Is this any way to treat arguably one of the best basketball coaches in the history of the University of Memphis? Whether or not this headline shows any class or respect for Coach John Calipari isn’t being debated. What U of M alum, along with loyal Tiger basketball fans want to know is why? Why now?
If you think about this whole ordeal from Coach Calipari’s perspective, the decision seems to be a no-brainer. But , Calipari maintains the decision wasn’t made over money, alone. he has no control over the timing.
Regardless of how you feel about Coach Calipari’s departure from Memphis, Calipari maintains that the decision wasn’t made over money. Calipari spoke about how prestigious Kentucky was in the 70’s. He spoke of what it meant to him, to be the head coach at the University of Kentucky. Sure the increase in salary doesn’t hurt his decision making.
Also, it doesn’t hurt that Kentucky is in the SEC, a more prestigious conference than C-USA, and it doesn’t spoil his decision-making ability. It also helps that Kentucky receives more national television coverage.
So, it sounds like Calipari has a bit of an ego, in a way. Most people want recognition in their jobs. So, is it wrong for Calipari to strive to achieve that? Seems like when you think about it, there are many reasons a coach would want to become part of the University of Kentucky. So, in a way, we should be happy for him.
The press put on a tremendous spectacle, with about 200 reporters, and almost two dozen cameras pointed at the coach during his news conference at the team’s practice gym Wednesday morning. (ESPN.com)
Susan Te Paske, head of SDS (Students with Disabilities Services), and avid Tiger basketball fan, had this to say, “I was surprised he stayed as long as he did.” She went on to say, “I think he is probably a good match for the U of K.”
A lot of other die-hard Memphis basketball fans feel differently about the way in which Calipari left Memphis. Joy Ross, junior at Memphis and Biology major said, “I think it is a little sad but I wish him well at UK. This will very negatively affect the university’s general scholarship program as well as the other money coming into the university.”
When all is said and done, we'll recover from John Calipari's departurefrom the University of Memphis. Hopefully, students, alums and U of Mbasketball fans will soon realize that Coach Cal helped us at a time whenwe really needed help. He did his part in elevating our basketball programto the level of national recognition that we enjoy today and will continueto enjoy in days to come. He's not dead to us.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Future of Newspapers/Magazines
I believe that news websites are starting to erode newspapers and magazines। But, as newspapers and magazines struggle to survive, news websites are also having to figure out new ways to
generate advertising revenue and subscription revenue. Although, I am not sure as to whether news websites will completely replace magazines. Magazines are more specific in catering to particular hobbies or interests. There is also something about magazines- that they are used to allow their readers to experience or tactical enjoyment. If magazines didn’t survive, what would people do to help pass the time in waiting rooms?
generate advertising revenue and subscription revenue. Although, I am not sure as to whether news websites will completely replace magazines. Magazines are more specific in catering to particular hobbies or interests. There is also something about magazines- that they are used to allow their readers to experience or tactical enjoyment. If magazines didn’t survive, what would people do to help pass the time in waiting rooms?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE PAST?
In this essay, I will analyze what should be done with the past in accordance with what I believe to be the main themes outlined in the following two stories: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, and Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use.” Even though slightly different, both stories provide a basic message about how the past should be used or remembered.
In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the piano, to Bernice, is representative of the hardships her family had to endure. Bernice sees her family’s past as something private, but something she shouldn’t let go of. In the case with Bernice and her daughter, the past isn’t embraced. Bernice is afraid of playing the piano, for she is afraid of being haunted by the ghosts of her ancestors.
To Boy Willie, the piano represents an opportunity for him to own land. His father was never able to own land. So, selling the piano in order to purchase land would make the piano useful and not just for decoration. So, to Boy Willie, the piano still represents all the hardships that his family had to overcome. Therefore, Boy Willie is appreciative of all of the complicatedness his ancestors had to overcome in their lifetime to bring him to his current position.
Boy Willie doesn’t seem to associate the physical piano with the history of his ancestors. Boy Willie sees the piano as a source from which he can gain the money needed to purchase the land he desires. By selling the piano, this would allow him to buy his piece of property.
On the other hand, Bernice sees the piano as the embodiment of her ancestors’ past. She seems to display the piano as a “badge of honor,” but she isn’t willing to explain the story behind the piano’s history.
Even though Bernice’s daughter is curious about the carvings on the piano, Bernice won't tell her the history behind those images. Bernice appears to believe that just having the piano in her house is showing reverence to her ancestor’s hardships. She doesn’t play the piano even though she knows how to play.
In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” the viewpoint of the quilt seems to be the main point of the story. The two sisters, Dee and Maggie, appear to have a different connection with regard to the quilt.
Dee’s outlook on the quilt is apparently superficial. The fact that she wants to merely put the quilt on display tells of how Dee sees the quilt as a work of art, to be admired. She also claims that since her grandmother made the quilt, it also has sentimental value.
On other hand, Maggie views the quilt as functional. Although Maggie would use the quilt, she doesn’t need the quilt to remind her of her grandmother, she already knows how to make a quilt because her grandmother taught her how to quilt. Therefore, the memory of her grandmother isn’t triggered by just looking at the quilt. The fact that Maggie would put the quilt to “Everyday Use” is a testament that is appreciative of her heritage. The differences in how the two sisters put value on the quilt shows what value they put on their heritage.
The story is part of a series of Wilson’s inspection of black America, but the story relates to all families, no matter what ethnicity (Handelman, p.E3).
Everybody needs to learn to embrace their past, and make use of it. In history, it is important that we learn from our mistakes. In order to do that, we must have knowledge of the past, and be willing to put that knowledge to use. These two stories help to deliver a perception of how family members value their past.
In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, the piano, to Bernice, is representative of the hardships her family had to endure. Bernice sees her family’s past as something private, but something she shouldn’t let go of. In the case with Bernice and her daughter, the past isn’t embraced. Bernice is afraid of playing the piano, for she is afraid of being haunted by the ghosts of her ancestors.
To Boy Willie, the piano represents an opportunity for him to own land. His father was never able to own land. So, selling the piano in order to purchase land would make the piano useful and not just for decoration. So, to Boy Willie, the piano still represents all the hardships that his family had to overcome. Therefore, Boy Willie is appreciative of all of the complicatedness his ancestors had to overcome in their lifetime to bring him to his current position.
Boy Willie doesn’t seem to associate the physical piano with the history of his ancestors. Boy Willie sees the piano as a source from which he can gain the money needed to purchase the land he desires. By selling the piano, this would allow him to buy his piece of property.
On the other hand, Bernice sees the piano as the embodiment of her ancestors’ past. She seems to display the piano as a “badge of honor,” but she isn’t willing to explain the story behind the piano’s history.
Even though Bernice’s daughter is curious about the carvings on the piano, Bernice won't tell her the history behind those images. Bernice appears to believe that just having the piano in her house is showing reverence to her ancestor’s hardships. She doesn’t play the piano even though she knows how to play.
In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” the viewpoint of the quilt seems to be the main point of the story. The two sisters, Dee and Maggie, appear to have a different connection with regard to the quilt.
Dee’s outlook on the quilt is apparently superficial. The fact that she wants to merely put the quilt on display tells of how Dee sees the quilt as a work of art, to be admired. She also claims that since her grandmother made the quilt, it also has sentimental value.
On other hand, Maggie views the quilt as functional. Although Maggie would use the quilt, she doesn’t need the quilt to remind her of her grandmother, she already knows how to make a quilt because her grandmother taught her how to quilt. Therefore, the memory of her grandmother isn’t triggered by just looking at the quilt. The fact that Maggie would put the quilt to “Everyday Use” is a testament that is appreciative of her heritage. The differences in how the two sisters put value on the quilt shows what value they put on their heritage.
The story is part of a series of Wilson’s inspection of black America, but the story relates to all families, no matter what ethnicity (Handelman, p.E3).
Everybody needs to learn to embrace their past, and make use of it. In history, it is important that we learn from our mistakes. In order to do that, we must have knowledge of the past, and be willing to put that knowledge to use. These two stories help to deliver a perception of how family members value their past.
Handelman, Jay। “Family battles rehearsed in a ‘Piano Lesson’।” Sarasota Herald Tribune 16 November 2004, p।E3.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
