Vol. 4, No. 4 January, 2012 SPORTS X-TREME Lafayette Elementary School Washington, D.C. Tebow Time by Josh Taubman, 5JL At the beginning of the 2011-2012 season, Tim Tebow wasn’t even supposed to be the starter. But Tebow has emerged into the NFL and has made his way to the big time. But that’s not where we begin… Tim Tebow began his football career at the University of Florida and took over the starting job as a sophomore in 2007. Leading the Gators to a 9-3 record that year, Tebow earned the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first underclassman to do so. Tebow continued to roll in the 2008 season going 12-1 and winning the national championship over the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14, and was Tim Tebow with his successful in his senior year too. Heisman Trophy In 2010, the Denver Broncos selected Tim Tebow with the 25th pick in the draft, and he started the last three games of his rookie season, going 1-2. After the Broncos started off 1-4, 2011 looked like it was going to be yet another disappointing season. The Broncos’ coach decided to make Tebow the starter over Kyle Orton. In his first game as a starter in 2011, he rallied the Broncos in thrilling fashion over the Dolphins. He lost the next week but Tebow-ing then led the team to an amazing 7-game winning streak, putting the Broncos into the playoff mix after such a terrible start. The whole time Tebow had the support of a lot of people. The defense was stepping it up big time as well as the offense which were rallying to Tebow. Tebow’s #1 fan was also helping him out and that was John Elway, the greatest Broncos quarterback. And then there were the fans. (This reporter is one of these fans). They supported Tebow throughout the entire run filling the stands and buying his jersey. And then there was the Tebow-ing. After Inside scoring Tebow would get down on one knee and pray. As he got more popular fans started doing this, SX Exclusive: Meet Russell Wilson....................................2 too, and it became a media sensation. Best QBs of All Time............ 3 The Broncos ended the regular season with BCS Bowl Game.................................................4 three straight losses, and Tebow wasn’t playing so NFL OT Rules: Fair or Not?...............................5 great himself, but the team still made the playoffs. DC Dynasty Adds 11-year-old team Psats.......6 Tebow was ready to go. Cont’d p. 6 Superbowl Predictions: Giants or Pat..............7 SX Exclusive: MEET RUSSELL WILSON! by Jonathan Barnes, 5N Russell Wilson is one of the most amazing athletes in college sports today. Russell began his college sports career in 2007 at North Carolina State University where he played football and baseball. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies while in college. After playing college football and baseball at N.C. State, where he was also graduated, Russell transferred to the University of Wisconsin to finish his college football career. This year, Russell led the Wisconsin Badgers to a record of 11-2 and the Big Ten Championship. He threw for 3,175 yards, 33 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Russell recently announced that he is pursuing a career in professional football instead of baseball and entering the 2012 NFL Draft. Russell is following his father’s footsteps. Russell’s father briefly played in the NFL before attending law school at the University of Virginia. Recently, while preparing for the 2012 Senior Bowl, Russell took the time to sit down and answer a few questions for me. Jonathan Barnes: You played your last year of college football with Wisconsin, but you started playing college football with North Carolina State. Why did you leave N.C. State? Russell Wilson: I left N.C. State because I thought it was in the best interest of me and my family to leave due to being told I could not compete for the starting job any longer. JB: Why did you choose to play football at Wisconsin instead of playing at Auburn? RW: I chose Wisconsin because of the pro style of offense, the tradition, the coaches, and most importantly the players there. JB: How did you continue to play college football at Wisconsin after you graduated from N.C. State? What did you get your degree in? RW: Since I graduated in three years, NCAA rules allowed me to transfer and play right away. I got my degree from N.C. State in communications. I’m getting my Master’s degree from Wisconsin in higher education. JB: You played both football and baseball in college. You were drafted by the Colorado Rockies on June 8, 2010. How did you play both football and baseball in college and then in the minor leagues with the Colorado Rockies? RB: I was blessed and fortunate enough to receive full scholarships and be drafted high. The reason why I was able to do both though was because I was determined to be organized and on time with everything. JB: You just announced that you are not going to report for training camp with the Colorado Rockies. Why did you give up the opportunity to play in the major leagues to enter the NFL draft, when its more of a contact sport than baseball and you have a greater chance of getting injured, and you could have played with a really good player at the Rockies, Troy Tulowitski? RW: I am focusing on football because I believe this is where my true passion is for sports. I believe I can be a Hall of Fame football player. JB: What was your first favorite sport? RB: Baseball. JB: I am an Ohio State Buckeyes fan, but I followed you all year. What was your favorite play of the year? What was your greatest achievement this year? RW: Favorite play was Montee Ball throwing me a touchdown pass! Greatest achievement was breaking the NCAA passing efficiency record. (191.8) JB: What advice would you give to help a kid pursue his dream to play professional football? RW: Never settle. Always strive for greatness. JB: At what age did you start to play football and baseball? RW: I started playing both sports at around the age of four. JB: Thank you for taking the time to let us learn more about you. Good luck in the draft. 2 Best QBʼs of all Time by Peter Colevas, 5JL ! These QB"s are all Hall-of-Famers and are arguably the best or maybe not the best at this level. Sometimes it"s a matter of opinion. So. in reverse, order, here are my picks for the best five quarterbacks of all time. #5. Steve Young is at number five, weighing 215 pounds and standing 6"- 2"". He was drafted by Tampa Bay and then picked up by San Francisco to play there the rest of his career. In his career, he had 232 TD"s, 33,124 yards, 2,667 completions, and 107 interceptions. He was a very athletic QB that could really move in the pocket. His career passer rating was 96.8. Steve Young #4 John Elway weighs 215 pounds and stands at 6"-3.” After being drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the first round in "83, he was traded to the Denver Broncos and played his whole career there. With Denver he threw for 300 touchdowns, 51,475 yards, 8,123 completions, and only 226 interceptions. John"s fantastic trait was his mobility in the pocket. He had a 79.9 career passer rating. John Elway #3 Dan Marino is number three at 224 pounds and 6"-4"". He played his whole career with the Miami Dolphins and actually never won a Super Bowl! He racked up 420 touchdowns, 61,361 yards, 4967 completions, and 252 interceptions. He broke many passing records that are still waiting to be broken again. His career passer rating was 86.4. Dan Marino #2 Joe Montana is number two, weighing in at 200 pounds and standing 6"-2”. In his career he played 13 years with the 49ers and two with Kansas City. He heaved 273 touchdowns, threw for 40,551 yards, tossed 139 interceptions, and completed 3,409 passes. What sets Joe really away from the group is his four Super Bowl wins in ten years. His career passer rating is 92.3. Joe Montana #1 Johnny Unitas is number one, weighing 194 lbs and standing at 6"-1”. In his career with the Baltimore Colts he tossed 290 touchdowns, 40,239 yards, 2,930 completions, 253 interceptions. He also had 34 fourth-quarter comebacks, and that is second best of all time. His career passer rating is 78.2. ! I know I put numbers on these guys but no one really can. These are the best of the best, legends in the NFL. They will never be forgotten. Unitas--the best of the best--in his classic passer stance. 3 The BCS Bowl Games 2012 by Timothy Costello, 5N ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Alabama 21-LSU 0 This was the match-up that many sports journalists and college football fans didn’t want to see, as LSU had beaten Bama during the regular season. In this game, both teams never got their offenses going. At halftime the score was 9-0. When the third quarter came along, Alabama managed to score another two field goals, making it 15-0. Alabama went on to score a touchdown on the last play of the game, ending LSU’s winning streak and taking home the BCS National Championship.