Schuylkill League Finals, More Pictures from Martz Hall

Marc Persing at the foul line

Tyler lets a trey fly

Shamokin Area left the Schuylkill League in fine fashion on Friday night with a fourth quarter come-from-behind win over North Schuylkill. Marc Persing, Shamokin's lone senior, came up big in the fourth quarter.


It was a big weekend for the Voice in basketball. On Friday, witnessed Marian (girls) and Shamokin (boys) win their respective championships. Saturday morning, watched son clinch a CYO playoff series in Danville. Saturday night, after a three hour busride, watched Bucknell fail to take over sole possession of first place in the Patriot League losing to Navy, 78-72. Sunday was capped off by making the trip to Selinsgrove. Susquehanna women lost a one-point game 59-58 heartbreaker, while the men topped Catholic U., 74-61.


Hats of off to the Mount Carmel Wrestling squad which went 2-2 at the PIAA team duels.

Get Well Coach Flannery!!!

Two "Psojka Psychoes" extend get well wishes to Bucknell head coach Pat Flannery. Coach Flannery left Wednesday's game in the second half.

Bucknell 73, Holy Cross 65

Bucknell`s Justin Castleberry scored 22 points and Steven Tyree broke a 46-46 tie to ignite a 12-4 run in the final minutes Friday night to defeat Holy Cross 73-65.

If you want to read about "hell" or the place that substitutes as a gym for Holy Cross. read the account by Tom Housenick in the Daily-Item.

read more digg story

Selinsgrove vs. MCA

Two weeks ago, this game was a "must win" if you were a Mount Carmel Red Tornado. With a big win over Pottsville on Saturday, Mount Carmel punched a spot in the District IV playoffs. This week's game will only count toward seedings for the Red Tornadoes and a possible home game in the first round. While every new edition of Mount Carmel is compared to champions of yesteryear, this team continues to make strides every week. At 6-3 after nine weeks, throw the Chichester game away. The other losses to Lancaster Catholic and Southern Columbia now have a combined record of 16-2.

From what I have seen this season, Mount Carmel in some shape or form will give up 14 points to Seals. The Red Tornadoes have had problems at Selinsgrove not winning there since 1997 and have only beat Selinsgrove once since 1999. For some reason, the "35" defense of Selinsgrove has given Mount Carmel fits especially trying to establish a consistent ground game. Defensively, the Seals rely on Nate Gingrich, Matt Ritter, and Bryce Auker. In the game against Shamokin the Seals were bringing 4 or 5 on the rush with little success. Marc Persing nearly set a Shamokin school record for passing. Selinsgrove though have proved they could win in a shootout or when they were statistically dominated like against Montoursville.

On the defensive side, the Red Tornadoes have been vulnerable to the deep pass all season long. The Seals have a good fullback in Seth Lauver, but injuries have hurt the tailback spot. Quarterback Eric Deckard is emerging from a slump and Matt Ritter could catch anything up for grabs in Snyder County. Still, I believe the Seals will manage two scores.

So here is the outlook. Mount Carmel has enough on the defensive side of the ball to win. It will depend on how the Red Tornadoes handle the "35" defense of Selinsgrove once again. Mount Carmel can't get down early. The Seals defense usually play at their best when they are ahead best. The five linebackers cause the most havoc in this situation. Selinsgrove have four really good seniors in Auker, Deckard, Gingrich and Ritter. Will it be enough? I think the X and O's are the same along with the Jimmy's and Joe's. Look for the Seals to come out on top in a close one at home with the four seniors leading the way.

BUCKNELL FOOTBALL

With one home game left on November 10th with Lehigh, Southern Columbia's Ryan Slater didn't have a bad game against the pass happy Holy Cross Crusaders. The senior had nine tackles, a sack and interception.

COLORADO ROCKIES

Who said the couch isn't good for anything. While flipping through some channels the other night on television, I tuned into the ninth inning of the Colorado-Expos game on April 9th, 1993 at Mile High Stadium on ESPN Classic. I remember a friend and contemporary in my youth baseball days played for the Expos in 1993. Frank Bolick of Mount Carmel came up with the Expos in 1993 with a wealth of other talented players like Mike Lansing, Sean Berry and Greg Colbrunn. Although I only watched the ninth inning, I pulled the box score from the Rockies first win as a franchise. I was interested in seeing if Bolick had played earlier in the game. Bolick was 1 for 4 at the plate, but had three errors in the field. A box score won't say if the errors led to any runs, but with an 11-4 win by the Rockies you can say Bolick may have a hand in the Colorado win that day.

All joking aside, Bolick went on to have 15 seasons in professional baseball and had his best professional years in Japan from 1999 to 2002. In 1998, Bolick resurrected his career by making the roster of the Anaheim Angels as a non-roster invitee to spring training that season.

A little side note to this game was that Pottsville's Chris Nabholtz was also in the stadium that day.

Penn State Alum and Bucknell Cyclist in the news.

MOH LT. MURPHY

Adam Kahler

Penn State grad gets posthumous Medal of Honor

By DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press


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WASHINGTON (AP) — The first Medal of Honor awarded for combat in Afghanistan will be presented Monday to the family of a Navy SEAL from Long Island, N.Y, who gave his life to make a radio call for help for his team.
President Bush is to present the nation’s highest military honor for valor to the family of Lt. Michael Murphy, a Penn State graduate from Patchogue, N.Y.

Read rest of the article here.

FORMER BUCKNELL CYCLIST INJURED

From the Daily Item:

By Rob Scott The Daily Item

MILTON -- A 22-year-old man suffered a severe spinal injury when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle along Route 405 at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.
Adam Kahler, of Millmont, was riding his bike south near Robbins Marine in West Chillisquaque Township, Northumberland County, along with 19-year-old Jeffrey Salvitti and 21-year-old Michael Chauner, both of West Chester, when he was struck by Betty Hackenberg, 82, of Winfield, while she was driving south in her Chrysler Cirrus, according to state police at Milton.
The collision forced Mr. Kahler's bike to strike Mr. Salvitti and Mr. Chauner, a report said.
A helicopter landed in a nearby parking lot and took Mr. Kahler to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. His condition was unavailable Sunday night.
Mr. Salvitti and Mr. Chauner suffered minor injuries and were not taken to a hospital. Ms. Hackenberg was uninjured.
State police were assisted at the scene by the Milton Fire Department.
Traffic had to be directed around the scene of the accident for several minutes while officers gathered information.
The accident is still under investigation, police said

Kahler was past president of Bucknell Cycling and was from nearby Millmont. As a person who cycle's 500 miles or more a summer, please be very conscious of the riders out on the road and have patience. Cycling is club sport at Bucknell and the team is very competitive. Kahler according to a Bucknell website was part of the class of 2007. Michael Chauner was also listed as a member of the Bucknell Cycling Club.

Media and the Citizen in Electing the POTUS

A panel of national political correspondents from some of the country's most influential print, broadcast, and online news sources discussed the role that media play in shaping the presidential election and the issues affecting the race before a packed Trout Auditorium at Bucknell University on Thursday night, Oct. 18.




In the panel discussion, "Media and the Citizen's View of the Presidential Campaign," the six journalists said that the Iraq war and national security will continue to be the key issues of the campaigns, which are being managed and reported differently because of the growing influence of the Internet.




The panel was David Chalian of ABC News, Nedra Pickler of The Associated Press, David Greene of National Public Radio, Roger Simon of The Politico.com, Karen Tumulty of Time, and John Harwood of The Wall Street Journal. Bucknell Dean of Arts and Sciences Chris Zappe was the moderator. Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times was originally scheduled but did not attend the event.

THE WAR IN IRAQ

Roger Simon's comments about candidates from both sides believe the war was wrong, but differ on where do we go from here. A candidate who wins nomination is one that will generate or show a sign of strength.

YOUTUBE AND THE BLOGS

Nedra Pickler of the AP said the blogs are either left or right, there doesn't seem to be one in the middle. John Harwood said the news delivery business model is changing while Karen Tumulty said the blogs don't motivate voters due to readers already establishing positions. Simon came in with there are no small moments anymore and speaking to the press is high risk. David Greene added how he seen "Obama lapel flag" grow from something small to something huge in a matter of days.

CORPORATE MEDIA

Simon talked about newspapers still make 11% profit on average, but still have to answer to shareholders that want to see 25%. Tumulty talked about the Boston Globe closing down their foreign new bureaus. David Chalian of ABC News said that he never had "Mickey Mouse" make an editorial decision for his department. The Disney Company owns ABC.

RAPID FIRE

In a rapid fire yes/no response to four questions, the panel pretty much agreed that the Electoral College was still needed, the country was ready for a woman president, money was needed to run for president and the election cycle will continue to be this long.

THE STUDENTS

When the audience and students had a chance to address the panel. Harwood said most of the media bias left of center or so perceived is that most of the journalist that come into the system with youth and high ideals. While Simon asked the students how many subscribed to newspapers. More students got their political news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. If student read any news most got it online. One student said he has a terrible view of politicians due to the way they are portrayed by the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. Tumulty added that in an average students age group they don't have a vested interest. In the biggest turnout in any election was 18 year olds were given the right to vote and there was a draft in the same year. Pickler said the Obama campaign is spending much time and resources on the 18-24 age group. She said if he can't motivate the age group in this election no one can.

QUESTIONS AFTER

I had the opportunity to talk to Tumulty and Simon after the forum. I asked Simon if there is better scrutiny for Iran in 2007 versus Iraq in 2002. He concluded that if this administration would have a real "threat" or impeachment might be back on the table for a strike to take place against Iran. Gathering hard facts and interpreting them have not been this administration's strengths.

Tumulty was so sad to see news bureaus close around the world. Her company has closed it's Mexico City and Moscow bureaus and relies solely on stringers. This is where the people are feeling the effects of corporate media.

Tim Russert Speaks at Bucknell but Silent to Local Press

Long time host of NBC's "Meet the Press" and best selling author, Tim Russert was the first guest of "The Bucknell Forum: The Citizen & Politics in America," a national speakers series examining issues in the 2008 presidential election.

A scheduling conflict with cancer advocacy kept me away from the event. However, I was surprised that Russert did not take any questions from the local press before the event. In 2005, Chris Matthews of NBC's "Hardball" spoke to the same university and answered my questions regarding the upcoming "Leakgate, Plamegate" investigation.

Here is the Bucknell release and podcast of the event.

Bob Woodward to address Bucknell University

This weekend Bob Woodward will address Bucknell University. Which Woodward will show up? The one above who views news as a commodity or the former journalist we see below?

What a Fortnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't posted some original material in a long time, but it has been an incredible two weeks on the local, state, and national scenes.

THE GOOD

Carm DeFrancesco is hired by Upper Dauphin to be the head football coach.

Bucknell's Chris McNaughton is named scholar-athlete for the third consecutive year.

The New York Yankees are in last place.

Three former members of the Duke Lacrosse team have all charges dropped. Applaud the North Carolina State AG's office. The lacrosse team had the ways and means to defend themselves. To be fair, does minority America have the same chance? Ask yourself.


THE BAD

Cardinal Brennan standout softball pitcher, Cori Kushwarra, was killed in auto accident.

Spring snow dumps 9 inches on elevations, driving conditions the worse in recent years. Thank you PennDOT management.

Don Imus fired. Hypocrisy at it's finest. I did find out that I am now in a demographic that consider's me old. Ouch!!!!!!!!!!


THE UGLY

Cho.......no need to say more.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft Speaks at Bucknell University

The former US Attorney General, John Ashcroft, spoke to about an audience of students and spectators at Bucknell University. Ashcroft's new book, Never Again: Securing America and Restoring Justice, is out on the market.

While most of the lecture focused on the 9/11 and the Patriot Act, Ashcroft didn't really offer any insights to America's problems after he left the Justice Department. At times he sounded like Sean Hannity, while at other time he seemed to be offering testimony.

If anything one issue that the audience was concerned about was immigration. One protecting our borders. Two, while only admitting 700 Iraqi's last year, what will become of their 500,000 refugees. This was the most insightful question of the night by the audience.

In a bold statement of the night, Ashcroft said this current administration has shown the most restraint of any administration regarding civil rights in time of war. From the elephant talking point, Ashcroft indicated what Roosevelt, Clinton, Wilson, Lincoln and Washington did in times of war.

Ashcroft's successor Alberto Gonzales even said Washington loved electronic surveillance.

10 Things I wanted to say or ask.

1.) Why weren't recommendations of the 9/11 commission adopted?

2.) Why was Senate confirmation bypassed for US Attorney's in the Patriot Act?

3.) Why was more spent on Whitewater (70 million) than 9/11 (13 million).

4.) If we have a FISA court why was it being bypassed?

5.) Who decides who is an enemy combatant?

6.) Where have you gone, habeus corpus?

7.) Will you try for appointed or elected office again?

8.) Where is Osama Bin Laden? Work on this with Rumsfeld.

9.) Please don't joke about WMD's over 3100 good men and women lost their lives because of it.

10.) Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither liberty or security - Ben Franklin