Update: Memphis NCAA violations Confirmed

article by:stacia_doss.
The NCAA today confirmed violations were made by the University of Memphis basketball team during the 07-08 season. The team is now forced to forfeit its historical record of 38 wins.

As mentioned a few months ago, the University of Memphis basketball team was under investigation for what was quoted as 'major violations'. These violations speculated around falsifying a player's SAT score, rumored to be now-NBA star Derrick Rose, as well as providing travel expenses to a family member of Rose's.

Now confirmed, Derrick Rose was indeed the team member with the false SAT score and the money was provided to his brother. The President of the University, Shirley Raines issued this statement: "We know the rules..we did our due diligence. We did everything we could to determine the student-athlete was eligible and that the rules were being followed."

Former coach, John Calipari, has received no punishment, regardless of the fact that he was the Tigers' head coach during the previous season.

In addition to being stripped of the historical '07-08 season, the team will remain on probation for three years. A representative from the school announced that it will appeal the penalty, named 'unfair' by the University's President Raines.

Update on Vick

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick signed a 1-year contract today with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He found a home team after all...we'll see how the season goes from here!

Fresh faces for Franchises

written by:stacia_doss.
CNN-Money.com published an article yesterday focusing on the changing logos of several companies. Some of those included Pepsi, Tropicana, Apple Computer company, and BP gas, just to name a few.

The goal of pointing out the makeovers of these companies was to find out whether or not they helped or harmed them,profit-wise.The risk-taking of these corporations in changing their logos were key to their success or failure,especially with the current state of the economy.

Fortune magazine reviewed whether or not these changes were profitable. The results, decided by a panel of experts,were generally at a median. Of twelve company logos reviewed, there was no general consensus of a majority of them being good or majority being bad.Check out the findings here.

Just a few key events this week:

I hate to hear about all of the bad things going on with the economy, racism, inequality,etc...so let me focus on 3 good things that have happened so far this week:

-Judge Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed, becoming the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice ever in the history of the United States.

-A report was released today, revealing that the number of jobless claims in many states have gone down recently, showing that the economy is slowly getting better.

-North Korea pardoned American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who had been captured since March, with an interjection from Mr.Bill Clinton.

..3 things is enough to make me smile in comparison to what seems like a million negative reports I hear on a daily...well, hourly basis.

Finally, a chance to watch some fashion!

written by:stacia_doss.

When several on-campus college students across the nation return for the fall semester, (like myself), they will have the opportunity to watch Project Runway. The hit show focuses around 16 designers from across the nation, competing in various challenges for the final prize of being featured as a real designer in Elle magazine and cash money.

Why couldn't it be seen before? For the five previous seasons, the show was broad casted on the Bravo network, a channel not offered on the basic cable that is provided to students on most college campuses. This show, however, has been re-located to Lifetime Television, so students will have a chance to watch now.

I am super excited, because I have been forced to miss out on seasons due to the unavailability of Bravo at my college.Yay!=)

Can Vick find a Home?

article by: stacia_doss.

Former NFL star, Michael Vick,was released from home confinement 10 days ago after recently serving a nearly two year prison sentence for dog-fighting. One week later, this Monday, Vick was reinstated by the National Football League...what's next?

Since the announcement of reinstatement, Vick has been on a search/patient wait for a team to sign him. As of now, he is still a free agent, and internet users and bloggers across the nation are wondering if he will even be able to find a team.

Immediately after his termination of house arrest, the buzz across sports news was that the best option for Vick to play would be in the United Football League. Coach Jim Fassel of the the Las Vegas/Los Angeles franchise in the UFL already says he would sign him, saying "Everybody gets a chance to re-prove themselves...he deserves another chance."

Voices of spokespersons from various NFL teams, such as the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, have said that their teams are already sufficient without Vick. So far, the only public announcement of a team with real interest in considering Vick on their team has been the Baltimore Ravens. He [Vick] told reporters early today that he was getting closer to finding a team. As of now, there is no official home team for him. Will he successfully find one by next week?

Unnecessary questioning of Citizenship?

written by:stacia_doss.
I came across a link to this video on a political blog I visit often. You will find it interesting how many politicians cannot seem to make a clear, coherent statement as to a yes or no question. Check out THIS article.

My take: The first half of what the last Senator said, excluding the negative remarks are basically where I stand. A process of background checking was done-several months ago-on establishing the citizenship of all Presidential candidates and I trust that it was done and completed correctly. This kind of controversy has never been questioned post that background check of any Presidents before him, so why now? We may all know the unspoken answer, but it shall remain just that-unspoken.