Two Players, Two Personalities, One Number

Lazar Hayward is a 6’6” forward that graduated Marquette following the 2009-10 season. Jae Crowder is a 6’6” forward who is currently playing at Marquette. Both of the players weigh 225 pounds. When Jae Crowder was first being recruited by Buzz Williams, every fan thought that he would be a great replacement for Lazar Hayward. Since Lazar was finishing up his last year at Marquette, the team needed somebody to replace him. The question was, could another player actually substitute Lazar, the star of the Marquette basketball team, or was he irreplaceable. Lazar was so versatile that he was really hard to guard. He could shoot the three, post up, and rebound against the big guys. Once head coach Buzz Williams recruited Jae, there were high hopes for him. The way he played was very similar to Lazar Hayward and there would be a huge spot to fill on the team. This position would not be an easy fill, but if there was any chance of it being complete, it was with Jae. Are these two basketball players really that similar or are they just two guys that love the same game and have the same style of play?

Jae Crowder is a former Junior College player that is in his first season at Marquette. He started his Junior College career at South Georgia Tech where he was named Georgia Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year as a freshman. Then he transferred to Howard College and helped them to a NJCAA Division 1 national championship. Previously, Jae went to Villa Rica High School. Last year, Jae Crowder was the Junior College Player of the Year. Lazar Hayward just recently graduated from Marquette. Now he plays in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Right off the bat these guys begin different, one played two years in Junior College and the other spent all four years in Division 1 college basketball. Either way, over their first two years, they both improved and made names for themselves. While Jae helped his team meet a great milestone, Lazar worked with three great players a year older than him so his time to truly shine was his senior year at Marquette.

Any type of stat can show a lot about someone, but in sports it shows a players strengths and weaknesses. Looking at the basic stats of Jae Crowder this year, and Lazar Hayward’s junior year stats, will say everything about these two players. Their highs and lows are as players on the basketball court will be shown. Crowder is a 62% free throw shooter while Lazar shot 82% from the line. That is a huge difference and can be a game changer, when it comes down to the last minutes of a game. Being able to be so consistent is hard to do with all the people watching, especially when you are at an away game and the opposing fans are waving their hands trying to do anything they can to make you miss. In addition, Hayward averaged 8.6 rebounds for every game and Crowder only has 6.7 per game. Jae is a better shooter than Lazar, since he shoots 5.4% higher in field goals than Hayward. He is also a higher 3-point shooter with a difference of 3.4%. These numbers don’t say much since they could change at any moment (all they have to do is miss or make a few more shots and they could be even). There could be one game when they’re on fire and another when they couldn’t buy a shot. What really sets them apart is that Jae so far has blocked 17 shots, while Lazar blocked only 9 shots. Also he has 32 steals at this point and Hayward finished his season with 35. Lazar was a huge defensive threat in the paint from all of his rebounds, but Crowder is an offensive threat with his 3-point shot and his inside out game. He is also great at getting steals and blocking shots. His blocked shots especially stand out since he’s undersized for his position.

Were the things that make these two guys similar just coincidence. Both Lazar and Jae wore the same number, which made everyone think they were more similar than they really are. There is a reporter that interviewed Jae; they asked him about his number and if he was trying to be like Lazar, he said, "actually I didn’t think about Lazar when I picked it. It was my number in high school. I wanted to wear 24, which was my junior-college number, but it’s retired. I wore 32 in high school and I felt like I need to go back to where I came from. That’s why I picked 32" (Rosiak, Golden Eagles Blog). Lazar had no influence on Jae's choice and the number situation was just happened. Jae also has feelings about the idea of him being compared to Lazar. "I’m going to let it be known that I’m Jae Crowder and not Lazar Hayward. And I talked to him about it. He said, ‘Just play your game. You’re not me; I’m not you.’ It just so happened to be that way, that everything fell into place" (Rosiak, Golden Eagles Blog). Although in a different article, he said, "I understand the role I will be taking at Marquette, and if it’s like Lazar’s then I’m all for it. I feel like I’ll step in, be fine and move on" (Rosiak, Golden Eagles Blog). It seems as though Jae wants to take the challenge of replacing Lazar, but he also wants to play his own way and make himself known as Jae Crowder, not just the replacement.

Every way you look at this story, these guys are different from each other. They both have their strengths and they both have their weaknesses, but each one is different from the other. No matter what people may say about these two players, they don’t know much until they dig deeper. All they are based off of is their same number and same position style. Jae Crowder and Lazar Hayward are similar, but different in their own unique way. I now know that Jae wants to be the best he is capable of being and he will do anything he can to make it there. He wants to be himself but he also wants to follow in the footsteps of Lazar Hayward, since he is such a good player and he’s accomplished some great things. Such as being in the NBA, which is an achievement all in its own. A life full of achievements made and ready to be made. Each one of these players is playing for success, for a win, for their team.


Bibliography
Jim Ganzer, "IWB". "Marquette Lands Jae Crowder." 3 February 2010. MarquetteHoops.com. 15 February 2011 .
Marquette Basketball 2008-09 Media Guide. 2008-09.
"Marquette Season Statistics ." 29 January 2011. GoMarquette. 4 February 2011 .
—. "Golden Eagles Blog." 7 September 2010. JSOnline. 22 2 2011 .
—. "Golden Eagles Blog." 14 April 2010. JSOnline. 22 2 2011 .
Strotman, Mark. "Crowder Looks To Fill Void." 26 October 2010. MarquetteHoops.com. 17 February 2011 .

A Wintery Mix

The day had been dreaded upon for days, a day of an early morning, a day of rain, a day of sleet, and a day of snow. It will to be a very long day. Staying enclosed in the same place for hour after hour after hour, sitting around watching and playing to have fun. As the day seems to drag on and you not even sure of the time anymore, your body is ready to lie down and relax but you have to keep fighting to win. The terrible day outside making you happy to be inside, happy to be safe for now. The day finally comes to an end, but now you must make your way through the disappointing weather outside. You’re so far away from home; you hope that there is a safe journey ahead of you. As you make your way home, there is more and more ice covering the long narrow roads. The cars that are headed the opposite direction are covered in a thin layer of snow, giving you an idea of what is ahead of you. Our adventure was almost to the end when we hit the snow, covered roads with huge clumps of snow left over by the plows. Slush is everywhere slowing down the traffic, making the car ride longer. After who knows how long, we hit Pewaukee, glad to be so close to home.

A New Year

The new year begins with a kiss, the blowing of horns, happiness, but what really happens? A new year to write down. A new start on the calendar. Another year you've been alive. Maybe another chance for success. Why is this so exciting? What makes January 1st such an extraordinary day? A New Year's resolution, says you will stop doing something, but do you really? Can you change yourself? If you really try, you may succeed, but only if you put your mind to it. Only if you never stop trying. Only if you never give up. A chance to redeem yourself from last year's mistakes; to change yourself; to improve yourself. A new year can mean so many things to so many people; what does it mean to you? Set those new goals and achieve them. Stop being lazy and work, that's what it always seems to be. Achieve what you want to achieve, follow the steps and you will make it their with success. This may mean what our last yearbook idea was, find your true colors and express them.

The Amazing Battle of Gettysburg

I remember from back when I was young, marching with the Union army, led by General John Buford. We had marched into the little town of Gettysburg, so small that it was only 12 blocks long and 6 blocks wide (Ashby). It didn't take long to see them, the Confederates.  Immediately after we spotted them our general sent a message requesting more troops. Later, we were led to high grounds and told to wait for more Union soldiers to arrive. Who would have guessed what would happen next, such a life changing moment nobody could ever forget?

By July 1, our side had 83,300 soldiers, while the rebels had only 75,100 soldiers (O'hern and Anderson). We were hiding behind the fences, as a Confederate general marched thousands of soldiers into the town. Once the Confederates spotted us, the loud ear piercing shots began to fire; I knew a battle had begun. As the smoke filled the air, I loaded my gun. Men and horses fell left and right. I tried to keep my focus on what was happening right in front of me. I tried to hold my hands still and keep them from shaking. I tried not to worry about my friends, if they were dead or if they were alive. All I wanted to do was focus on what was right in front of me; I was fighting for my country to be united as one; for the freedom of slaves; for my life. We fought up and down the streets, stepping over all the dead bodies, after only hours of fighting. Later that day, we retreated to higher ground, atop Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge (O'hern and Anderson). There we waited and watched for the rebels. Finally, General Meade showed up. We held high ground compared to the Confederates.  This was a great advantage point for the Union, and it affected the course of the rest of the battle.

When July 2 came, it was another gruesome day of fighting. Our day had started out with the Confederates advancing right towards us.  We raced down the hill to defend our position.  I remember realizing that the likelihood of getting killed or injured was very high. My life could have ended at any moment, but I never backed off and I never let those rebels onto our territory. Attack after attack passed by in a blur. All the fighting in the peach orchard was brutal and terrifying. The Confederates had attacked so hard, that we had to retreat. There had been so many lives taken already and so many men injured. Even the strongest men were weak from the heat and hard work. All that seemed clear were the sounds of guns firing and the voices of the wounded soldiers moaning in pain. Back at camp, people were dying from infections and loss of blood after losing a leg, arm, or hand in amputation. It seemed that if you were injured, you were doomed for death, but no one gave up. The doctors were incapable of keeping a wound clean or stopping the blood from rushing out of even the smallest of wounds. Our doctors didn't have the spare blood like we have now a days. When you lost your blood you couldn't get it back. That day, the Confederates attacked again. At first we had been defeated, but then we turned around and charged right back with more courage than ever and attacked some more. We ended up pushing them into their trenches. As the second day flew by, night made its cover over the battlefields. The clueless Confederates didn't see more men arriving, and then bang, we hit them, right in their faces. The sound of the guns blasting furiously in the dark cover of the night fell over the land.

July 3 started out with a large bang, as the rebels attacked. Their cannons fired, making an excruciating sound.  Later on that day, the Confederates charged toward cemetery ridge, but we fired directly at them the entire time. There was so much time that we were able to hide ourselves to surprise them, attacking left and right. It had felt like we were unstoppable. Our attack marked supreme as the Confederates retreated. The Battle of Gettysburg was over. We defeated the rebels! I smiled with pride that day, as I walked off the battlefield. I remember all the bodies that we left behind in the sun, stinking up the fresh air of Gettysburg. This marked the beginning of the ended of the civil war, making all the things I was fighting for come true.  We became the United States of America!

What will happen to our newly united states? Will we actually unite together as one and resolve all our conflicts, or will there still be differences that separate us? Now that the slaves are free, what will happen to them? There isn’t any one who is there taking care of them anymore and they won’t be wanted. Most of the slaves don’t speak English and can’t read; will they return to their home country or stay in the United States of America? Will they be able to make something of themselves? What will happen to our newly United States?  I still live there as an old man with my wife and I visit those battlefields remembering what a battle it was and what it did for me and many others.

Bibliography
Ashby, Ruth. Civil War Chornicles Gettysburg. North Mankato, Minnesota: Smart Apple Media, 2003.

O'hern, Kerri and Dale Anderson. The Battle of Gettysburg. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: World Almanac Library, 2006.

Repose in Ludwig's Castle

Painting by Sigmar Polke

Locked away in a cell.

Grasping the bars.

Holding onto any last bit of life.

The hope, the freedom

is all gone.

All the color is drifting away.

The burden of wrong,

holding on.

Never letting go,

always hanging on.

No Reason to live.

Death is creeping closer

and closer,

tearing me apart.

The First Snow Fall

One chilly morning in the beginning of December, I look out the window and see little white flurries falling from the sky. Like sprinkles being dropped on to a freshly frosted Christmas cookie. I walk outside and they land in my hair melting almost immediately. What a beautiful sight to see; the flakes landing on the ground making a light layer of snow all around like a dusting of fine sugar. Our first fall of the season won't stay but you will see it hidden in the grass like the left over cookie crumbs on the kitchen table. Light flurries fall all day as the sun sparkles off the snow making the ground all around bright and cheerful. All the fun fall times have passed and now the snowball fights and snowmen building begin. The day is so beautiful with all the trees starting to hold onto the freshly fallen snow. White is everywhere you go and everywhere you look; once you see that you know it is now December, the beginning of winter.

Communication

Thoughts fill my head but when I try to speak, nothing seems to come out. Sickening silence burns through my eyes, so used to the silence from friend and foe alike. No reason to break this quiet haven, for no people around to trust in. I block myself from the world around me, too afraid to speak out. This is Melinda, who is isolated from the world around her. Speaking, writing, and artwork are the three significant ways Melinda communicates in the book "Speak."

One form of communication is art. Communicating through art was the only way Melinda could say how she was feeling. On the first day of art class, she was given the only project for the entire year and what she drew from a globe depended on what she would draw all year. When she picked out a piece of paper that said “tree;” she thought it was too easy. For this was now her destiny in art. Melinda has trouble finding a way to draw her trees, but when she does, they are sad and show how she feels. On page 78 in the second paragraph, was where you find out how her trees expressed how she feels. “There’s a tree in the front of my house just like it. I can feel the wind blow and hear the mockingbird whistle on the way back to her nest. But when I try to carve it, it looks like a dead tree, toothpicks, a child’s drawing.” She seems to be lifeless, just like her trees. “I want to make a memorial for our turkey. Never has a bird been so tortured to provide such lousy dinner. I dig the bones out of the trash and bring them to art class. Mr. Freeman is thrilled.” This passage from the book “Speak”, represents Melinda’s first idea in art, although it doesn’t deal with trees, she has begun to express herself, it was on page 61 in the section “Wishbone.” To show this she made a memorial for the Thanksgiving turkey that was ruined, which shows what dreadful holiday she had with her family.

Although art is a very important way for Melinda to communicate, speaking is even more significant to her. Since she is a girl who never speaks and is afraid to talk about what happened one summer night at a party. Even though she doesn’t talk at school you would think that her parents should know what has happened to her. I believe that she is afraid to speak out for herself and since she doesn’t have a true friend there is nobody for her to rely on. On page 165 there is a section called “Real Spring.” While reading this section you will see how she doesn’t really respond to what her father says to her. For example her dad said, “That’s a lot work.” Then Melinda doesn’t respond and her dad says, “I’ll get some leaf bags at the store.” Again there is no response from Melinda. This conversation goes on without her talking and it seems her dad is speaking to nobody. There was one time that occurred where words truly hurt Melinda, when Heather didn't want to be her friend anymore, which was on page 104 in the section “Lunch Doom.” “This is really awkward. I mean how do you say something like this? I mean, we kind of paired up at the beginning of the year when I was new and didn’t know anyone and that was really, really sweet of you, but I think it’s time for us both to admit that we just are very different,” says Heather. Then Melinda said “you mean we’re not friends anymore?” This was a conversation of a lost friendship, a person not supportive of another that is having a hard time. No wonder Melinda hated talking, if she lost the only partial friend she had in a conversation that she actually responded in.

Even though speaking represents the book and Melinda, writing is how her family communicates by leaving notes that say what was for supper or what was going on that night. It truly seems they avoided each other and that was how they could avoid the problems they were all going through having, especially her parents always arguing. When notes are written they can be very powerful since Melinda was left a note on her locker from Heather, her former friend. It said “thanks for understanding. You're the sweetest!" Concealed inside this note was their friendship necklace, the loss of her only friend. Since Rachel/Rachelle and Melinda weren’t very good friends, it was hard for her to get Rachel/Rachelle to talk. Once she finally got a conversation going they were yelled at for talking, which they ended up writing back and forth on a piece of paper. They talked about what happened during the party that was in the summer. This ended up changing everything, which made writing have such an important role in her freedom and Rachel/Rachelle’s safety.

In the book "Speak", communicating through talking, composing, and artwork are very evident. Thoughts fill Melinda’s head, but when she attempts to speak nothing seems to want to come out. All the silence fills her head leaving a burning sensation. It was all too much to handle. Never keep bullying, harassing, or any other type of rude behavior hidden up inside you. Always tell someone; otherwise you may become very distant.