Andrew and Zach Article of the Week

Over the past century, college athletes have decided to spend only one year at the college level and go straight to the NBA. Currently, player like Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, and Jayson Tatum have all decided to go down the one-and-done route of going to the NBA draft with only one year of college experience. What are the advantages of declaring for the draft after freshman year of college? Why do other sports (football) not allow the athletes to declare for the draft after freshman year? How has college level and professional level been impacted by the one-and-done? Do you think that basketball players should be able to declare after their senior year of high school as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnet did?

http://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/changes-ap-hoops-polls-help-tell-story-of-game-s-evolution-033017

NCAA Tournament Response

We are asking you to watch 3+ games of the NCAA tournament closely.  Any round, any game.  Please keep track of your games viewed.

- What game did you watch?  What was the outcome?  Were you surprised?  Why did you select this game to watch?

If you filled out a bracket, how was your viewing impacted by having filled out a bracket?
If you DID NOT fill out a bracket, what were your impressions of the game?  Without the bracket, what was your investment level?  Are you a fan of the teams playing?

Dan and Max Article of the Week

What is your opinion on players resting themselve? Should they be allowed to rest if it his hurting the league? What is more important to you, quality basketball every night over the 82 game regular season, or quality basketball all the way through the playoffs? Should fans get compensated for going to games where star players are rested?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/sports/basketball/nba-players-rest-warriors-cavaliers.html?_r=0

Media Coverage and Women's Sports

Before you watch the documentary, think about your relationship with women's sports.  Do you participate in them?  Do you watch them?  What do you believe drives coverage of women's sports in this country. Does interest drive coverage?  Vice versa?  A combination of both?  Moreover, what challenges, if any, do you believe female athletes face in our culture?

Watch the documentary from the Tucker Center at the University of Minnesota

After you finish, write a blog post where you discuss your initial responses to the "before viewing" questions above.  Have your views on women's sports changed or deepened as a result of what was discussed in the documentary?  Which evidence or segment(s) was most effective for you?  Is there anything brought up in this piece that you feel you need or would like more information on?

Lexi and Fleur Article of the Week

Should there be an exception for professional gymnasts to have the opportunity to also compete in college? What other Olympic sports experience similar effects from NCAA rules? 

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/gymnasts-face-complicated-choice-olympic-endorsements-or-college-careers  

Michael and Conner

There has been a steady increase in players retiring from the NFL and other contact sports due to do the worry of receiving a life changing head injury. Do you agree with these players decision to leave the game?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dbrickashaw-ferguson-nfl-early-retirement-no-surprise_us_5707c4d5e4b0c4e26a2273fa

Interview Profile

Riz and Ben article of the week

With March Madness around the corner, you have to start wondering who's gonna win the championship. Do you partake in filling in a bracket? Which team do you think is most likely to win it all? Besides being a top seed, what are the most crucial elements for a team to make a run? How do YOU predict how far they will go?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2695705-ncaa-tournament-2017-early-predictions-championship-odds-for-march-madness

It's officially march, folks. Get pumped!