Jennifer Anne Doudna is an American biochemist who has laid much of the foundation for today’s work in CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) gene editing. She is also one of the first women to share a Nobel Prize in the sciences, and she continues to break the stigma for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Jennifer Doudna was born on February 19, 1964, in Washington D.C. At the age of seven, her family moved to Hilo, Hawaii, where she spent most of her youth. She states much of her curiosity comes from the beautiful island itself. Doudna was fascinated by the beauty of the island, and nature built her sense of curiosity and her desire to understand the biology of life.
Her love for gene science began in the sixth grade after her father gave her a copy of James Watson’s 1968 book, The Double Helix, on the discovery of DNA. Even though she was told that “Women don’t go into science,” she knew that she wanted to be a scientist, no matter the challenge.
From grades K-12, Doudna attended Hilo School in Wailuku, Hawaii, where she graduated in 1981. She then went on to attend Pomona College and later transferred to Harvard Medical School, in which she earned her Ph.D. in 1989 in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology.
After receiving her Ph.D., she conducted research fellowships in Molecular Biology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and in Genetics at Harvard Medical School. From 1991-1994, she was a Lucille P. Markey Postdoctoral Scholar in Biomedical Science at The University of Colorado (Boulder), where she worked with American chemist, Thomas Cech.
The University of Colorado is also where she met her husband Jamie Cate who at the time was also studying Biochemistry. They had instant “chemistry” and bonded over their love for science. They later married in 2000 and went on to have a son (Andrew) in 2002.
Doudna has received numerous awards for her breakthroughs in science. She was a Searle Scholar and received the 1996 Beckman Young Investigators Award. In 2000, she was awarded the Alan T. Waterman Award, which is the National Science Foundation’s highest honor that annually recognizes an outstanding researcher under the age of 35. In 2001, she received the Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry from the American Chemical Society.
Jennifer Doudna is a leader for all women and girls who are interested in STEM. Because she is a woman, she was told by many that she could never work in the science and medical fields. By the age of 25, she proved everyone wrong.
Simply, she is an inspiration to all women and girls across the world.
This year’s Spring play is quickly approaching as Sister Act will be performed on March 23-24 at 7:00 p.m. and March 25 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and will be sold at the auditorium doors before the show times begin.
The cast has been working really hard to get this play ready. They practice after school every Monday through Friday, fine-tuning their lines, songs, and dances.
So, are they excited? Let us find out.
Analise Gonzalez (sophomore): “I auditioned because I had nothing else to do. I thought it would be fun, and the character I auditioned for is Mother Teresa. I’ve been in it since November. This is my first year in the play, and so far, I really like it. I’m looking forward to next week and future plays.”
Rebecca Fagiani (junior): “I auditioned because I’ve been into theater ever since I was seven, and it’s always been a way for me to express myself and who I am. In this year’s play, I play sisters Mary Patrick and Michelle, and I chose to join the play because I love doing it with my friends. It’s always a fun time and leaves me with many memories. I’m ready!”
Many seniors in the pit as well as the cast and crew are feeling bittersweet about Sister Act being that it will be the final play of their high school careers. They have put forth so much effort throughout high school to produce fun and entertaining plays.
Lock in a date for next week to watch this performance LIVE!
In other news, the BHS Hurricette Dance and Flag Line is a performance team that is also a part of the Brooklyn Hurricanes Marching Band.
Hurricette Dance and Flag Line Auditions begin on Monday, March 27, in the Field House from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Auditions are open to all students from eighth grade to juniors. No experience is necessary to audition. You will be taught everything you need to know to have a great audition in order to earn a spot.
Next, save lives by going to the BHS Blood Drive this Friday (March 17). You can sign up in your Google Classroom if you are 16 years of age or older. A parent consent form is needed if you are under 16. See Mrs. Bader for more information. By donating, you will earn two-plus hours of community service and be eligible for a scholarship.
Finally, the Brooklyn School students are reading a lot! The new book vending machine is a hit for the younger students. Hopefully, students will continue to stay motivated to keep reading so they can be a “Reader of the Month” and get the chance to receive a new book.
Below are the “Readers of the Month” for February. Keep up the good work!
Have a great week, Brooklyn, and on Friday, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here weekly.}
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Barbara Kuharik. This is year 13 for her as an employee in the Brooklyn City School District. Outside of school, she can be found playing with her grandson and most likely listening to music. A fun fact about her is that she is really fun to be around. When someone is down, she is always around to brighten the mood. She is also very funny! On a side note, she named her son, who is 34-years-old, Brett Michael Kuharik. Why Brett Michael? Take a look at the picture above.
Q: What inspired you to work with special needs students?
A: “I wish I would’ve known how much I liked it when I was younger; I really drew to the kids. I saw the passion for them when I was a substitute teacher. The kids are great.”
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A: “I would say that we’re like school moms to these kids. They come here, and they trust us. Some don’t come from very good backgrounds. The most rewarding part is that they will tell us to help them through a lot of it everyday.”
Q: What mindset do you believe is most important to have in your position?
A: “Empathy, patience, and love. I love these kids!”
Q: How do you think that you have positively impacted your students?
A: “I try to be at their level, knowing that they do have struggles. They know that I’m very open-minded. They also know that I’m there to protect them and teach them everything they need to know.”
Q: What are some of your favorite highlights from working here in the Brooklyn City Schools District?
A: “Just the challenges we’ve gone through throughout the years. Out of many teachers, Mrs. Marsico is probably my favorite. We work very, very hard, but we also have lots of fun doing it.”
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: “Probably my friend, Barb. She used to work in mental health and counseling. She always inspired me to do this line of work. She knows my personal beliefs and how I feel about taking care of all of this.”
Q: What advice would you give your past self?
A: “To work harder and to follow my heart, which I should’ve done years ago, but I didn’t. Follow my passion!”
Q: Do you like pineapple on pizza?
A: “I usually don’t get it, but I have had it. It’s good because it’s kinda sweet and salty.”
Q: Who would your dream celebrity date be?
A: “Brett Michaels from Poison. He kissed me twice, too!”
Q: What is the best place that you have ever visited?
A: “Cancun, Mexico. It was a lot of fun.”
Thank you so much, Mrs. Kuharik. It was such a fun interview with lots of laughs. You are probably one of our favorite staff members and such an inspiration to many.
Opening day is right around the corner, and this young, exciting team is looking to continue what it finished last season.
A year ago, the Cleveland Guardians finished 92-70, swept the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Round, and took the Evil Empire (New York Yankees) to Game 5 of the ALDS, eventually losing the series 3-2.
A couple of new acquisitions during the offseason will only enhance their chances to make a deep postseason run this year because this team is still very young and loaded in every aspect.
After a 92-win season, the Guardians are projected to finish first in the AL Central and win 88 games. The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins also had productive offseasons with acquiring solid role players. The White Sox added outfielder Andrew Beintendi and starting pitcher and former Indian Mike Clevinger; however, they lost All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu. The Twins re-signed Carlos Correa after his physicals failed with the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. They also signed outfielder Joey Gallo and catcher Christian Vazquez.
The new additions for the Guardians are slugging first baseman Josh Bell who signed a two-year, $34 million contract and catcher Mike Zunino who inked a one-year deal for $6 million. Also, there are quite a few top prospects for the Guardians who could make a major impact in 2023. They are outfielder George Valera, starting pitcher Daniel Espino, shortshop Brayan Rocchio, catcher Bo Naylor, and starting pitcher Tanner Bibee.
So far during Spring training, the Guards sit with a record of 4-6, but some players have had an electric start to the Spring. Roman Quinn, a free agent who got an invite to Spring training, has put on a home run display, thus far. In 14 at-bats, Quinn has hit three bombs and has tallied six RBI’s. Another guy who is off to a good start is minor league first baseman Micah Pries. In 15 at-bats, Pries had a solid average of .333 with two homeruns and five RBI’s.
Bell and Zunino are off and running for Cleveland with Bell showing off his power and Zunino showing off his great arm and overall athleticism.
Imagine this year’s lineup of Steven Kwan, Amed Rosario, Jose Ramirez, Josh Bell, Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez, Oscar Gonzalez, Mike Zunino, and Myles Straw. A starting pitching staff of Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, and more. A relief staff of Emmanuel Clase, James Karinchak, Sam Hentges, etc.
The Cleveland Guardians are ready to roll as they will try to make another run this postseason. They have everything it takes, and remember, Terry “Tito” Francona is still the manager.
Come to Progressive Field this Summer and pack the house!
Coretta Scott King was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader who was married to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She always used her voice to bring change, not only for civil rights but for women’s rights, too.
Coretta Scott King was born in Heiberger, Alabama, on April 27, 1927. She was the third of four children. She attended a one-room elementary school located five miles away from her home. She later attended Lincoln Normal School, which despite being nine miles from their home was the closest black high school in Marion, Alabama, due to racial segregation in schools. She graduated valedictorian from Lincoln Normal School in 1945, where she also played the trumpet and piano, sang in the chorus, and participated in school musicals.
After high school, Scott enrolled at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Later, she transferred from Antioch when she won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. This is where she met her later husband Martin Luther King, Jr. Two weeks after meeting Scott, King wrote to his mother that he had met his wife. In August of 1952, Scott met King’s parents Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. On June 18, 1953, Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr. married.
The Kings welcomed their first child Yolanda on November 17, 1955.
Mrs. Scott King has always been known for her activism, but it was not until she met her husband when things really started to take off for her. On February 23, 1958, she took her first active role in advocating for civil rights. On April 25, she made her first appearance at a concert that year at Peter High School Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama.The concert was important for her as a way to continue her professional career and to participate in movements all over. As she advocated for women and civil rights, concerts gave the audience “an emotional connection to the messages of social, economic, and spiritual transformation”. She went on to do hundreds of moments, concerts, and peaceful protests.
But life came to a complete standstill on April 4, 1968, when her husband Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and killed in Memphis Tennessee. Mrs. Scott King did not let this stop her from advocating. On April 8, 1968, she and her children headed a march with sanitation workers that her husband had planned to carry out before his death. Not very long after the assassination, she took his place at a peace rally in New York City. Using notes he had written before his death, she constructed her own speech.
Mrs. Scott King eventually aimed to include women’s rights, economic issues, world peace, and various other causes. As early as December 1968, she called for women to “unite and form a solid block of women power to fight the three great evils of racism, poverty and war”.
On January 30, 2006, Mrs Scott King passed away at a rehabilitation center in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, in the Oasis Hospital where she was undergoing holistic therapy for her stroke and advanced-stage ovarian cancer.
Her one goal in life was to create peace for all and to inspire people to do what’s right. She is an inspiration to all but especially a role model for women and girls all over the world. She taught to always fight for what you believe in and to settle for nothing less.
Since March is in full-swing, what is happening throughout Hurricane Nation?
Last Thursday, the Brooklyn City School District held a College and Career Fair. Over 40 businesses and college representatives were in the BHS cafeteria. Some of the attendees included the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital, multiple branches of the Armed Forces, Cleveland State University, Baldwin Wallace University, and many more.
The Brooklyn Career Connections Academy did a great job volunteering and helping represent Brooklyn. Information was free and worthwhile for BHS students.
Next, although prom is a few months away (May 19), the seniors and juniors are selling Malley’s chocolate bars! All of the proceeds go towards discounted prom tickets.
The flavors that are being sold this year are as follows: Milk Chocolate Crunch, Solid Milk Chocolate (CLE), Milk Chocolate Pretzel, and Dark Chocolate Pretzel.
Each delicious chocolate bar is priced at $2.00. Cash or money order are the only forms of payment accepted. No personal checks.
The Malley’s fundraiser ends on March 22, so hurry up and purchase your favorite chocolate!
Finally, Pre-School & Kindergarten Registration is now officially open. Parents/Guardians can register online throughthe Final Forms Online Portal.
There is also a Kindergarten Informational Meeting on Wednesday evening, March 15 from 6:00-7:00 in the Brooklyn School Field House. Parents/Guardians can park in the Blue Lot located off Behrwald Avenue and enter the building through door #5.
Remember, Sister Act is coming up in two weeks.
Have a great week, Brooklyn!
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here weekly.}
Chosen for this week’s staff spotlight is Mrs. Allman. She has spent her entire teaching career of 22 years in the Brooklyn City School District. She has many stories and has made a major impact in the lives of many. In her free moments, she loves to spend time with her family and most-notably go to the beach in the Summertime. One fun fact about her is that she loves hang gliding.
Q: What is your favorite subject to teach?
A: “Math.”
Q: What is your most memorable teaching moment?
A: “Field trips are always something that is very enjoyable, especially going to the zoo. I remember going to the zoo with the kids in the Springtime.”
Q: How do you keep students engaged in your lessons?
A: “Things have changed a lot since I started. Making sure we’re doing different activities like hands-on activities, games on their Chromebooks, small groups in math…so they’re always switching rotations. They go from one station to another.”
Q: What are some of your favorite units to teach?
A: “I love teaching multiplication in math; it’s my favorite.”
Q: In your opinion, what is the most important quality that a teacher should have?
A:”Patience.”
Q: What was the most significant life lesson ever taught to you?
A: “Being understanding of others and seeing their viewpoints.”
Q: Where is your favorite place to travel?
A: “Outer Banks.”
Q: What is something good to know heading into adulthood?
A: “To have perseverance in whatever you’re doing, to be able to finish the task that you’re given, and to be able to deal with setbacks that happen because they happen to everyone, no matter how successful you are.”
Thank you Mrs. Allman for allowing us to interview you. Enjoy the rest of this school year.
Winter sports have come to a close, and our Hurricanes, full of great student-athletes, have had memorable, record-breaking, and successful seasons.
First, the bowling team had success in its first season after a multiple-year hiatus. In the North Royalton Invitational, freshman Adam Cowper averaged a game score of 223 and made the Top 6 bowlers.
Additionally, Cowper and senior Jillian Treska advanced to the districts and had impressive showings. Cowper tied for 17th out of 91 bowlers, and Treska placed 26th out of 82 bowlers.
Outside of their success, Cowper and Treska were not the only great bowlers on the team, as the team, as a whole, won the 2022-2023 Warfield Trophy. Senior Naomi Tarver also earned a trophy for the highest number of pins covering a weekly average. Treska also earned three awards: High Series, High Average, and making the league’s All-Star team.
Great job, Brooklyn bowling team!
Next, the girls’ varsity basketball team finished with an overall record of 15-8 and a conference record of 6-4, tied for second place in the Chagrin Valley Conference (Metro Division).
This team was a great combination of seniors, juniors, and sophomores. Even though they finished with the same record from a year ago, the girls immensely improved from last year
In the sectional semi-final, OHSAA playoffs, the Lady Canes hosted their rival, the Independence Lady Blue Devils. Simply, the Hurricanes played their best game of the year, beating Indy 49-37. After advancing to the sectional final, their next playoff game proved to be challenging for the Lady Canes. They fought hard the entire game but ultimately fell to 19-3 Keystone 54-49, ending the Lady Canes’ season.
Seniors Shariah Gailes, Genesis Caraballo, and Delaney David were the key players this season as they did a great job leading and mentoring their younger teammates. Their efforts were noticed as all three will be playing in the CVC All-Star Game on March 12 at Independence High School with a 2:00 tip-off.
Gailes had a monster, senior season. This year, she hit two huge milestones: 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She also broke the single-game scoring record by dropping 43 against the Brookside Cardinals. All of these records and accomplishments earned her First Team All-CVC and First Team All-District.
Caraballo and David both had great seasons as well and earned Second Team All-CVC and Honorable Mention All-District.
Caraballo had some thoughts on this season: “I felt like I did a good job helping the team and getting the ball around and doing the best I could do. I feel like we collectively improved as a team by passing the ball around and being a family. The connections made will last forever. It was also really awesome to play in the Hoosiers gym and having a good time in the hotel afterwards.”
As Caraballo mentioned, a memorable game for the Lady Canes was when they did indeed travel to Indiana to play at the famous gym from the movie. Hoosiers. The Lady Canes beat Wellington, 49-46. What an awesome experience!
Unfortunately, their season is over, but so much was accomplished. This year’s girls’ team will be one to remember.
Finally, the boys’ basketball team improved from a 12-12 record last year to a 15-8 record this year. This was the varsity boys’ first winning season in the last 15 years, showing an extreme competitive nature. This year, the senior class shined, helping the basketball program improve and grow.
The major improvement was evident this year on the defensive side of the ball. On their five-game winning streak at the end of the year, the Hurricanes held their five opponents to less than 50 points, including holding the number two seed (Cuyahoga Heights) to 43 points. A clear emphasis in the boys’ defensive work paid dividends, and this helped to accumulate more wins and to improve the overall team chemistry.
Senior Jaiden Basinger surpassed 1000 points to become one of the seven boys in the school’s history to reach this milestone. Basinger also earned First Team All-CVC and Second Team All-District. Senior Randall Fields also earned Second Team All-CVC and Honorable Mention All-District. Junior Jaiden Ramos also made Honorable Mention All-District.
The Hurricanes had some huge wins at the end of the season, beating (and getting revenge) on their county rival Cuyahoga Heights, giving the Red Wolves their second loss in 19 games. The very next night, the Hurricanes knocked off the 12-7 Columbia Raiders.
A sectional final loss to Canton Central Catholic ended their season.
With great performances from all of our student-athletes, this year’s Winter sports season was one to remember. Congratulations to all teams and players,
As March has arrived, so does the beginning of Women’s History Month.
In 1987, March became the month used to celebrate women and is used to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of women from all over the world. This month is also used as a reminder of all of the struggles and discrimination that women have faced to be where they are today.
The celebration of women began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County California Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978. The organizers selected March 8-14 to be known as Women’s Week. Over time, the celebration caught the attention of many and began to spread throughout the country, with places all over the world using this week to celebrate the achievements of women.
In 1980, a multitude of women’s groups and historians led by the National Women’s History Project successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February of 1980, former President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.
As time went on, former presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as Women’s History Month. Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the president to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued annual proclamations designating the month of March to women and women only.
Each year, Women’s History Month is given a theme by The National Women’s History Alliance. The 2023 theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” This theme recognizes “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling, including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.”
As we go through the month of March, the BHS Features Staff will be highlighting some of the world’s most influential and inspiring women from all walks of life. To kick off the month will be Coretta Scott King, followed by Jennifer Doudna and Phoebe Schecter, only to conclude with Chien-Shiung Wu.
We hope you enjoy Women’s History Month.
{Information for this article can be found on History.com.}
These next couple of weeks, we will be catching up with our upcoming Sister Act groups: The Crew, Pit, and Cast. They will all be featured as they prepare for their opening night performance on Thursday, March 23.
This week, the Crew will be featured.
When it comes to the Crew, there is sound crew, light crew, design crew, and building crew that students participate in, depending on their interest and skill level. The entire Crew has been hard at work since last Fall to make sure that everything is ready for opening night and for the duration of Sister Act.
Here is a little interesting background regarding the Crew. In 2001, 22 years ago, the musical Grease came back. At that time, there were only four people on the Crew. Currently, there are 45 students working in the Crew for Sister Act.
So, why did students join the Crew, and what specifically is the Crew currently working on for Sister Act?
Freshman Morgan Maul: “It sounded fun, and I really like art. The plays are really cool here. I work mostly on designing the sets and stuff. I also do a little bit of building, too.”
Sophomore Anna Leigh Mulhall: “I decided to join the crew to work with people and to also get more of a point-of-view of what you do in the play. Last year, I worked on objects. This year, I work on painting and sound boards.”
Junior Julia Gill: “I joined in ninth grade because I found interest in theatrical design and wanted to keep doing it. Not only did I enjoy building but I also enjoyed the environment and the people.”
Senior Halie Beane: “I joined the crew because it was just something new to try. Somebody else was in it and was talking about how great it was. I work mostly on design and building.”
All students involved in the Crew meet everyday after school for a couple of hours in preparation for opening night. They are working really hard, and we cannot wait to see the sets and hear the quality sounds from this upcoming musical.
In other news, the SAT and PSAT are tomorrow. A few test tips that may help:
-Answer the questions you might know first.
-Eliminate the potential incorrect answers.
-Underline important parts of the questions.
-Double check your answers.
-Try to stay calm.
-Get plenty of rest this evening.
Finally, Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for this Thursday, March 2; there will be no school on Friday, March 3. On Thursday, the Brooklyn School is having a Book Fair, and it will be open during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Grab your books fast!
Have a great week, Brooklyn!
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here weekly.}
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Melanie Lowe-Fleischer. This is year 21 for her in the Brooklyn City School District. Prior to working at Brooklyn High School, she taught for two years in another district. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes and watching movies with her family. She also likes to bake and has recently found interest in doing Qigong. A fun fact about Mrs. Lowe-Fleischer is that she is the oldest sibling of eight.
Q: Where did you go to college?
A: “I went to Ohio State University for my undergraduate degree. Growing up, I was a fan of the culture and the athletics. As a kid, my dad always took us to football games and basketball games. I loved the atmosphere and the freedom of a big school. I remember knowing from a young age that I wanted to go there.”
Q: What inspired you to become a health and physical education teacher?
A: “I went into the major wanting to be an elementary Physical Education teacher. I wanted to give kids a good experience with Physical Education. One thing I figured out along the way is that I like to teach high school health, too. I always liked it because it was a fun outlet, and it can always be constructive.”
Q: What are some of the activities that you like to do with your health class students?
A: “For health, I love doing the CPR unit. I also really enjoy the discussions and the conversations that happen in health between the kids with improvement and self discovery. I also love the organ donation unit, too.”
Q: What is your favorite sport?
A: “To play would be volleyball and to watch would be specifically Ohio State football. I also love walking and hiking as well.”
Q: How do you motivate your students to participate?
A: “For physical education, I try to encourage their friends to encourage them because most students don’t want to look like a fool in front of their friends. I tend to rally through peers. Another way is just simply showing them how to properly do the activity. They eventually realize that it isn’t the end of the world to participate.”
Q: Describe your family.
A: “I have three kids. My two sons are in college, and my daughter is a senior in high school. My mom is a big part of what we do. She lives close by. I’m really close with two of my brothers who live in Columbus. When we get together, we like to play board games, cards, and jackbox. Sometimes, we go hiking at Hinckley, and we also like to watch Marvel movies!”
Q: Orange juice or apple juice?
A: “Apple juice goes with more, but I do like orange juice when I’m in the mood.”
Q: What are some of your favorite, healthy foods?
A: “I love raspberries, cherries, oranges, honey crisp apples, broccoli, and tomatoes.”
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
A: “The constant arguing with students. I realize it’s how students communicate, but it drives me crazy! I also have a lot of respect for people who own up to their mistakes, so I suppose another pet peeve of mine is when people don’t own up to their actions and take responsibility for what they do.”
Q: What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?
A: “Badminton or volleyball.”
Thank you so much, Mrs. Lowe-Fleischer, for your responses as well as allowing us to interview you. It was a pleasure talking with you. By the way, Mr. Holko took issue with some of your answers, but he said that he would take the high road this time. 🤣
Taking place in Salt Lake City Utah, expectations were high for this year’s NBA All Star Weekend.
Starting off the All Star festivities was the Ruffles Celebrity Game. The Celebrity Game rosters included the Miz (WWE superstar), Calvin Johnson (former NFL player), Albert Pujols (MLB player), Jesser (content creator), DK Metcalf (NFL star), 21 Savage (rapper), and many more.
DK Metcalf was the star of this celebrity game with multiple explosive dunks and leading Team Dwayne with 20 points and 10 rebounds. There were also good laughs out of this game when Richard Jefferson played and also refereed. Another comical moment was when Guillermo Rodriguez (ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live Correspondent) took his best shot of the night, which resulted in a Wedgie.
With a couple seconds left, Team Dwayne was up 81-78, but the Miz sank a half-court shot to tie the game, but it was quickly waved off and did not count.
Right after that came the Jordan Rising Stars contest with these four teams: Team Pau, Team Joakim, Team Deron, and Team Jason.
In the first round, Team Pau got an easy victory against Team Deron, and Team Joakim got the victory against Team Jason. Team Pau kept their momentum going in the finale against Team Joakim led by Jose Alvarado, who hit the game winning three-pointer. Because of Alvarado’s amazing performance, he won the Rising Stars MVP Award.
The first event of the NBA All Star Saturday was the Kia Skills Challenge. The teams for this year were Team Jazz consisting of Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, and Walker Kessler; Team Antetokounmpo with Thanasis, Alex, and Jrue Holiday; and finally Team Rooks featuring Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, and Jaden Ivey. The Antetokumpos could not manage to win a single game, ending in last place with zero points.The Rooks were only up by one game, and Team Jazz (the home team) took first place with 400 points.
Going into the second round, the elite three-point shooters were left. Portland Trailblazer star Damian Lillard took care of business as he had a rhythm with every shot. He put up and ended with 26 made baskets, beating out Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers. With all the pressure on Tyrese Haliburton, he was up next and he could not find his rhythm, and Damian Lillard won the three-point contest.
Next was the 2023 NBA Dunk contest. The dunk contest roster was Trey Murphy III (Pelicans), Kenyon Martin Junior (Rockets), Jericho Sims (Knicks), and Mac McClung (76ers). The contest started off with Murphy III who got his ball stolen by teammate Jose Alvarado, who then threw him an alley-oop off the glass to complete a 360-dunk. Next was Sims who completed a self alley-oop off the glass and dunked it with half of his arm in the hoop. Martin was next and received an alley-oop off of the side of the glass with a reverse dunk. Then McClung, who jumped over two people, did a reverse dunk to finish the first round in major fashion.
In the second round, it was Martin’s turn, and he did a double-clutch, reverse dunk. Murphy III was up next and did a fake, two-handed, reverse dunk, which was pretty cool. Sims followed this up with practically the same dunk, but this time, he grabbed a paper net with the numbers “50” for his score. McClung finished the second round with a 360-reverse, moving the ball up then down. It is no wonder why he received some high numbers from the judges because he was quickly becoming a crowd-favorite.
Murphy III started off the third round with a between the legs alley-oop followed by a windmill. McClung was up next, and he jumped over someone, double-clutched, and reverse dunked. The crowd went absolutely crazy! Murphy III then went again and did a 360-reverse windmill, getting the crowd on their feet. It was McClung’s turn again, and he decided to throw on his high school jersey for his last dunk. He did a 450-reverse dunk, and the crowd could not handle it anymore. They went crazy, and everybody was on their feet for this once-in-a-lifetime dunk. Even the announcers said, “It’s over!” After his dunk, the winner was decided, and it undisputedly went to the 76ers’ very own, Mac McClung.
Finally, what we have all been waiting for, the All Star game. However, instead of drafting a few days before the game, the NBA decided to go playground basketball style and draft right before the game. It was Team Giannis versus Team Lebron this year, and the Greek Freak came prepared with an entire book of notes, while James just had a piece of paper. Here were the results of the draft: Team Lebron had some great picks, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic paired together, along with Kyrie Irving. Team Giannis also got who he wanted, having three-point winner Damian Lillard and his teammate on the Bucks, Jrue Holiday. He also got our very own Cleveland Cavalier Donovan Mitchell and Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum.
After a great performance from Post Malone and 21 Savage, the 2023 All Star Game started. “Head Coach” Giannis Antetekumpo got an early dunk to start off but quickly fouled Doncic to go to the bench, as his wrist was injured, and he did not want to risk further injury.
The first quarter was back-and-forth with some highlight plays from James and Tatum. The opening period ended in a tie, which meant each team received $50,000 to their charities.
However, the second quarter was different, as Team Giannis took charge of the game, easily cruising by Team Lebron for a second quarter win.
Throughout the entire first half, there was little-to-no defense played, allowing for high scoring from both teams, with Team Giannis leading 99-92 at the half.
The halftime performance showed famous Nigerian artists including Burna Boy, Tems, and Rema doing an Afrobeats-themed crowd-pleaser.
After a stunning halftime performance, the all stars were ready to finish the game, and Tatum, especially, was electric, scoring 27 points in the third quarter, breaking the All Star record. Team Giannis went on to easily earn $100,000 dollars towards their charities. The third quarter was also filled with highlight plays but still little defense.
The fourth quarter is where Team Giannis closed out the game, but Team Lebron had one last run in them. The first team to score 182 points was the winner, and by the time Team Giannis was three points away, Mitchell and Tatum tried lobbing halfcourt shots, but it was a three-pointer dagger by Lillard who ended the game.
The All Star game ended with Tatum being the MVP, shattering the record with 55 points. Other great performances were from Mitchell, who had 40 points, and Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown, who dropped 35.
This was a great All Star weekend from Salt Lake City, Utah.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 