtic.

The Dutch player helped Liverpool lift every major league trophy to date. He is a constant, imposing presence at the back line, while still helping up front with approximately five goals every Premier League season.

In the 2019-2020 season he won the UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA League World Cup which no one has done before. He also helped clinch a European Cup. In the 2018 season he only missed 35 minutes throughout the entire season, which is one of the lowest in the league. He was an outstanding player at the heart of the success of Liverpool, especially when the team made a comeback and beat Real Madrid securing the Champions League in 2019, after losing the year before. [Read More]

Marquette's Oso Ighodaro Named BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete

by Jules Da Costa, age 15

Marquette University basketball player Oso Ighodaro has recently been named the Big East conference’s scholar-athlete, a first in Marquette history.

Ighodaro will graduate with two degrees in four years. The Marquette senior earned a finance degree in three years and is working towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA), which he will complete in the summer. In these four years, he has managed to maintain a 3.54-grade point average. The conference’s Academic Affairs Committee voted to give Ighodaro the award and will grant him a $2,000 scholarship for graduate or professional studies.

Ighodaro also succeeded this season, earning all-Big East second-team honors. The 6-foot-11 forward averages 14.4 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds per game. Marquette head coach Shaka Smart said he is “incredibly proud” and that “it’s a well-deserved award.” Ighodaro said, “I think it’s cool to show that I can do my best at both.” [Read More]

March Madness Is the Ultimate NCAA Basketball Showdown

By Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

March Madness is one of the most anticipated and most-watched sporting events there is. It is a high-stakes environment with a roaring atmosphere that keeps family, friends, and basketball fans on the edge of their seats.

For the uninitiated, March Madness is a college basketball tournament. It is sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and determines the national champion of college basketball.

The name “March Madness” comes from the annual Illinois High School tournament, the first that used the term “March Madness” to describe its annual championship event. Henry V. Porter, a coach and educator, established the phrase in a 1939 essay for the Illinois Interscholastic magazine. His article was called “March Madness”. [Read More]

Embiid's MVP Pursuit, Playing for His Late Brother's Memory

by Jacob Dunn, age 14

Joel Embiid, the 2022-2023 NBA MVP, is doing amazing things this 2023-2024 season, and it's all for his brother.

In 2014, Embiid was drafted into the league by the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid and his family are from Yaounde, Cameroon. Embiid had one person that motivated him in his life: his brother Arthur. Before Embiid moved to the United States he and Arthur were always together. When he was 16, he had his first day of basketball camp but was too nervous to go, so he skipped and stayed home to play a soccer video game with Arthur. Unfortunately, Embiid's dad found out and everything changed. He was forced to go to his basketball camp and would hardly ever see Arthur again.

After going to camps in his country, Embiid was recognized and got the ability to play basketball in the United States and the family moved. After a couple of years passed he was declared for the draft. He ended up being drafted in 2014 by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 3rd overall pick. When Embiid got drafted, Arthur was still in Cameroon. He missed him and wanted him to come to see him play in the league. Four months passed and Embiid got a call that Arthur was killed in an accident back home. After he heard the news, Embiid turned to shambles. Although he was in a rough spot, he was not letting that stop him. Embiid pushed himself to be great and face his challenges. Embiid won the Most Valuable Player award in the 2022-2023 season, proving himself as one of the best foreign players in the league. Embiid is showing his worth in the league as a foreign player. [Read More]

UW Madison Basketball Sensation A.J. Storr Leaves Mark On and Off the Court

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

Wisconsin Badgers basketball player A.J. Storr has become a key contributor to the Badgers’ 2023-24 lineup. Not only does Storr have an impact on the court, but he also has an impact on the community.

A.J. Storr’s heart and passion for basketball were ignited by his mother, Annette Brandy, and his sister, Ambranette Storr. Both of them played basketball at a sensational level. Storr’s mother played at Clemente Community Academy, and his sister embarked on her legacy by becoming one of the top scorers in Illinois.

Storr was a solid player at the collegiate level, averaging 8.8 points per game for St. John's Red Storm during his freshman year. He was also named to the 2023 Big East All-Freshman Team and Big East Freshman of the Week three times. Despite earning all the accolades, Storr felt like Wisconsin was a better program and a great fit for him, so he transferred. The program felt like home, and he truly admired how Wisconsin Badgers coach Greg Gard appreciated his unique skill set. [Read More]

How the Carlisle Indians Became a College Football Powerhouse

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

Richard Henry Pratt, an abolitionist, created a college football powerhouse team called the Carlisle Indians that dominated in the early 20th century. Pratt believed that Native Americans should be included in American society.

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School began in 1879 with Henry Pratt wanting to assimilate Native Americans into society. Pratt was dedicated to starting the school so he did just that, by making a journey into the Dakota territory to enroll students into Carlisle. Three years later, the students decided that they wanted to start a football team for the school which was called the Carlisle Indians.

The Carlisle Indians were a dominant team by 1907. The collegiate team knew how to operate and facilitate the game at an efficient pace. In one of Carlisle’s games, the Indians defeated the U.S. Army team, which included Dwight Eisenhower in its roster. In Carlisle’s former years, the school produced amazing talent which included Jim Thorpe and Glenn Scobey also known as “Pop”. [Read More]

Muhammad Ali: The Unmatched Legacy of a Boxing Legend

by Iliyan Hoskins, age 10

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., more commonly known as Muhammad Ali, was a professional boxer who achieved many accomplishments, including an olympic gold medal in 1960 in Rome and a world heavyweight championship title. Throughout Ali’s career, he faced much success and controversy that would make him a household name.

On January 17, 1942, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. Clay's mother was Odessa O’Grady Clay. Clay was born dyslexic, so it was hard for him to learn in school and it caused him some trouble throughout his life.

When Clay was 12, a thief stole his bike. Clay’s boxing coach, Joe E. Martin, and a police officer saw Clay upset over the incident and at that moment, Martin encouraged Clay to try boxing. [Read More]

Nikola Jokic's Journey to Double MVP Triumph

by Kaleab Afeworki, age 11

Many people believe Nikola Jokic to be one of the best NBA players. Jokic is placed over LeBron James and Jason Kidd on the triple-double list in the NBA – a status given to a player when they get at least 10 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds.

Nikola Jokic was born on February 19, 1995, in Sombor, Serbia. His two older brothers, who were 11 and 13 at the time, introduced him to basketball. At age 17, he made it to the KK Mega Basket League in Belgrade. In the 2015-2016 season, Jokic joined the Denver Nuggets. He also helped Serbia earn a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Jokic recently became the 11th player in NBA history to receive multiple MVPs and an NBA title, following names like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Larry Bird. [Read More]

Why the Milwaukee Bucks Traded Jrue Holiday

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 16

Although the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2021 NBA finals, the organization has faced loads of criticism, backlash, and mixed emotions on the trading of Jrue Holiday, who will now play for the Boston Celtics.

The starting roster during the 2020-22 seasons consisted of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez. The roster was solid for the Bucks after they acquired Holiday in the 2020-21 season. Holiday is a point guard who controls the game with an amazing and efficient pace. He averaged 16.4 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in his time with the Bucks. Although Holiday is an explosive player on offense, he is also a great and proactive player on defense.

The organization is facing mixed emotions from fans on Jrue Holiday being traded for Damian Lillard, who is also a point guard who can shoot efficiently and facilitate on offense. Throughout his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard averaged 25.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Although Lillard is an offensive weapon, he struggles on the defensive side, unlike Holiday. The trade was a three-way blockbuster deal with the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks also sent Grayson Allen to the Phoenix Suns, while the Trail Blazers picked up Deandre Ayton. “Before I even won here I thought I said I'm a Buck for life and I mean that like deep in my heart, I don't want to play for any other team,” Holiday said. The day after he said that the Bucks traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers, who then traded him to the Boston Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, the 2024 1st-round draft pick, and the 2029 unprotected 1st-round draft pick. [Read More]

Young Soccer Prodigy Jude Bellingham's Rise to Glory

by Oliver Zink, age 13

In the world of professional soccer, young English player Jude Bellingham is playing for Real Madrid and is a powerhouse for soccer. Bellingham started his rise at Birmingham where he achieved multiple records. He was the youngest player to play for Birmingham, along with being the youngest goalscorer at Birmingham.

Jude played in 31 games in England’s tough-as-nails second-tier championship where he started 24 games and scored four goals and got two assists. He was recognized for his excellent playing on the field and was awarded the English Soccer League’s Young Player of the Month for November. Bellingham decided to leave Birmingham and transfer to Dortmund for more opportunities.

Jude made history at Dortmund as the youngest goalscorer in the D.F.B. Cup. He also became the youngest Englishman to start in a Champions League match. Bellingham went on and got his first Bundesliga League goal against VFB Stuttgart. Four days later he became the second-youngest player to score in a Champions League match. Bellingham joined Youri Tielsman as one of the two players to make double-digit appearances in the Champions League before the age of 18. [Read More]

Inside the NFL Turf Debate for Player Safety and Finances

By Jacob Dunn, age 14

The ongoing debate surrounding whether football players should compete on turf or real grass has sparked arguments from various perspectives, encompassing players' health and cost considerations.

In the NFL, only 14 fields boast natural grass, with 18 utilizing turf, and a single hybrid field, belonging to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Players mostly prefer real grass over turf because many think their cleats perform better on natural grass. They say it does not put as much pressure on their legs and ankles. Due to this, and many other reasons, players strongly agree with replacing all turf fields with real grass.

Most data from recent years points toward slightly more injuries occurring on turf, but there is plenty of real grass as well, according to the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA). Perhaps a greater factor of why the NFL leans towards having turf is the cost of maintenance. "However, moving all stadium fields to high-quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make," NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said in a statement. [Read More]

Team USA's Quest for Redemption: Building the 2024 Olympic Basketball Roster

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, 16

The unexpected loss of the USA men’s basketball team in the 2023 Federal International Basketball Association(FIBA) semifinals set the stage for building the 2024 USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team.

The 2023 USA men’s basketball team had a devastating loss in the semifinals against Germany on Sept. 8, 2023. The 2023 USA team consisted of veteran NBA players such as Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Austin Reaves, and Mikal Bridges. The final score for the semifinal game was 113-111. The loss would knock Team USA out of the FIBA playoffs and into the third-place consolation game. Unfortunately, Team USA fell short against Canada with a final score of 127-118.

Noah Lyles, an Olympic athlete, stirred up controversy when he said in a press conference, “The thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have the world champion on their head. World champion of what? The United States?” NBA players flooded social media with confusion once they heard about his comments. After Lyles shared his opinion on the NBA finals, momentum began to build for the future 2024 Olympic roster. [Read More]

NBA's Stricter Player Participation Policy Spurs Concerns Among Teams

by Jules Da Costa, age 15

NBA teams are expressing their concerns about the new rules established by the NBA's board of governors, which pertain to the Player Participation Policy (PPP). This policy penalizes teams for resting star players during nationally televised games.

The previous Player Resting Policy was initially introduced in the 2017-18 season, preventing NBA teams from resting high-profile players during nationally televised games and imposing a minimum fine of $100,000 for violations. However, for the upcoming 2023-24 season, the NBA is taking a stricter stance with the introduction of a new policy called the Player Participation Policy. Under this policy, any violation will incur a first-offense fine of $100,000, a second-offense fine of $250,000, and an additional fine of $1 million for each subsequent violation.

Teams must ensure that no more than one-star player is unavailable for the same game, emphasizing that star players should be available for all games, particularly on national television and during in-season tournaments. Teams such as the Golden State Warriors must make sure Steph Curry or Chris Paul is available for each game, particularly on national television and during in-season tournaments. [Read More]

Lionel Messi Leads Inter Miami to Historic Victory

by Moore Vang, age 14

Lionel Messi has made his presence known in Major League Soccer since joining Inter Miami in July. He has scored 11 goals and has played in 11 games in which his team has won them all. Due to these wins, they advanced to the Leagues Cup tournament finals on Aug 20 and defeated Nashville.

The Leagues Cup tournament is a month-long competition between the 47 clubs of MLS (29) and Liga MX (18). The competition is hosted in the U.S. and Canada and is a World Cup-style tournament that pauses seasonal games for a month from mid-July to mid-August. The top three teams in the Leagues Cup advance to the Concacaf Champions League in 2024. This league consists of 27 teams competing in a five-round knockout phase which takes place in North America. The winner will advance to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., along with the winners from 2021 to 2023.

Messi has changed the landscape of Inter Miami by scoring the club’s first ever trophy-the Leagues Cup title. In their match against Nashville, Messi scored the first goal in the 23rd minute. However, Nashville scored in the 57th minute, tying the game 1-1. The match went into penalties with each player taking a shot. In the end, Inter Miami won 10-9 on penalties, earning them the Leagues Cup title. [Read More]

Kylian Mbappé, A Rising Star in World Soccer

by Iliyan Hoskins, age 10

At the young age of 24, Kylian Mbappé is one of the best soccer players in the world.

Mbappé was born in Paris, France, and raised in Bondy. Growing up his idols were Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, and Cristiano Ronaldo. He wanted to play for Real Madrid when he was young.

On August 31, 2017, Paris Saint Germain (PSG) announced the signing of Mbappé from Monaco on loan. In July 2018, Mbappé was given the number seven jersey for the upcoming season. He became the highest paid teenager earning €145 million plus €35 million in add-ons and endorsements. In May, he was called up to the 2018 World Cup. He led France to the finals against Croatia with a 4-2 win. [Read More]

BIG3 Basketball League Faces NBA Obstacles but Thrives in Its Own Right

by Jules Da Costa, age 15

The BIG3 basketball league has been facing challenges due to the NBA’s influence. Despite this, the league is still thriving.

The BIG3 three-on-three basketball league was founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz in 2017. The BIG3 league takes place during the NBA’s off-season. It consists of retired NBA players and players who didn’t make the NBA. They are currently a 12-team league with three-player lineups and five-player rosters.

Ice Cube, a well-known actor and hip-hop artist, claims that the NBA has been blocking this league from wider exposure. He is accusing them of gatekeeping sponsorships and network deals they could use. In an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, he said that the NBA has been “...encouraging people not to sponsor us…” and “...encouraging networks not to play us.” He clarified that they are not in any way trying to compete with the NBA. He then explained how having the NBA viewing his league as competition prevents it from expanding. “Labeling us as competition prevents other NBA owners from investing,“ he said, adding they are also going to sponsors and telling them not to work with the BIG3. [Read More]

Aaron Rodgers Injured, Zach Wilson Takes Over as Jets Quarterback

by Jacob Dunn, age 14

In a tragic event for Jets fans, Aaron Rodgers was injured and carried out of the stadium during the team’s first regular-season game on Sept. 11. Now, he will be replaced by 2021 number two overall pick, Zach Wilson. Wilson will be the new QB1, with a 14-21 record, averaging only 168 yards per game in the 2022 season. To compare his average passing yards, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes almost doubled that in last year's season with 303 passing yards per game. When signing Rodgers, the Jets had a 60% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to SportsLine. Now with Wilson, the Jets only have a staggering 0.2 % chance of making the playoffs.

The injury occurred on the fourth play of the game. The Jets were attempting a drive and pass rusher Leonard Floyd got through the offensive line and sacked Rodgers. Once Rodgers got up, he stood for a moment before going back to the ground and holding his leg in pain. After Rodgers was carried out by medics, Wilson had to step in to replace him. Wilson ended up taking the Jets to victory against the Buffalo Bills 22-16. He threw for more than 50% while completing 14 for 21 on passing, ending the night with 140 passing yards.

After the game, there was a press conference where Jets coach, Robert Saleh, said that Rodgers' injury did not look good and that they were putting their faith in Wilson. The following morning Rodgers got X-rays and it was ruled that he had torn his left ACL and would not be able to return until the 2024-25 season. [Read More]

Johnny Davis: A Rising Star's Journey from La Crosse to the NBA

by Jules Da Costa, age 15

Wisconsin basketball standout, Johnny Davis, recently finished his rookie season and it has been a rollercoaster.

Johnny Davis was born on February 27, 2002, in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Sarah and Mark Giles Davis. Davis’ father was also an NBA player. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 79th overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft. He played professionally for 13 seasons and retired in 1999. Like his father, Johnny Davis plays as a small forward and shows a lot of potential in the position.

Davis attended La Crosse Central High School. During his high school career, he played both football and basketball. In his first basketball season as a freshman, he earned a Division Two State title. In his junior year, he averaged 23 points and nine rebounds per game which led him to win the La Crosse Tribune Player of the Year award. By the time he had graduated, Davis also held the title of La Crosse Central’s highest scorer with 2,158 career points. [Read More]

Rising Star: The Journey and Achievements of NBA Player Tyrese Haliburton

by Owen Atayi, age 15

Tyrese Haliburton is a National Basketball Association (NBA) player who is currently playing for the Indiana Pacers. He is northeast Wisconsin’s first NBA All-Star.

Tyrese John Haliburton was born February 29, 2000, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Haliburton wasn’t your average kid who played video games all day. At just six years old, Haliburton was already playing basketball and improving. Haliburton knew at a young age that it was time for him to separate himself from the pack and do what he loved. He would often run through drills with his father John Haliburton so he could elevate his game.

He had a phenomenal high school basketball career. During this time, Haliburton was a 6’5” point guard and attended Oshkosh North High School. He finished his high school career averaging 22.9 points per game (PPG), 6.2 assists (AST), and 5.1 rebounds per game (REB). He was a 3-star recruit on all recruiting platforms. After high school, he received a basketball scholarship to play for the Iowa State Cyclones. [Read More]

Milwaukee Bucks' New Head Coach, Adrian Griffin

by Owen Ayite-Atayi , age 15

Adrian Griffin, the new NBA head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, went through many ups and downs in his basketball career and coaching career.

Griffin was born July 4, 1974, in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up loving the game of basketball and had dreams of making it to the NBA, continuing to work at it every day. In his college career, Griffin attended Seton Hall University to join the Seton Hall Pirates men’s basketball team. From there, Griffin’s basketball career skyrocketed. Griffin was six feet and five inches tall, a small forward, and a two-time All-Big East player. Throughout his college career, he averaged 11.5 points per game and 2.2 assists while shooting 50.6% from the field goal range.

After Griffin’s college career, he entered the 1996 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, Griffin went undrafted. Griffin knew that many paths existed to become a part of the NBA. He knew that there was no giving up, so he started to play professionally in lower American leagues. He played for the Continental Basketball Association where he was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 1999. Griffin averaged an outstanding 17.5 PPG, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.1 AST. Griffin’s extraordinary performance in the CBA led to him signing an NBA contract with the Boston Celtics the same year as a free agent. [Read More]

Lionel Messi's Journey to Inter Miami: A Decision Beyond Soccer

by Moore Vang, age 14

One of the greatest soccer players in the world, Lionel Messi, has signed a deal with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.

By going to Inter Miami, Messi decided to leave his previous club, Paris Saint-Germain. His exit was confirmed by PSG hours before their last game in June, during which Messi lost his final match with the club. After the match, he sent a message to the club saying, “I wish you all the best for the future.” PSG thanked Messi for his service to the group, but fans felt otherwise. They booed his name relentlessly in warm-ups, during the game, and continued to show their frustration during a celebration for the club’s recent French championship victory. Messi went on to state that PSG did not give him the happiness he once had when he played with the Barcelona team, where he won many championships.

When looking to sign a new deal, Messi received many offers from different teams. One of the teams that reached out was his first professional team, Barcelona, which is where he made his debut at the age of 17. He left the team in 2021 for PSG, after Barcelona was financially unable to sign him under a new contract, due to the Spanish League rules. Initially, Messi seemed eager to return to Barcelona, and he even discussed the idea with the club’s manager, Xavi Hernandez, and president, Joan Laporta. However, the club’s continued financial crisis caused him to not sign a deal with Barcelona. He did not want to be responsible for the team having to eliminate current players or lower the team members’ salaries to accommodate him. [Read More]

From Wisconsin to NBA Stardom, Devin Harris' Remarkable Journey as a Basketball Sensation

by Jules Da Costa, age 15

Wisconsin has produced many basketball players throughout the years and Devin Harris is definitely among the best. Harris is a former National Basketball Association (NBA) player. He played for 15 years professionally and ran a pretty impressive career in college and the NBA.

Devin Harris started playing basketball as a toddler. As he grew, he took a liking to volleyball as well. He attended Wauwatosa East High School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. There, he played both basketball and volleyball until his sophomore year when he dropped volleyball to fully invest his time in basketball. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury which made him unable to play ball for the season. He came back junior year stronger than ever, and as a senior Harris became Wauwatosa’s highest scorer and also won Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball.

Due to injuries, Harris missed many offers but was eventually recruited by UW-Madison’s coach Dick Bennett. Bennett, however, retired before Harris joined the team so he played under new head coach Bo Ryan instead. During his college career, Harris started all seasonal games as a freshman, helping the Badgers win the Big Ten Championship. During his sophomore year, Harris led his team to another championship win. In his last season with the Badgers, Harris averaged 19.5 points, [Read More]

Tony Bennett's Remarkable Basketball Journey from Player to NCAA Championship Coach

by Owen Atayi, age 15

Tony Bennett is currently a National College Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball head coach for the Virginia Cavaliers. However, Bennett isn’t simply just a coach; he was first a great basketball player.

Anthony Guy Bennett was born June 1, 1969, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Growing up, Bennett enjoyed playing the game of basketball. In high school, Bennett was a six-foot point guard who attended Green Bay Preble High School. After high school, Bennett made a big jump to college basketball where he represented his father, Dick Bennett on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix men’s basketball team.

In college, Bennett averaged 21.5 points per game as a junior and 20.2 points per game as a senior. Bennett wasn’t just your ordinary basketball player. He shot a whopping 51 percent from the three-point range. Bennett finished off his college career in 1992 and was named Mid-Continent Conference’s all-time leader, along with many other NCAA accolades. [Read More]

Olympic Medalist, Ralph Metcalfe, Left his Mark on Wisconsin and the World

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 15

The Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the Olympiad, are a series of multi-sport events that are usually held every four years. The Olympics include track and field, archery, gymnastics, and swimming , among other events.

The late Olympic African-American athlete Ralph Metcalfe left his mark on Wisconsin, nearly winning a gold medal in the 1932 Olympics. Metcalfe was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 29, 1910, and moved to Chicago, Illinois, with his family at a young age. He attended Tilden High School in Chicago, where his interest in track and field erupted. He later pursued a collegiate track and field career at Marquette University as a sprinter.

During Metcalfe’s career at Marquette University, he was America’s leading sprinter from 1932 to 1934. In his sophomore year, he ran a 10.3 in the 100-meter dash and a 20.6 in the 200-meter dash, tying world-record times in both events. In 1932, Metcalfe won three of the first National College Athletic Association (NCAA) championships. [Read More]

Exploring the Global Phenomenon of Soccer

by Bruno Torres, age 7

Soccer is played all over the world, but depending on where you are, this game might have different names like football or futbol.

The soccer field is in the shape of a big rectangle and teams of 11 players compete with one another. To win, players must kick the ball into the opponent’s net and score a goal.

Players can headbutt the ball or control it with their chest or feet, however, they are not allowed to touch it with their hands. The only exception goes to the goalie, who usually stays in the goal box. There are various formations soccer coaches may use to best set up their players to optimize their skills. [Read More]

Neymar Jr. and His Rise to a Becoming a Soccer Legend

by Moore Vang, age 14

Neymar Jr. is one of the most famous athletes in the world and one of the greatest soccer players in Brazilian history. He is famously known for playing as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil. Although when he first started playing, he mainly played as a winger. Neymar is also known for his quick agility, dribbling, and shooting accuracy. His skills on the field have even been compared to some of the greatest soccer and Brazilian players of all time such as Pele and Ronaldinho, Neymar Da Silva Santos Junior, famously known as Neymar Jr. was born in

Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil on February 5, 1992. He began playing soccer at a young age in the streets of Brazil where he was in a youth soccer team called Sao Vicente. He was mentored by his dad, Neymar Santos Sr., who was a professional soccer player at the time. His dad, along with playing in the streets, was a huge influence on Neymar’s professional soccer career later on.

During his youth, he began to develop many of his own techniques that mixed speed, dribbling, and shooting while playing with the youth club Portuguesa Santista. His talent quickly caught the attention of Brazilian club Santos. He began to play for Santos youth ranks in 2003 and was seen as the next big star in world soccer. Neymar would go on to receive a contract from Santos which paid him $2,000 a month at the age of 15. By the age of 16, Santos signed him to a bigger contract that was long term which gave him $23,000 a month before becoming pro. When he turned 17, he was earning more than the average professional soccer player in South America and was promoted to his first team where he would make his professional debut with Santos on March 7, 2009. In that match, Santos won 2-1 against the team Oeste. This would officially begin one of the greatest careers in Brazilian soccer since the likes of Pele and Ronaldinho years prior. [Read More]

Participation in Girl's High School Basketball Declines

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 15

Enthusiasm for girls' high school basketball peaked two decades ago. Almost all seats were filled with families and students. All the girls’ basketball teams had full freshman, junior varsity and varsity players.

Now, participation in girls basketball has dropped to 19 percent while girls’ track and field has increased by 10 percent. Soccer and volleyball are also sports that have increased in girl’s participation. Overall, participation for both boys and girls high school sports have decreased by four percent. The majority of female athletes are focusing on an individual sport nearly year-round like cross country. Many girls see basketball as a difficult and not “cute” sport to play, coaches say. Natalia Bryant, the daughter of Kobe Bryant, told Teen Vogue that she preferred volleyball over basketball because she does not like to run.

Erica Delley, a first-year head coach at Dallas’s Kimball High School says, “Its sad. That's why I came back, to make a difference and try to encourage kids to play.” Not only has participation decreased in girls basketball at Dallas Kimball High School, but other schools are experiencing the same issue, such as Nebraska. [Read More]

Lessons From a Soccer Superstar

by Shalmat Shalom, age 14

Ronaldinho is known as one of the greatest fútbol or soccer players of all time.

Growing up in Brazil, Ronaldinho was always surrounded with soccer players: his father, brother, and uncles all played the game. Like all professional players, he had both achievements and challenges.

Ronaldinho’s father was Joao Moreira, a welder in a shipyard who had previously been a professional soccer player. His mother Minguelina de Assis, worked as a cosmetic saleswoman and later became a nurse. Ronaldinho looked up to his father who sadly suffered a fatal heart attack when Ronaldinho was only eight years old. [Read More]

How the Milwaukee Bucks Won Their First Championship

by Owen Ayite-Atayi, age 14

The National Basketball Association, informally known as the NBA, has featured lots of fascinating teams and players over the years. Most people know about the Milwaukee Bucks because they won the championship in 2021. But many of the team’s current fans are not familiar with the team’s rich basketball history.

The Milwaukee Bucks started as an expansion franchise in 1968. Like most first-year teams, they were not very good. Then, in 1969, the team drafted a player named Kareem Abdul Jabbar. [Read More]