INSIDE: A&E: Is originality dying in 3-D Hollywood? (see page 5) Serving the Archbishop Mitty Community Volume 20 Number 4 April 2011 Monarchs Win It ALL By Anay Dattawadkar & Arjun Ravishankar Sports Editors SACRAMENTO—In the storied history of Archbishop Mitty Athletics, suc- cess has become almost an expectation. As such, making history is not an easy thing. On March 25, 2011, however, the Men’s Basketball team did what no Mitty Boys team had ever done: They won a State Championship. Before this year, the Monarch Basket- ball team had won seven WCAL Champi- onships dating back to 1979, advancing to the State semifi nals twice. Both of these times, in 2007 and 2008, the Monarchs fell in the State title game. However, the Monarchs were not ready to let that hap- pen again this year. Behind sophomore Aaron Gordon’s dominating performance, the Monarchs defeated Summit High School 53-50 in a nail-biter that came down to the very last minute. Things did not look good to begin the game as the Skyhawks began with a 7-0 run. The Monarchs worked hard to get open shots, but just could not make them. As Coach Tim Kennedy puts it “After the strong start from Summit, I was think- Photo Courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez ing that even though they made a couple Archbishop Mitty’s Men’s Basketball team rejoices after winning the State Championship. of tough shots and beat us on a transition basket and a score off dribble penetration, own. The stage was set for a dramatic fi nish. As Younger says, “Since my teammates were having we just needed to stick to our game plan.” The Monarchs found themselves in deep foul trouble trouble making their shots, I knew I had to step up my game. Mitty, led my sophomore-sensation Gordon, was fi nally as senior guard Colin Wan, a key player on the offensive So, I was aggressive offensively and looked to score in any able to make something happen offensively, but it was obvi- side of the ball, ended up fouling out with two minutes left way possible to keep us in the game.” ous from the start that the matchup would be a tough one. in the game. Even worse, Gordon picked up his fourth foul And keep them in the game he did. On a night where Summit was led by power forward Dorian Cason, a early in the fourth quarter, forcing Coach Kennedy to sit it seemed the Monarchs could not catch a break from out- phenom in his own right. For a while, it seemed as if the his best player before he might foul out. side, the athletic forward drained several clutch midrange entire game was composed of Cason and Gordon going Senior Jason Anderson, Gordon’s replacement, played shots and was stellar on defense as well. Younger acted as back and forth, as both were dominant on both sides of the well in stretches, matching up with the bigger and stronger a stopper, stepping up with a key performance in the clutch. court. Gordon put up outstanding numbers, with 17 points Cason. Gordon left with the Monarchs up with six minutes Brandon White was responsible for handling the ball and a State championship-record 21 rebounds. But Cason to go in the game. The Skyhawks, sensing the Monarchs’ down the stretch and made a key free throw to put the responded , doing seemingly everything for Summit. As the weakness with Gordon sitting, went on a 9-2 run, tying the Monarchs up 51-50 with twenty seconds to go. However, fi rst half came to a close, the Monarchs led 26-19. game up at 50 with just under two minutes left. he missed the second of his two shots, and the Skyhawks The Monarchs began the second half impressively but Seniors Brent Younger and Brandon White would now had a fi nal possession with which to win the game... could never gain a comfortable separation from Summit, now play key roles as the game neared crunch-time. Younger who responded to each of Mitty’s shots with one of their especially stepped up in a very big way. see BASKETBALL in SPORTS on page 14 Looking Back: The Drowsy Chaperone By Tabitha Ahearn and Sankar Srinivasan time building the elaborate set. Staff Writers Senior Adrienne Eller says, “So many people are involved. Those who were able to experience Archbishop Mitty’s The The cast, the directors, and the crew work so hard to put the show Drowsy Chaperone, were treated to an exceptional rendition of up. It is a huge project.” the Broadway musical that debuted fi ve years ago. To bring the set plans to life, members of the Stage crew The show revolves around the animated narration of the devoted numerous hours to build the set. Though a lot of hard melancholy Man in Chair, who listens to the record of The work was involved, Stage Crew Manager, Senior Jenny Grich Drowsy Chaperone in order to cure his “blues.” The result is an remarks, “It was also very rewarding.” unforgettable sequence of impossible, yet hilarious events and It is through their dedication that the remarkable sets that memorable characters. Audiences were kept on the edge of their served as the foundation of the shows were created, and their seats waiting for the next laugh, not knowing whether it would work was highly praised by the Mitty community. come from the comical Man in Chair or one of the unique char- With The Drowsy Chaperone being the fi nal show of the acters in the musical he watches. year, it was the last for the numerous seniors. Many are torn Senior Trevor Bates, who portrayed the Man in Chair, calls between nostalgia for leaving their family in the Performing Arts the musical “quirky and jazzy,” and appreciates its “genius.” Department and the excitement of heading to college to continue Photos Courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez Preparations for the show began almost two months before their theater career elsewhere. George (Trent Brunngraber) the actual performances. Prior to opening night, actors were Grich refl ects, “I will miss the amazing cast and crew mem- and the Chaperone (Annie Donahey) found running through their lines, while crew members spent bers… we have had some amazing times together… [and] I will see DROWSY, page 16 OPINIONS Opposing Viewpoints: US Intervention in Libya A DUTY TO SAVE LIVES A SPIRAL OF DISASTER By Eugene Woo but poorly-equipped rebels of East Libya By Kunal Patel realize that we poured hundreds of billions Staff Writer easily overcame government opposition, Staff Writer of dollars down the drain, lost thousands of seeming unstoppable as the movement American lives, and ruined our relationships It’s understandable that some Ameri- spread west. The Libyan intervention is not the ide- with the other Middle Eastern countries. cans balk at the idea of military intervention Unfortunately, the desert, with its wide alistic liberation of oppressed people that Instead of promoting another skirmish in Libya. To be honest, American military swaths of open expanse, is tank territory, President Obama is trying to portray. In fact, that could possibly entangle America in intervention in the superpower era has a where infantry can barely hide from the the evidence suggests that the American another war, America should focus on the spotty track record of controversial hit- powerful armor and invincible planes. Had effort is driven by our own short-sighted sluggish economy and unemployment, at and-runs sponsored by corporate interests the UN not stepped in with a no-fl y zone, interests and doomed to create more prob- the very least. Instead of focusing on foreign and bloody guerrilla affairs that have little the movement would likely be over, with lems than it solves. issues, America should focus on rebuilding tangible results. Perhaps this has fostered in millions dead in the Libyan Desert. Just a If America were truly interested in the economy and strengthening the public the American people an inherent fear of the no-fl y zone halted Gadhafi ’s machines, and pursuing action against the oppression by school system. The outstanding debt of foreign governments of their people, we over $14 trillion dollars, is surely enough would be intervening in Bahrain and Yemen, cause to re-assess involvement in another where civilians are also being slaughtered. Middle-Eastern confl ict. Instead, our past and current efforts show In addition, by taking military action in that we will only interfere to protect our eco- Libya without the agreement of Congress, nomic interests and overthrow our enemies. Obama appears to be acting against the Like Iraq, Constitu- Libya has tion and oil, and “ Although Obama’s rhetoric illegally its current about freedom and protecting ci- grabbing leader power. Muammar vilians is noble, it is not support- While Gadhafi is ed by the United States’ historical running a sworn for presi- enemy of and continued actions. dent, the United ” Obama States just as Saddam Hussein was. With explicitly stated, “The President does not Bahrain and Yemen, on the other hand, we have power under the Constitution to unilat- support their oppressive regimes, so US erally authorize a military attack in a situa- intervention is not forthcoming. tion that does not involve stopping an actual Although Obama’s rhetoric about or imminent threat to the nation.” Now, as freedom and protecting civilians is noble, it president, Obama seems to be going back on words, “military intervention.” Especially once more the rebels were able to push back is not supported by the United States’ his- his words to exercise an expansion of power with the recent Iraq debacle, Americans Gadhafi ’s forces.