Cubs win!

By Brad C.

Chicago has made the playoffs for the first time in a decade. On Monday night they beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 at Wrigley Field. The Giants won their last nine of eleven to make the wild card playoff. In the 163rd game of the season, the Cubs had a 5-0 lead going into the ninth. Sosa went 2 for 4 with 2 singles and a RBI.
It took 163 games, one more than usual, but; the Cubs have made it. Gary Gaetti's homer that put the Cubs up 2-0, and was a very important factor in the game. In the top of the ninth the Giants had Bonds and Kent due up and they scored three runs of Rod Beck, who managed another save against his former team. Sammy didn't hit a home run and ended up with 66 while McGuire had 70. The Cubs made the playoffs and the Cardinals didn't.
Next Chicago will face the Atlanta Braves, in Atlanta. The Cubs, missing Kerry Wood for the rest of the season with an elbow strain, will need stronger pitching. Atlanta is missing their closer, Mark Wholers, so the Cubs still do have a chance. If Sosa can keep up his season long batting average, over .300, Chicago might be able to get somewhere in the playoffs from nowhere in the regular season for the past 10 years. The Cubs are going up against one of the best pitching staffs in the majors so they will need exceptionally strong hitting. Cubs win!

Cross country team is off to a flying start

By Andrew S.

Peacock students ran well this season.
Sixth grade team members, Frank S. and Adam S., said that they enjoyed cross country because they really enjoyed running, giving effort, and working out with their friends. When they were asked if they liked practices or meets better, they both replied that they much preferred the meets. According to Frank and Adam, this was because at meets, they got to run against a different team. They said that they also enjoyed earning places and running on different courses. As Frank explained, other courses were more exciting and more challenging. Adam said that he relished his first race because of all the people cheering, but he admitted that he still felt nervous.
According to Adam, the hardest thing about cross country was pushing yourself at every practice. Both runners recommended joining the team to their classmates, noting that it was a good way to stay in shape. Both boys also said that they would join cross country again next year.

NFL Season Kicks Off

Dateline 9/24/98

By Mike M. and Brian C.

Finally, the NFL regular season is underway. Last year's Super Bowl teams, Green Bay and Denver are both 3-0, and look well on the way to another championship game. In the AFC, the highly ranked Pittsburgh Steelers have been disappointing and their quarterback, Kordell Stewart has struggled. Miami is off to a 3-0 start in what is possibly veteran quarterback, Dan Marino's last season.
So far, the careers of the highly touted rookie quarterbacks, Peyton Manning, of the Indianapolis Colts, and Ryan Leaf, of the San Diego Chargers have been mixed. Manning has definitely had a rough time, and Leaf's performance has been up and down. The surprise of the AFC has definitely been the Seattle Seahawks, who have a 3-0 record in the hardest conference in the AFC. In the NFC, Detroit has gotten off to a rough 0-3 start while the St. Louis Rams have gotten of to a surprising 2-1.
The only question left is, who will have the worst record at the end of the season? Philadelphia certainly has a good chance of going 0-16. If the Bears continue to play the way they are now, they may win a few games. Here are our predictions for the 1998 NFL season.

*Wildcard team

Mike's Picks Brian's Picks
NFC AFC NFC AFC
Central Central Central Central
1.Green Bay 1.Pittsburgh 1.Green Bay 1.Jacksonville
*2.Minnesota *2.Jacksonville *2.Minnesota *2.Pittsburgh
*3.Tampa Bay 3.Tennessee *3.Tampa Bay 3.Cinncinatti
4.Chicago 4.Baltimore 4.Detroit 4.Tennessee
5.Detroit 5.Cinncinatti 5.Chicago 5.Baltimore

West West West West
1.San Francisco 1.Oakland 1.San Francisco 1.Denver
*2.New Orleans *2.Denver *2.St. Louis *2.Kansas City
3.St. Louis *3.Kansas City 3.Atlanta *3.Seattle
4.Atlanta 4.Seattle 4.Carolina 4.Oakland
5.Carolina 5.San Diego 5.New Orleans 5.San Diego

East East East East
1.New York 1.Miami 1.Arizona 1.New England
2.Washington 2.New England 2.New York 2.Miami
3.Dallas 3.New York 3.Dallas 3.New York Jets
4.Arizona 4.Buffalo 4.Washington 4.Buffalo
5.Philidelphia 5.Indianapolis 5.Philadelphia 5.Indianopolis

MVP-Kordell Stewart MVP-Brett Favre
Rookie-Randy Moss Rookie-Randy Moss

Do drugs give McGwire an unfair edge?
An opinion

By Amar P.

Mark McGwire, the most famous baseball player in history at the moment, broke the major league record for the most home runs in a season on Tuesday, September 8, 1998, when he hit his sixty-second. Some people say McGwire and Sammy Sosa, of the Cubs, have brought baseball back from its post-strike slump with their home run derby this season. There, is, however, some shadow over McGwire's achievment because for over a year, McGwire has been using a drug, Androstenedion (pronounced andro-steen'-die-own).
Andro, as it is commonly known, is legal in major league baseball but banned by the NFL, the International Olympic Committee, and the NCAA. . Atheletes say Andro helps build muscles and improves their workouts. Doctors and others worry, however, that Andro will cause the same side effects as anabolic steroids, which are man-made versions of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Side-effects from steroids range from acne and premature baldness to irritability and mood swings. Long term side effects may include high blood pressure and kidney and liver problems.
Now, after reading about what McGwire uses to enhance his play, think about the fact that Sammy Sosa says the only daily pills he uses are his Flintstones vitamins. Do you think Andro gives McGwire an unfair edge? I do.

Going, Going, Gone!

By Bo P.

Dateline 9/24/98

Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are two names bound to be in the baseball Hall of Fame. 62 has been the big number in sports this year and every day, every game, hundreds of media people have shown up to catch a glimpse of history. My prediction for this year's outcome. I think that McGwire will beat Sosa by one homer, and end the season, 69-68.
If you are thinking about most valuable player awards, you have to consider Sammy Sosa as the National League's MVP because Sosa has done a great thing for baseball, the city of Chicago, and the Cubs, keeping them in contention for the playoffs. Sosa has also hit more RBI's this year than McGwire. Another major factor in the MVP race is that McGwire is a big man who hits big every year. Sosa on the other hand, was only an average home run hitter until this season. And yet in 1998, Sosa hit 20 homers in one month (June).
Ever since Sosa hit his historic 62nd and 63rd homers out of Wrigley Field and across Waveland Avenue, people have been waiting on Waveland and Sheffield Avenues to catch a ball, or at least a glimpse of Sammy Sosa's and Mark McGwire's historic home run race. McGwire has always been a great for baseball. That fateful day when McGwire skimmed his 62 homer over the left field wall in Bush Stadium and little Matt McGwire came running out to Mark touched the entire world. Roger Maris's record stood for more that 30 years. Regardless of who wins the race, the important thing is that the fans of baseball have been treated to a memorable season in 1998.

IS THIS UTAH'S YEAR?

By Matthew G.

In 1998, it will easier year for a team other than Chicago to win the NBA championship because the Bulls are falling apart. Of course, if Jordan and Pippen comeback it might be a different story. In the West, the Jazz will still be the best team. They have been to the finals two years in a row. Nothing has changed, same old players, same old coach. They will do very well. Their greatest strength is in their forwards, Karl Malone, Bryan Russell and Shannon Anderson. The other reason why the Jazz wins consistently is their great coaching.
Utah has a tough competitor in the Midwest, the San Antonio Spurs, who have played well against the Jazz. David Robinson and Tim Ducan work together awesomely and both get a lot of rebounds. San Antonio has other good players too. But the reason why they are so good is because of their defense. They have tall forwards and centers who block shots and get defensive rebounds. San Antonio may even have a shot at the finals. Minnesota is a good team too. They have great players like Stephon Marbury, Kevin Garnett and Tom Guliotta. The Timberwolves will keep getting closer and closer to the finals, because of their offense, which features quick breakaway plays, like Marbury to Garnett for an alley-oop. But they won't make it this year.
In the Pacific, the Los Angeles Lakers are all alone. They are awesome, with star players like Kobe Bryant, Eddie Jones and Shaq. Their guards are the best passers and scorers in their league. The Lakers promise to be great this year, and certainly have the potential to make the finals. There is still one team that might give the west trouble, however, the Phoenix Suns. They keep getting better and better. Did you know that when the Suns play a team a lot in the regular season, they usually win more than half of the games they play against that team? They will do pretty well, their coaching has improved and their defense has improved too. It's a tough battle in the West.
In the East, if Jordan and Pippen don't comeback, the Bulls are in trouble. In the Central division, the Pacers are a tough team. Larry Bird's coaching has helped a lot. They have improved their offense with great ball handling guards who shoot well. If the Bulls fold, the Pacers have it made. The Charlotte Hornets are also look to have a strong season. With guards Glen Rice and Vernon Maxwell, and forwards Anthony Mason and David Wesley, the Hornets could get farther than ever in the playoffs.
In the Atlantic division, the Miami Heat seem to be the strongest team again this year. Under Pat Riley's coaching, the Heat have improved their defense ,and if they just play tough, they will make the playoffs and have a chance for the finals. The New Jersey Nets are still young, and their talented players still need to work on their skills. If they do, they will earn themselves a better playoff spot.
In conclusion, the competition in the East doesn't look as tough as that in the West. Now you are wondering about the lockout. The lockout actually started July 1,1998. But if the players' union doesn't come up with an agreement, there will not be any basketball and these predictions won't matter much at all.