Category: Sports
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Fantasy sports gambling rocked by internal scandal
by:JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor The fantasy sports industry has risen to new heights in recent years with companies such as FanDuel and Draft Kings reaching unpredicted levels of popularity. But would fans still play if the games were rigged? The unregulated industry of fantasy sports recently was hit with allegations of what amounts to insider trading…
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NCAA rule violations could stop growth of SMU basketball program
by: STEVEN GEHEGAN/Staff Writer It recently was announced that National Collegiate Athletic Association has hit Southern Methodist University with sanctions. The head coach of the SMU men’s basketball team, Larry Brown, has been accused of academic misconduct and not reporting issues within the men’s basketball program. This is the third time a Brown- coached team…
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Use of steroids should be choice of athletes
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor The time has come to stop treating professional athletes like kids, and let them choose what is or isn’t put into their body. Since the early 1990s, the insertion of steroid testing into pro league agendas has led to some-big time headlines, suspensions, and the stripping or denial of great accomplishments.…
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English soccer clubs struggle in top European competition
by: NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant The most dominant English teams in Europe know the Barclays Premier League as the toughest soccer league in the world and call it home. With their dominance in tough competition, the country coefficient ranking has risen to number three in Europe. The country coefficient is a ranking system based on a…
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Rodeo teams finish strong in Vernon
by:NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant The South Plains College men’s and women’s rodeo teams had a great showing as half of the team placed in the top 10 in the recent competition at Vernon College. “We had 12 place back in the top 10,” said Kerry Doster, head coach of the rodeo teams. On the men’s side,…
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Cross country teams fare well against tough competition
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor The South Plains College men’s and women’s cross country teams showcased their skills in separate competitions for their third meet of the season. The men’s team headed to Stillwater, Okla., to compete in the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree on Sept. 26. The women’s team was in Hobbs, New Mexico on…
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Football players in controversy after hitting official
by: NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant In the state of Texas, football is not just a sport, it’s a religion. Small towns thrive on football, as their residents can’t wait for Friday to come as their team takes the field. There’s the bands playing, cheerleaders supporting their team to victory, the crowd cheering the team on, and…
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Fighter receives historic suspension for failed test
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor The Nevada State Athletic Commission made history earlier this month by handing down an unprecedented suspension for a violation some would call questionable. Nick Diaz, a well known UFC fighter, made the mistake of testing positive for marijuana in 2014 before his bout with Anderson “The Spider” Sylva at UFC 183.…
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Unnecessary games, weak opponents raise debate in NCAA football
by: STEVEN GEHEGAN/Editorial Assistant The start of the college football season is finally here. That means there will be, and have been many games where schools from the Football Bowl Subdivision playing teams from the Football Championship Subdivision. This needs to stop, for several reason the teams from the top Division do not need to…
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Rodeo teams have strong performances in first outing
by: PAMELA GANDY/Editorial Assistant The South Plains College rodeo teams started their season with a successful first rodeo in Portales, New Mexico. The SPC men’s rodeo team has 16 members, five sophomores and 11 freshmen. The team’s sophomores include Michael Benavides from Tatum, N.M.; Jose Domenigo from Citra, Fla.; Shane Hancock from Fountain Green, Utah;…
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Cross country teams dominant at Abilene Christian Invitational
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor After a strong start to their season the South Plains College men’s and women’s cross country teams kept the momentum going at the Abilene Christian Invitational. The teams returned to Abilene on Sept. 18 for the second meet in a row to compete at the ACU Invitational. The Texans continued their…
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Athletes with concussions risk further injury returning to play too soon
by: STEVEN GEHEGAN/Staff Writer In recent years, no injury has gotten the attention of the public than concussions in football. Former National Football League players have been suffering from depression and memory loss, and some even have been driven to end their lives. With all of the problems the NFL and the National Collegiate Athletic…
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Cross country teams have strong performances in season opened
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor The South Plains College men’s and women’s cross country teams picked up were they left off in 2014, kicking off their season with a victory at the Bill Libby Invitational meet in Abilene. The SPC men’s cross country team didn’t miss a step in their first race of the season on…
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Baylor transfer sparks reform in NCAA rules
by: NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant This college football off-season has been headlined with new coaches going to big-name programs, player suspensions and player transfers. With the new transfer rules this season, all incoming transfers across college football have to wait to step onto the field for a year. But some transferred for the wrong reasons and…
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Rousey dominance impacts growth of sport
by:JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor In the past five years, MMA fighter Ronda Rousey has been rocketed to stardom by her pure dominance of the women’s division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But is her dominance really what women’s professional MMA needs? In 2012, Rousey signed a professional contract with the UFC, making her the first woman…
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Preseason hurts teams as key players out with injuries
by: NICOLE TRUGILLO/Editor-in-Chief Football season has begun, but some fans aren’t too happy about the outcome so far. Preseason games aren’t that exciting, but it gives fans a chance to see their favorite NFL team in action. But how can you enjoy watching players of your favorite team suffering injuries after injuries? While watching one…
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New athletic trainer excited for environment at SPC
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor Suzy Ghattas comes to South Plains College hoping to make an impact this semester, as the new assistant athletic trainer. Ghattas, who is originally from California, attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. After earning her degree from UCLA, Ghattas traveled…
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Herring, Kimball ready to help regain recognition for Lady Texans
by: NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant This season, the South Plains College women’s basketball team will have two new assistant coaches alongside new head coach Cayla Petree. New assistant coach Kyle Herring looks to take on this new challenge as he helps bring the Lady Texans back to the national spotlight. “I’ve had 19 years of coaching…
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New assistant basketball coach excited about team potential
by: NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant As the new basketball season approaches, the South Plains College men’s basketball team has a new assistant basketball coach. Jase Herl, a Goodland, Kan. native, is ready to take on this new task ahead. “I have been coaching for five years in my career,” Herl said. “I’m excited to coach this…
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Vance excited to start first year as new assistant track coach
by: JOSHUA RAMIREZ/Sports Editor Eric Vance recently became the new assistant track coach this summer, following the departure of former long-time assistant coach Blaine Wiley. Wiley left SPC after a 10-year stint to join the track and field program as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama. In his time at SPC, Wiley helped…