The Baltimore Orioles 

The Washington/Baltimore sports area In the past In the past has not had to worry about how good the teams were but seemingly concentrated on just don’t blow the game, or how will we lose this game. The Baltimore Orioles this year may start to change this pattern of thinking.

At the beginning of this year the thinking was that the Orioles may win 80 games, but not much more. Now a little over a month into the season expectation are starting to heighten. Sport columnists are now warning us not to hold our breath. 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1165365-baltimore-orioles-2012-team-showing-signs-of-being-different-from-past-seasons

The Avengers 

The new Avengers movie from Marvel Comics was in my opinion, a classic way to bring the Marvel super heroes together. It had a good story line that kept your interest. I was glad that, in the opportunities that where there to eliminate the bad guy (Loki) they kept him around till the end, and with class, did away with him. Marvel was smart in putting the movies out the way they did, advertising was effective, creating a draw to see the movie even if you did not like the other movies. Most people that I talked to liked the movie, and in my opinion it is defiantly worth going to see just once.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPpG4s3-O4

Caps VS Rangers 

It’s just a hockey game, how different could the news stories be? There are only a few reasons to have different news stories. Each team wants to be the best, have the best players and make the most money. The challenge for each team is to be unique, drawing the best players and add revenue to make their team successful.   

  This season has been quite different for the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers. The Caps may have started with hopes of having a good season but that did not pan out as expected. They fired their coach in mid-season and fought to get into the playoffs. The rangers on the other hand, had a good season missing the president’s trophy (given to the team with the most points) by only two points, but still wining the Eastern Conference and a number one seed in the playoffs.

Stakes are legitimately high for the NEW York Rangers. They acquired a new goalie whose season had been phenomenal, added a center second on the team in scoring goals, and signed another productive forward. This year they finished the season on top of the eastern conference standings for the first time since 1994, coasting into the playoffs without having to fight for a playoff spot, which allowed them the luxury of resting some of their key players.

Some of the differences in play this year include the attention to defense, staying focused the duration of the full game, and making the opponent work just as hard if not harder to win the game. The teams’ downside is their ability to score on power plays which has been an abysmal failure this year.  If their ability to score with a man advantage is lacking they may be in big trouble.  But the biggest reason the Rangers are favored to win the cup this year is there goalie, one of the best in the NHL  with seven times winning 30 games or more. He is having an incredible year with the advantage of going into the playoffs rested will only help.

The Washington Capitals where expected to make an early exit this year. Nobody really gave them much of a chance. Their starting and backup goalie had suffered injuries forcing them to rely on a rooky goalie that had played very few regular season games, not to mention having to play in the first round against the defending Stanley Cup winner. A new coach took over in midseason upsetting and slowing the downward spiral they had begun allowing them to find ways to win. This  may actually be  helpful in the playoffs since they have experienced some very close games and they may not be as panicked and calmer during the close one.  Most years the caps are favored or have a team that looks good but finds a way to lose games. This year they were expected to lose in the first round, but by winning the pressure should be off.   

Both teams have the same goal ‘THE STANLEY CUP’ in mind. The rangers may have the advantage in that the goalies should be able to carry the team. Lundqvist the Rangers goalie is have a tremendous season. He has changed things up some allowing him time off during the regular season.  He has played only 62 games this year. Braden Holtby the goal tender for the capitals exceeded expectations in his first series with the Boston Bruins. After Injuries to Vokoun and Neuvirth (the starting and backup goalies) late in the regular season Holtby was called up to play in the biggest game of his life. And as crazy as it may be Washington’s biggest question was there biggest strength in the first series.

Wednesday night the game went into triple overtime, it was the twentieth longest game in NHL history, starting at 7:40pm and stretching into the next day ending at 12:14am.  For the rangers it was there forth longest game ever. For both teams when you play almost two games in one night players get tired faster. Overall as the night goes on the mental and physical strain increases. The time the players can play at any given time is reduced forcing changes, and potentially giving the other team an advantage.  This was yet another game that was decided by only one point. Of the ten games that the Caps played in the playoffs nine have been decided by one point.

Surprisingly the media coverage was for the most part accurate and to the point. Lundqvist, stopped 45 shots for the Rangers, while Holtby stopped 47 shots for the Capitals.  There was some debate as to who would have the advantage because of such a long game. Washington thought they may have the edge because of the style of defense that New York plays. But the biggest advantage may be one that will not be reported, the hits that players deliver.  

One of the biggest differences is the head coaches. The Rangers coach John Tortorella is one of the most outspoken blunt coaches in the NHL and not afraid to speak his mind when asked. In his press conferences he will routinely tell the media that he will not talk about what they are asking, or will simply say next question.   

Both the Washington and New York media report primarily on the game and the different plays. With the exception of controversial plays or calls. Because of hockey’s brutal physical play most if not all injures are kept out of the media because other teams will be able to play off their weakness.  Each media market will repot primarily on that city’s players and statistics for the game, as to be expected. However because of the play of Washington’s goal tender Braden Holtby he is reported in both Washington and New York.  He even was listed as a star selection on the Rangers website for the game May 2. 

                        Media Journal

My lifestyle as a college student has had a direct impact on why I am using and how I am using the media. While not devoid of media/network influence, I consume less than normal amount of information in any given day. There are of course exceptions to this at times, but I find myself consumed with college during the semester, and work in the summer

Tuning into and listening to the radio was something done only while driving to occupy my time and because I didn’t have anything else to do. This week I would as normal alternate between music, talk, and news without thinking about it. Like any other week my half-hour drive was with the radio on.   However at home my listening habits were quite different for instance I would selectively listen to the radio specifically for news, sports, and music.

Most mornings except Mondays and Wednesdays I would pick up the paper and read the sports section, comics and any news stories of interest. The only other news or current events enlightening my outlook on life would be from WTOP radios email system. The only exception to this regiment of listening habits was when I had to prepare for the Political club meeting.  During this preparation I would review the latest news for the week using newspapers such as the Frederick News Post, Websites such as County and States websites, and Google various news events.

While studying I have found that having something playing in the background (white noise) can at times aid in my studies. While working at or on a computer I have started using Pandora radio because it’s usability and its free and I am able to find music I like. The majority of my media usage is at college. When I study at college, among the first things I do is check my emails, and turn on the internet radio. Pandora normally stays on most of the day, unless I have to leave the room or I decide to take a break.

I will at times deliberately turn on music when I’m studying.  Classical Music has a tendency to make me more relaxed and puts me in a mood to begin my studies.  Some types of Classical music seem to help me retain information more easily.  One obstacle I have with classical music is when I really enjoy a particular artist, such as the Irish Tenors, and I may end up just listening to them, thereby aiding in my procrastination.  I have heard that baroque music aids in learning but I still would rather listen to the Irish tenors or the three tenors.   

At night for entertainment I occasionally watch a movie.  This is generally done to break the monotony of studying, reading, writing or when I need a break.  The movies that I watch are by design short and not too involved.  My reasoning for this is so that after watching one of these programs I can get back to work studying. Most television series works well for this purpose because they are short, easy to follow and there is no time wasted in looking up the next movies to watch. It’s nice also because you can leave the series, start studying and return to the same series the following day, week, or even month at the next show of the series with little effort in a show search.

My preference is watching television series which are online from places like Hulu and sidereel.  Both these are free which make them attractive to me financially and navigating through their system is easy. This week was not unlike others, I would get home and after doing what was needed I would look up a show to watch. This week I decided to watch Mchale's navy, a world war 2 comedy about a PT boat captain who’s crew was always conniving to make life more enjoyable in the Navy.

Texting is something I do most to entertain myself when board or when I want to communicate with someone. I prefer texting when I only have a simple question or late at night when a phone call would be disruptive.  Not having thought about texting as a form of mass communication I did not record the texts that I sent. On an average I send about 5 to 10 texts a day. 

           

            I have discovered that’s the environment one finds their self in greatly effects their media usage.  Not only is usage changed but the programs one once used changes also.  The transition one experiences in their media habits will probably be an ongoing experience as one transitions from college to the workplace, as well as when entertainment patterns, hobbies, and our environment change.   Naturally all this changes as technology drives changes to our schools, homes and workplace.  People normally think they resist change but micro changes are occurring every day in the way one thinks and the habits they claim never change. Being aware of our media usage can help us be selective and use the media as a tool rather than letting the media dominate and consume us. 

Fun, Fame, or Fortune.

March madness, the NCAA, and college sports in general are controlled by money. Players in college are not necessarily interested in earning money for playing college basketball, but are for the most part playing a game that they love and/or have a natural talent for that sport. Unfortunately it cost college athletes money to attend a university even with a scholarship, and if they try to make a little profit off their name they could become the big losers by losing playing time and/or be suspended.

Obscene amounts of revenue from advertising and Television has been and continues to be funneled into the NCAA, deans, and coaches while, players are banned from receiving any gifts, and forced to take loans to help cover the cost of tuition.  Does this make you think that something could be wrong? If the rules are in place to protect the games, then why are officials from the NCAA down to the Coaches making more and more money off the student’s talents? Could the real talent be how to fleece the players and fans without being too obvious and making everyone think it for the games sake? Players should be allowed to make a profit to at least pay for college as they are passing through that institution to hopefully a pro team. 

Some interesting blogs from other student that I thought you would enjoy.
 http://timikada.blogspot.com/
http://unacreacionnueva.blogspot.com/
http://fccinfocus.blogspot.com/
http://www.helloworldareyouthereitsmebailey.blogspot.com/