Christopher Drexel
Sports Editor, Grad student
The joy of Christmas is done, the parties of New Year's are over, bowl games are complete and now there are countless hours of classes in sight.
Along the way, we here at The State Press Sports Desk hope to make the monotony of the semester just a wee bit more palatable.
Pick up our publication every day, check out the most comprehensive ASU sports coverage that exists and hopefully get a laugh or two from our commentaries such as this - The Hump Day Hoopla.
Each Wednesday a staffer will sound off on whatever he or she wants to in the world of sports. To start off with, each member of the staff will offer a little food for thought to get us started.
As for me, I'd like to say it was great seeing my idol, Keith Tkachuk, in Phoenix again on Monday. It's refreshing to get a little taste of some snarlin' gangster hockey twice a year when the former Captain Coyote returns to town.
Matt Waggoner
Assistant Sports Editor, sophomore
Here is the truth.
Mike Tyson could punch harder than Muhammad Ali.
Ryan Leaf had more God-given ability than Tom Brady.
Andy Roddick generates more racket speed than Roger Federer.
Doc Gooden had a stronger arm than Greg Maddux and Kwame Brown had a better jump shot than Ben Wallace.
But what separated these players was not any recordable attribute, but rather their ability to win.
Good athletes can become great heroes because of their capacity to make the most of their talents.
Winning is what separates the overhyped from the over-achievers.
Go get 'em Rudy. Just win baby.
Devin Hicks
Sports Writer,
senior
Since I will finally be getting my degree from this esteemed institution, this will be the last semester I write for The State Press.
With fears of this being the best sports writing gig I'll ever get, I'm going to enjoy every experience I have this semester to the fullest.
There's nothing like being on the field when our football team takes the field with fireworks firing and the student section screaming.
Baseball will be my specialty this time around, and it will be a blast because they have a good shot at being in Omaha this summer for the College World Series.
Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a sports writer and go to ASU, and now I'm doing both at the same time.
It doesn't get much better than this.
Taylor Price
Sports Writer,
senior
After three- and-a-half years at the No. 1 party school in the nation, there is only one thing left for me to do - do work.
Graduation is coming up sooner than Brett Favre's retirement and I'm feeling sad about it.
Random thoughts: Barry Zito will be the best ballplayer named Barry in the Bay.
The Raiders should take JaMarcus Russell No. 1 overall but probably won't.
The Patriots will win the Super Bowl by two touchdowns.
Steve Nash will win MVP this year, but it will be in the NBA Finals this time.
Phil Mickelson will win the U.S. Open.
And I'm out like Dirk Koetter.
Chris Ramirez
Sports Writer,
junior
Yes I'm back, back again.
After spending the fall semester entrenched with the ASU football team, I will be serving my second tour of duty covering the women's basketball team. And what I've learned so far is something that everyone needs to know.
Herb Sendek may be building a basketball program, but Charli Turner Thorne has already built one and then added a pool and a barbecue pit.
That's why you need to go out and support the most successful team on campus.
Brittany McCall
Sports Writer,
sophomore
I'm going to make a slightly strange combo-reference here: football and baking.
Sometimes I feel like the Cardinals: I have all of the ingredients for a good day or a great semester, but something goes wrong.
Either it's in the process of mixing or the fate of the metaphorical oven, but my football-shaped day/self-cake just comes out lopsided.
Or sometimes flat.
And like the Cards, sometimes I just can't catch a break. That is, I'll get an awesome job (like say, State Press sports writer), but then nearly die 15 times on my way to missing my internship meeting.
Here's to hoping that Murphy's Law isn't always watching, and that karma screws the drivers on the I-10 who sped up instead of letting me into the lane.
Russell Brooks
Sports Writer, sophomore
As a new addition to the sports department this semester, allow me to introduce myself. I am Russell Brooks.
You could accurately describe me as a sports enthusiast. Unfortunately, I live and die with teams that give me ulcers. Those would be the N.Y. Jets, Chicago Cubs, and Phoenix Coyotes.
If you give me a 30-pack of Coors, two high-definition televisions both equipped with TiVo and a comfortable couch, the chances of you seeing me in public are equivalent to Mel Gibson appearing in a synagogue.
Gina Mizell
Sports Writer,
true freshman
I predicted last week that the team that won the Patriots-Chargers game would win the Super Bowl, and I won't back down from that statement.
It is now just expected that the Colts will lose to the Patriots in the playoffs, so that's an easy pick.
The Saints will join New England in Miami, but their feel-good run will end there as the Joe Montana of our generation will come through in the clutch again and lead the Patriots to another championship.
Alex Espinoza
Sports Writer,
sophomore
Hi, my name is Alex Espinoza. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and am an avid fan of the Oakland A's, Raiders, the Golden State Warriors and Cal.
Even though I couldn't watch the Raiders for more than one offensive possession this year, I'm happy that they sucked enough to get the No. 1 pick. Three words: JaMarcus Russell, baby.
As far as the Warriors go, this is finally the year they make the playoffs. Once they get Jason Richardson back healthy, it'll be game over for the rest of West. Warriors in '07.
