Posts by Daniel Royston:
Strasburg brings baseball back to DC
Teammate John Lannan covered Strasburg in shaving cream after his first start at Nationals Park. Photo courtesy AP Photo.
14 strikeouts, 7 innings pitched and zero walks. Stephen Strasburg began his MLB career in awe. Despite an excessive amount of hype placed on him before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8, Strasburg pitched the game as if it were any other. (continue reading…)
Harper could be savior for Nats
Harper, 17, could bring baseball back to D.C. Photo courtesy SI.com.
While counting down the days until Stephen Strasburg’s first start for the Washington Nationals, D.C. should be looking forward to the 2010 MLB Draft for one reason: Bryce Harper. (continue reading…)
NFL’s Rooney Rule not necessary
Pittsburg Steelers owner Dan Rooney was the pioneer of the rule that promoted racial fairness in the search for a head coach. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press (Gene J. Puskar)
One of the most frequently used, yet unknown, active policies in the NFL is the Rooney Rule.
The Rooney Rule was first established in 2003, by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the current chairman of the league’s diversity committee and was then immediately enforced for the next off-season. The rule’s main objective is for all teams in the NFL to interview at least one minority coach while interviewing for the head coaching position. Though the rule has been around for seven years, it has yet to make a real impact on the league. The NFL should reconsider this policy as it barely provides any influence for a team’s head coaching search. (continue reading…)
Welcome Mike Shanahan
Dear Mike Shanahan,
First things first: welcome to D.C. big guy. Hopefully, you’re settled in and ready to get right to work after your wonderful nights on the town canoodling with Dan Snyder
Unfortunately, this year will be anything but easy for you. But hey, that’s D.C. in a nutshell. It’s the nation’s capital and all eyes are on you to rebuild the floundering Deadskins. Fortunately, you have me to guide you through it. (continue reading…)
NFL owners need coaching consistency
The NFL head coaching position is one of the toughest jobs in professional sports. A coach must manage over 100 players, select about ten assistants and most importantly, take blame for the team’s woes. Coaches who stumble early in their first year most usually, hear whispers of job security shaky and getting the axe sometimes even before the season is over. This ongoing trend in the league must stop. Team executives should not fire head coaches so prematurely. (continue reading…)
High school fans should be allowed to rush field
Graphic by Danny Shannahan
Restricting fans to storm the field is like eating a delicious chocolate cake without the icing; it leaves out the true flavor. High schools, more specifically those in Montgomery County, should allow students to rush the field or court following an important victory to allow students to exercise their school spirit and preserve a longstanding sports tradition. (continue reading…)
Group of juniors bring back the hacky sack
The fifth period bell signals the start of a variety of different activities for students. For some, it marks the beginning of socializing at lunch. For others, it serves as the opening whistle for football, basketball and soccer games. But for five juniors, the bell means it’s time to circle up and play hacky sack.
The HSK meet everyday during fifth lunch in front of the school. Photo by Daniel Royston.
Juniors Ben Golan, Jonathan Harwood, Jonny Schear, Jeff Gruen and Peter Beiser play hacky sack every lunch period in the patches of grass in front of the school.
The group started last year when Golan brought in one of his hacky sacks and invited his friends to play. Since then, they have played hacky sack at lunch every day.
“One day I decided to bring in my hacky sack and it drew a lot of attention from my friends,” Golan says.
After months and months of playing the sport, the five students came up with a name for their group: the Hacky Sack Kids, or HSK.
Hacky sack is not a common pastime, but it has started to catch on throughout the United States. HSK hopes that the group can raise awareness of its increasing popularity. (continue reading…)