sports 11 Over the Edge + September 22, 2010 Rookie Roundup Who is helping defend the National Champoinships and are they going to get the job done? ECATERINA CRUGURNEAU FEATURES EDITOR It's that time of the year again: basketball season is about to begin and we are not messing around. So, get out your face paint, rest your voice, and get ready to cheer on the five new editions to the teams interviewed below. of people, so it’s mostly my teammates. | want the beach, yo. Q: What are some of the things about the team that immediately stand out to you? A: How fast they play and the friendship they have. They really play good with each other. WOMEN’S TEAM: Jen Knibbs Q: What do you feel like you are bringing with you from your previous coach and your previous team? A: Athleticism, mostly just a different style of play. My swagga is different. People in the States play differently. It’s faster in the States. | used to play with tall athletes, 7 footers. It's their [Timberwolves] team, | am just on it. That doesn’t mean | am not going to handle my business on the court. Imma’ do whatever it takes, we are going to win the national championship. | already know we are going to win. Q: You are from the beautiful Saskatchewan. How are you handling the transition thus far? A: Good! | really like it here and everyone is so welcoming | don’t think | will have a problem transitioning. Q: What are some of the things about the team that immediately stand out to you? A: How close all the girls are and how everyone has the same positive mindset and goals about what we will accomplish this year. Harmeet Mahal Q: What is the most difficult thing about being on the team? A: First two practices were pretty rough, running. Going to class and staying eligible. 7 Q: What is the most difficult thing about being on the team? A: Being away from home | would have to say Q: What kinds of initiatives are you and your teammates taking to get to know each other better? A: Chill daily, we chill a lot together.We’re just a cool group of guys, we didn’t even need to take any initiative. But we are also taking other initiatives, going out together, getting together. Sarah Robin Q: This is your first year in university, as well as on the team. Are you enjoying your newly attained freedom? A: So far I’m having tons of fun and I’m meeting so many new people. The team is really helpful and supportive and I’m learning a lot. Q: What are your personal goals for the year? A: Stay eligible, do good, and contribute to the team to the best of my abilities in order to win nationals. | will do whatever | need to do to help the team; if they need me to stand on the sidelines doing jumping jack, that’s what | am going to do. Q: What kinds of initiatives are you and your teammates taking to get to know each other better? A: Basically, we’ve been having a movie night or two. We'll probably start doing some team bonding nights and stuff like that soon as well. There’s is plenty of time to get to know each other both on and off the court. SUBMITTED BY HARMEET MAHAL Q: What are your personal goals for this year? A: My personal goals are to learn and grow from the experience of playing for a varsity team. | want to work hard every practice and learn as much as | can. Experience is everything at this level and I’m excited to see how the older girls cope in certain game situations. And if | get the opportunity to play in a game this season, I'll try to do my very best. I’m just going to stay very positive this season and contribute to team in whatever way | can. Josh Jebose Q: How is this time so far different from the team you have played on before? A: The size of the guys, the skill level. Q: What is your biggest fear when you are on the court? A: Miss layups. Q: What do you think is the most important quality a team should have in order to be successful? MEN’S TEAM: A: Team work, that’s number one , and commitment. So what do you think? Do these nOObies have what it takes Rob Rodriguez 9 to bring home the gold again? Q: | hear you are from California. How are you liking Prince George so far? A: The weather is different. Everyone is nice so that’s a big thing. | haven't really met a lot How to Watch Sports It’s not about the game, it’s about how you watch it SHELBY PETERSEN EDITOR IN CHIEF SUBMITTED BY JOSH JEBOSE As the leaves fall to the ground and the weather gets a little cooler more and more of your friends will retreat into their respective living rooms, Doritos in hand, eyes glued to the TV, gasping for breath as the star quarterback goes for the touchdown; but, while your friend may be drawn in by the nail biting, stress inducing experience that is the world of professional sports, you could care less. | myself have been in many a situation where | have been forced to sit through the semi-quarter finals of some testosterone-driven game, forced to feign excitement while grasping at the intricacies of the sport. Admittedly, | am not an avid sports fan, but when | am forced to sit and watch that Saturday night game with my sports crazed friends, | know just how to make a night of it. Just because you do not enjoy athletics does not mean that you cannot have a good time. So, when you get up Sunday morning to find your brother, friend, or casual acquaintance glued to the TV while fat men run down an incredibly large field and you are subsequently forced to watch the Vikings battle the Patriots — because the bus doesn’t come for another hour because its Prince George and the bus system is really bad — you can use this little guide to get yourself through the game. Always pick a side — | usually opt for the team in opposition to the one my friends are rooting for. This amps up the competition because your friend will feel the need to prove you wrong. If this isn’t really your style, choose your team based on their jersey colour. | am a born and bred Vikings fan — but only because they have a purple jersey. Ask questions a lot — | like to ask questions | already know the answer to. | do this partly to be annoying and also to see if this “uber fan” really knows their stuff. Wait until just the right moment (field kick, penalty shot, free throw) to ask your questions. Use improper terminology — This may be easier than it seems. If you don’t know anything about the sport, you are probably already guilty of this. If you do know something about the sport, try calling a hockey net a basket or a yell “goal!” when Lebron James dunks that ball. 4. Gossip — If you are a not-so-secret follower of Perez Hilton discuss the recent hook-ups/marriages of the common celebrity-sports star world. For example, “Yes | know who Mike Fisher is, he totally just married Carrie Underwood” or “Reggie Bush just hasn’t played the same since he and Kim Kardashian broke up.” 5. Ask more questions — Questions really are the key to a good time when watching sports. Ask things like “What's happening now?”, “Why does he have such a nasty beard?”, “How tall do you think he is?”, “Why can’t girls play this sport?”, “How can he be an athlete and weigh 400 pounds?”, “NASCAR, really?” and “Why do they have to stop and start so much?” Hopefully, if you follow these five easy to understand steps, your next athletic experience will be better than ever. Keep in mind, Over the Edge bears no responsibility if these suggestions get you hit over the head, kicked out, or dumped.