The crowd erupted as Flo Rida entered through the back doors. He raised his fist up to acknowledge them as the cheers continued until he grabbed his microphone. But this was not one of his concerts, it was a charity basketball game at Richard Montgomery High School.
With Principal Darryl Williams in attendance, Blair's girls' basketball team (12-11) took out the Sherwood Warriors (4-18) 64-48 in the opening round of the playoffs. The Blazers advance into the second round and will face either the Blake Bengals or the Walter Johnson Wildcats on Tuesday, March 3 at Blair.
Blair's girls' basketball team (11-11) played a strong game on their senior night to gain momentum heading into the playoffs. The Blazers were able to shutdown the winless Wheaton Knights (0-22) with full court press and cause numerous turnovers, leading to an easy 75-40 win.
On March 4, 2008, Brett Favre declared his retirement from the NFL. But when the 2008 - 2009 season rolled around, there was Favre in a New York Jets jersey. After an up-and-down season, Favre is calling it quits again. On Feb. 11, Favre announced his retirement from the Jets and the league. And this time, it looks like we won't be seeing Favre in a uniform again.
On Nov. 24, the Wizards fired then-head coach Eddie Jordan in the wake of a 1-10 start to the season. Interim head coach Ed Tapscott took over in hopes to turn around the team before it was too late. But Tapscott has only managed a 10-30 record as the Wizards have the worst record in the NBA.
The last weekend of games before the big game is here. Philly and Arizona squars off to determine who wins the NFC, and Baltimore and Pittsburgh duel to decide which AFC North team will win the AFC title.
The NFL playoffs kicked off last week with a great set of games. The Cardinals exerted their dominance over rookie Matt Ryan and the Falcons. The Chargers knocked the Colts out in overtime. The Ravens forced Miami into five turnovers even though the Dolphins entered the game with the fewest turnovers in the league. The Eagles spooked the league with a stellar defensive performance against the Vikings.
The BCS may not have a playoff system, but the NFL sure does. Wildcard games kickoff this weekend with four matchups. The Chargers defeated the Broncos on Sunday night to get a playoff spot and the Dolphins beat the New York "Bretts" for the other AFC playoff spot.
An up and down college football season is coming to an end with the annual bowl games. The Oklahoma Sooners and Florida Gators are set to square off for the national title. We here at SCO hope that our coverage of the BCS bowl games and the FedEx National Championship Game will help hardcore college football fans and newcomers as well.
The Redskins' playoff chances are dying quickly, but they're not dead yet. The Skins need to win out and get tremendous help from other teams to get the final wild card spot. It's not impossible, but it is much more difficult following a loss to the Bengals.
High off the energy of a three-game win streak to open the season, the boys' varsity basketball team (3-1) was brought back to Earth at the hands of the Wootton Patriots (1-3) Tuesday night. The Patriots led the entire game and used their stifling defense to hold the Blazers to just one and four points in the first and fourth quarters respectively.
The girls' varsity basketball team (3-0) was able to stop a strong rally by the Northwood Gladiators (0-2) to defeat their University Boulevard rival Friday night, 58-55. The Lady Blazers, coming off of two double-digit wins to open the season, used clutch free-throw shooting and scrappy defense down the stretch to hang on for the win.
The Redskins' playoff hopes are diminishing quickly as they have fallen deep into an offensive slump, epitomized by their loss to the Ravens last Sunday. At the same time, running back Clinton Portis is lashing out against coach Jim Zorn for not giving him enough touches late in the game.
Drama was in New York this week as Plaxico Burress's season has effectively ended following a four-game suspension from the Giants' front office. Burress may have more troubles ahead with a bigger authority: the law.
After a short week of school, students get a long Thanksgiving weekend to eat heartily, be with family and watch football. The NFL scheduled three games for turkey day and the rest at normal times. However, us experts take Thanksgiving as a break and therefore did not pick those three games.
After more than five years of service to Washington, the Wizards repaid head coach Eddie Jordan by firing him on Tuesday after the team's 1-10 start to the season. Jordan is replaced by interim head coach Ed Tapscott, the former head coach at American University. Team president Ernie Grunfeld said he "felt it was time to make a change" - but Jordan was not the problem with the Wizards.
This last week in the NFL saw the Titans continue their undefeated streak, the Lions continue their defeated streak, the Skins fall to the Cowboys and the Eagles and Bengals tie. Tie? Yes, apparently games can end in ties. It was the first tie in the NFL since the 2002 season.
For the first time since 1999, the Washington Wizards have started off 1-7 and are without star guard Gilbert Arenas. Arenas received a huge contract in the offseason, as did forward Antawn Jamison to keep the big three of Jamison, Arenas and forward Caron Butler together for another few seasons. So with the season still young, Silver Chips Online is here to give Washington fans a little preview of what to expect from the Wiz this season.
The Skins are back after their bye week and welcome with them ex-Raider cornerback DeAngelo Hall. However, concerns over an injury to Clinton Portis could spoil his welcoming and make a victory for Washington harder as they take on Dallas at FedEx Field.
Over four years of high school, most students have the chance to attend at least one sporting event, if not many. And every time, students hear this message: "An important mission of the interscholastic athletics program is to teach and reinforce values relating to sportsmanship, competition, and fair play. It is expected that team personnel, parents, and spectators respect this mission by exhibiting appropriate behavior at athletic events," or something of that nature. Yet an incident at a varsity boys' soccer game this year defied those expectations.
Maryland has a reason to finally acknowledge Blair's cross country team. Senior co-captain Rutvij Pandya ran the race of his life and placed fourth in the Maryland Class 4A Championships. His time of 16:56 was also good enough to tie for 8th in all classes – 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A.
Brady Quinn made his NFL debut on Thursday night against the Broncos and he did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the unsure hands of Kellen Winslow (and other factors) cost the Browns the game. All three of our experts picked correctly, giving them a 1-0 record in week 10 action so far.
Although the Homecoming finale to the season did not go as planned in a 41-33 loss to Springbrook Friday night, Blair's varsity football team was able to walk off the field with their heads held high. Just one year removed from a disastrous 0-10 season, the Blazers surprised everyone as they churned out their best start to the season in 44 years en route to a respectable 5-5 finish. Along the way, Blair even shocked defending 3A state champion Damascus (7-3) in a 28-26 Halloween night overtime thriller.
Welcome to an early edition of SCO's NFL predictions. Thanks to the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos, football fans get an early dose of action on Thursday night. Our regular recap of last week will come in the full edition of this week's picks in the next few days, but to get you started, let's see how our experts fared last week.
Going into the 4A West regional meet on Thursday, both the boys' and girls' cross country teams were hoping to qualify for the state meet. But both teams struggled as the girls' team finished in eighth and the boys' team finished in tenth, both over 40 points behind the team ahead of them. The one bright spot from the meet is that senior co-captain Rutvij Pandya qualified for the state meet individually with a ninth place finish.
The Tennessee Titans continue to impress. Their latest victims: the Indianapolis Colts. A 7-0 start is unprecedented for the growing franchise. Who knows where it will take them - maybe to the Super Bowl with the currently 6-2 Redskins? The Skins take on the Steelers on Monday Night Football before heading into their bye week.
Another tumultuous week for Dallas finds the Cowboys falling at the hands of the Rams, who have now knocked off two NFC East powers in a row. Brett Favre has been accused of telling the Lions how to beat the Packers. Well, it didn't help them if he did. But the main stories coming into week eight are injuries. The Patriots lost two starters and the Saints lost a star running back. On a positive note, the Eagles get back Bryan Westbrook this week.
Coming off an undefeated season and a Division III championship, both the boys' and girls' cross country teams represented Blair well at the Montgomery County Championships on Saturday. The boys' team finished 12th in the county with an average time of 17:33 and the girls' team finished ninth with an average time of 21:20. Many of the runners showed large improvement from the beginning of the season and hope to show even more improvement at the regional meet on Thursday, Oct. 30. The finishes secured Blair a spot in Division II next season.
The NFC East was once thought to be untouchable, but then week six happened. The previously undefeated Giants fell to the then-one-win Browns. Our hometown Redskins fell to the then-winless Rams. And the Cowboys fell to the Cardinals in overtime. The Eagles were able to dispose of the 49ers.
Blair's varsity football team was unable to stop the passing game of the Wootton Patriots Thursday night, falling 36-7 and dropping their third straight game. The Blazers are 3-4 on the season after starting 3-1.
Blair's varsity football team found themselves outclassed by an undefeated Sherwood squad Friday night, scoring their only touchdown in the final minutes of a 35-7 loss. The Blazers were unable to match the dominating offensive firepower of the Warriors (6-0), who put up two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters for 28-0 halftime lead. Blair was without head coach Jeffery Seals, who missed his second straight game due to illness but is expected to return for next week's match at Wootton, according to assistant coach Bryan Nance.
And then there were two. The Bills fell last week, leaving only the Giants and the Titans with perfect records so far. Our hometown Redskins are not far off with a 4-1 record after winning four straight games, two of which were division road games. This week, the Skins tackle the winless Rams in what should be an easy match up, but crazy things happen in the NFL. In other league news, "Pacman" Jones is in trouble once again and his career hangs in the balance.
A year ago, varsity football was winless (like we need to be reminded). This year, the team ended that 11-game losing streak by opening the season with two staggering wins, including a 41-12 domination of a game over Northwood. Yeah. They now sit at 3-1 and are looking strong with their most positive start in decades.
Washington celebrated last week as the 'Skins marched into Texas Stadium and took care of the Cowboys with Santana Moss showing what he can do when he's healthy. The Broncos' undefeated streak ended at the hands of the then-winless Chiefs. But a new week brings new match-ups to keep an eye on. The hometown Redskins head to Philly for another division battle against the possibly Brian Westbrook-less Eagles. The Titans and Ravens square off in a battle of tough defenses as the Titans try to remain undefeated along with the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills.
The Blair varsity football team scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a traditionally strong Whitman program Friday night, 13-7. The Blazer defense The Blazers improve to 3-1 on the season, their best start since 1964.
Another week brought another Redskins victory, but also left many big-name players out for a few games. Jeremy Shockey, Willie Parker, Dawan Landry and Jason Taylor will all miss this week and possibly more. Also in the NFC East, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress has been suspended for two weeks for violating team rules, though a bye week for the Giants means he will only miss one game during week five.
Another week into the season and coach Jim Zorn has his first win as a head coach, in thrilling fashion too. Meanwhile, rookie safety Chris Horton looked good on the field, reminding some of the late Sean Taylor. A disputed call gave Denver a victory over San Diego as the Broncos went for two in the closing seconds instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game. Who does that? The Vikings are now 0-2 and the Packers are 2-0. And Matt Cassel knocked off Brett Favre's Jets, showing he is a suitable starter in place of the injured Tom Brady.
Only one week into the season and so much has happened already. Tom Brady is out for the season with a knee injury and is replaced by career-backup Matt Cassel. Brett Favre showed he can still play in his Jets debut. The Bears crushed the Colts with Kyle Orton at the helm. And our hometown Redskins got off to a slow start as the west coast offense looked more like it should have stayed in the west. But a new week brings new match-ups and another chance for the Redskins.
The Blair cross country team looked good at the Woodward Relays held at Georgetown Preparatory School on Monday, with the boys' team placing fourth overall in a field of 12 and the girls' team placing fifth out of a field of nine teams. The boys' pair of senior co-captain Rutvij Pandya and senior Greg Vogel placed second behind Walter Johnson's pair of Sean O'Leary and Roni Teich.
As school begins to pick up, sports fans will find some solace on weekends and Monday nights with the NFL season ready to kick off! Adrian Peterson is back to dominate, Brett Favre returns for another season following a soap opera offseason and the hometown Skins look to use new head coach Jim Zorn's West Coast offense to turn heads in the NFC. Thursday starts what promises to be an NFL season with many stories and many glories.
The Washington Nationals may be last in the NL East with a losing record, but at least they have one thing going for them this season: their new stadium. Located right along the Anacostia River, Nationals Park seats nearly 42,000 and is designed for the comfort of the modern fan.
On May 3, Blair's independent ultimate frisbee club, Homecooked Frisbee, won the state title for ultimate frisbee. The Blazers entered into and won the Mixed Division in a tournament held for all Maryland high school teams at the Banneker Recreation Center in Catonsville, Maryland.
Real world experience has long been considered one of the best ways to prepare for life beyond high school. But as the struggle of scoring competitive internship and work programs mounts, students are often left to sort through this puzzle themselves. The capstone program - just one year old - provides students with the guidance they need to venture on personal academic journeys that will enrich them beyond the classroom.
The Blair coed volleyball team (7-5) handily defeated the Wheaton Knights in straight games 25-14, 25-18 and 26-24 for a successful senior night on Monday. Although deadlocked early in each game, the Blazers showed their superiority in long runs to close out games: a 12-0 streak to end the first, 7-0 to finish the second and a 13-2 rally out of a ten-point hole to end the night.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, April 30 – The Blair (5-5) coed volleyball team defeated the Kennedy Cavaliers in straight games, 25-8, 25-14 and 25-17 on Tuesday. The Blazers dominated with excellent serving, racking up a total of 19 aces throughout the match.
The Blair coed volleyball team (4-5) fell to the Wootton Patriots in straight games on Monday, 25-17, 25-14 and 25-22. The Blazers failed to communicate well on the court numerous times, but still gave the Patriots a good fight with some strong stretches of play. Head coach Greg Franklin was once again unable to make it to the match and boys' volleyball head coach Chris Liang again filled in. This was just the first home loss for the Blazers this season.
The fan's excitement of the NFL seemed to die down a few days after the New York Giants stunned the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, but the fun for management around the league had just begun. The annual, two-day NFL draft takes as much strategy as it does to run an offense except there's less room for error. With expected contracts rocketing up as high as $70 million, the futures of teams already struggling to succeed are at stake. But the players get just as jittery, knowing that the difference between rounds and picks could be millions of dollars. Right now, only OT Jake Long of Michigan has been guaranteed his draft position. We'll give you a look at other former college stars trying to hit the jackpot this weekend.
The Blair (4-2) coed volleyball team beat the Northwest Jaguars in straight games, 25-13, 25-20 and 25-18. Boys' volleyball head coach Chris Liang filled in for head coach Greg Franklin who was unable to attend the game. While the Jaguars kept it close with great serving, the Blazers responded well to Jaguar scoring runs.
Students in Blair's reading program will now be required to take a full year of reading classes in their freshman and sophomore years, in addition to one semester of a reading class in their junior year, according to Reading Department resource teacher Amy Bottomley. Juniors should have received sufficient instruction in reading by their second semester, according to Bottomley.
The Blair (2-1) coed volleyball team beat the Einstein Titans in straight games, 25-12, 25-9, 25-17 with Principal Darryl Williams in attendance. However, junior Carlos Arana was injured in the third game and may miss the Blazer's next game.
Coed volleyball (1-1) defeated the Watkins Mill Wolverines in straight games on Monday, 25-5, 25-17 and 25-21. Good communication and serving helped the Blazers in their victory while the Wolverines were often plagued by careless errors.
In the preseason polls, they were the top four ranked teams. When the NCAA men's tournament began, they were the four number one seeds. And now they make up the Final Four. UCLA, Kansas, UNC, and Memphis have stayed atop the college ranks all season, but only one will be crowned the champion. If you can't understand Dick Vitale, then Silver Chips Online is the place for all your Final Four needs.
Ever since the success of the "Scary Movie" franchise, producers have tried to create spoofs of other film genres. While creations such as "Epic Movie," "Date Movie" and "Meet the Spartans" have failed to garner any laughs from the audience, "Superhero Movie" does provide some humor - just not enough.
Students for Global Responsibility (SGR) is implementing two new programs designed to make Blair a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly school, according to SGR sponsor George Vlasits. They plan to begin by reducing electricity usage by installing new lamps and by removing light bulbs from fixtures and then move on to a continuation of the recycling programs established earlier this fall. The plans will be carried out during the remainder of this week and over spring break.
The girls' varsity basketball team (5-18) fell to the Walter Johnson Wildcats (7-16) in the first round of the regional playoffs. The Blazers fought hard on defense and executed well on offense, but the Wildcats picked it up in the second half, going on to win by a score of 62-44.
Physical education teacher Robert McMahon and varsity lacrosse coaches Robert Gibb and Michael Horne are organizing after-school workout sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays for all athletes who wish to play on a Blair sports team during the spring season. The sessions are held outside on the track at 3 p.m., weather permitting, or in the weights room and will lead up to the start of the spring sports season on March 1, according to McMahon and Gibb.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Feb. 14 – The Blazers (4-12) fell to the defending Regional 3A champion Paint Branch Panthers (17-0) in a one-sided match, 67-30.
The National Basketball Association's All-Star Weekend is a gathering of the league's most able athletes, who ignore team ties to entertain basketball's enthusiastic fans. This year the events take place in New Orleans, a rebuilding city finding solace supporting the city's many successful sports teams. Here's our guide on what to expect in the many competitions in store for this weekend.
Another season in the National Basketball Association is reaching the half-way point and already so much has happened. The Boston Celtics are the team to beat after getting left heartbroken in the draft. But trades remain the big story this season. Kobe Bryant remains with the Lakers, who along with former Memphis star Pau Gasol are turning into a force in the West. Shaq and Shawn Marion have switched teams, leaving fans trying to grasp the thought of Shaq running the floor with the Suns' fast break offense. And now Jason Kidd may be leaving the Nets for Dallas. With the All-Star game fast approaching, we give you a small preview and hand out midseason awards to top players and coaches.
The Future Educators Association (FEA), along with the Technology Student Association (TSA), are selling paper hearts outside of the Student Activity Center (SAC) until Feb. 15 to raise money for the American Red Cross, according to FEA sponsor and Human Services Professions Academy lead teacher Lisa Seid.
High-pressure defense by the Richard Montgomery Rockets (4-6) forced the Lady Blazers (3-7) to turn the ball over repeatedly and not get into an offensive rhythm, leading to a 66-42 loss on Wednesday night. The absence of junior point guard Jenny Williams, the team's leading scorer, was heavily felt.
We're down to just four teams remaining in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy, with San Diego and New England battling in the AFC and New York and Green Bay duking it out in the NFC. Storylines for conference championship week include a injury-ravaged Charger offense, the return of legal troubles for Randy Moss, Eli Manning finally emerging from his brother's shadow, and a remarkable run from Brett Favre at 38 years old. Two of the top four picks from the 2004 draft, quarterbacks Manning (first overall) and Philip Rivers (fourth overall), take on two of the finest field generals of our generation in Favre and Tom Brady. Who will win out, youth or tradition? We'll find out on Sunday with a pair of entertaining matchups on tap.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Jan. 11 – The Lady Blazers broke a four game losing streak Friday night and won their first home game, defeating the Magruder Colonels, 52-47.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Jan. 4 – Despite improved play and hard-nosed defense in the second half, the efforts of the girls' varsity basketball team fell short on Friday night. The Blazers (2-4) dropped their third game in a row to the Springbrook Blue Devils, 41-36.
With the NFL regular season wrapping up, it's easy to forget that the college football regular season is already over. While there are no playoffs in the BCS, there are bowl games for eligible teams, as well as the national championship game. This year's championship matchup features two two-loss teams in LSU and Ohio State, which leads to many questions in the BCS. What about undefeated Hawaii? Should there be a playoff system? Such topics are not for us to debate, so we'll take the bowls for what they're worth. We, backed by our SCO expertise, will take a look at the four main bowl games and the national championship game, picking a winner in each while pitching in our two cents. If ESPN analysts leave you confused, we hope these simplified explanations will give you a better idea of what each team brings to the field.
NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Dec. 19 – Plagued by defensive errors, the Blazers fell frustratingly 31-61 to the evenly matched Churchill Bulldogs, bringing the Blair's record to 2-3.
Picture a single mother married to a hip-hop star who starts dating a part-time Santa with musical aspirations. Perfect recipe for a comedy, right? Not for "The Perfect Holiday," director Lance Rivera's newest project. While the movie does not gain the laughs its premise has the potential for, it still manages to spread some holiday cheer with a heart-touching story.
Well, it appears that Michael Vick will be watching the next two years of football from the big house, earning a 23-month jail term for his canine shenanigans. Perhaps he could get a couple tips about a years-long layoff from Todd Collins, who is quite possibly the most intriguing story all year for our Redskins. Washington's playoff hopes dangle from a thread heading into a crucial divisional matchup in the Meadowlands. As for us, Nitin is once again sitting pretty in first place, while Pia, Anshul and Andrew are staggered behind. Let's just hope our experts are better at picking outcomes than Pittsburgh's Anthony Smith...
The varsity girls' basketball team fell to the Kennedy Cavaliers at home on Friday, 47-44. Despite starting the game well and fighting hard in the fourth quarter, the Blazers allowed cold shooting to put them on the losing end of a tight game.
Stepping up to the plate, the bat heavy in his hands, John MacDonald stares at the pitcher with fire in his eyes. He takes the first pitch for a strike but remains calm. The second comes and MacDonald pounces on it. With a mighty swing, he sends the ball out into the parking lot, his fellow teammates cheering him on as he runs around the bases. The year is 1978.
Apparently, Joe Gibbs has yet to master the art of icing the kicker, "unsportsmanly" calling consecutive timeouts and all but handing the Bills a win on Sunday. Our Redskins get a shot at redemption in the latest Thursday night game, taking on the Chicago Bears at home. Elsewhere around the league, the Patriots get a tough test against Pittsburgh after looking awfully vulnerable the past two weeks while teams like San Diego, Minnesota and Cleveland (wait, really?) fight for playoff spots. And like in the real life standings, our experts are entangled in a vicious battle for supremacy, with Nitin and Pia tied for first. Last week was ugly for everyone except upset-minded Andrew, whose freewheeling ways actually paid off for once. As the season winds down and the pressure builds, we'll see once and for all who comes through in the clutch with eternal bragging rights at stake.
Ah Thanksgiving: a time for family, a time for gratitude, and a time for the hallowed American tradition of indulging in wanton gluttony while watching millionaires bash into one another. Which teams are turkeys and which teams are gravy? Our experts give their take in this special early edition of NFL Predictions. In the race for supremacy, Pia continues to maintain a slim lead, but Nitin is gunning hard after a 13-3 week. Our hometown Redskins are slipping - will our Editor-in-Chief follow suit?
Blair's Students for Global Responsibility (SGR) has launched a new recycling program in response to the failing grade Blair received in recycling from Montgomery County last year. The new program adds more collection bins and establishes a way to supervise all the recycling that occurs through a committee, according to social studies teacher and SGR sponsor George Vlasits, program head.
As expected, the Redskins were absolutely annihilated by the Patriots last week, but somehow three of our experts got that game wrong. New England was clearly the better team, but was running up the score like that really necessary? Maybe Bill Belichick is a Tom Brady owner in his fantasy football league... The news this week of course comes from the RCA Dome, where the Pats will take on the Colts in the battle of the two remaining undefeateds. It's Brady versus Peyton in a matchup we saw last January and will most likely see again come playoff time this year. Could this be the most anticipated regular season game in recent memory? Well, it looks to be a lot more exciting than Redskins-Jets, that's for sure.
The offense of the Blair's varsity boys' soccer team finally clicked on Tuesday, giving the Blazers their first home win of the season, a 3-1 victory over Northwood on senior night.
Are juniors somehow inherently superior at NFL picks? After lurking in the shadows with solid performance all season, Anshul has finally snuck into the lead six weeks in as the seniors, defending champ Pia included, lag behind. Well at least we're in charge of his class grade... Anyway if you haven't already noticed, those guys from New England are pretty good. Is 16-0 possible? Not for the Redskins, who fell to the Packers in a close one. A more favorable matchup is on tap this Sunday, though. Lucky week seven here we come.
School air conditioning problems resulting in multiple teacher complaints have occurred because of the times when the Energy Management Unit (EMU) in Rockville activates and shuts down the system in the mornings and afternoons, according to Blair's business manager James Funk.
Despite a close game and a solid defensive effort, Blair's varsity boys' soccer team fell 1-0 to the Walter Johnson Wildcats. The team falls to 2-6-1 on the season after the loss. Both teams played dominant defense and kept possession of the ball equally. However, Blair's inability to capitalize on set pieces or defend them ultimately gave the Wildcats a win.
New England at Dallas is the game to watch here in Week Six, although our Redskins are looking good, picking up another win last week by holding the vaunted Detroit offense to a single field goal. A win at Lambeau this week will surely bring about the inevitable, misguided Super Bowl rumblings. Meanwhile, our analysts are once more engaged in a three-way tie after Pia impressed last week by going 12-2, while Andrew took a tumble and saw his lead evaporate. Anshul has been steady all year to claim his share of first place, but Nitin continues to lag behind. Will Week Six bring the fix? Sorry, that was really bad. Here goes... Standings:
| Last week | Season total | |
| Andrew | 6-8 | 46-30 |
| Anshul | 11-3 | 46-30 |
| Pia | 12-2 | 46-30 | Nitin | 8-6 | 42-34 |
A quarter of the '07 NFL season is in the books, and it has been a wild four weeks, to say the least. The Saints, Bears and Chargers, supposed Super Bowl contenders, are a combined 2-9, with worse record than the Browns, Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Texans and hey, even our 2-1 Redskins. As for our pick 'em pool, defending champ Pia sits in last place after a 5-9 performance last week, while Andrew's slew of unlikely upsets has cushioned his comfortable lead. Will Pia and her beloved Chargers break out of their respective slumps? Another week should further filter the contenders from the pretenders. Standings:
| Last week | Season total | |
| Andrew | 10-4 | 40-22 |
| Anshul | 6-8 | 35-27 |
| Pia | 5-9 (ouch!) | 34-28 | Nitin | 7-7 | 34-28 |
Blair's varsity boys' soccer team failed to convert key scoring opportunities, resulting in a 3-0 loss to the Springbrook Blue Devils. Blair fell for the third game in a row, leaving them at a disappointing 1-3-1 for the season.
The Ohio shootout last week gave fans a taste of exciting offenses and laughable defenses, New England proved they belong with the NFL elite without a video man, while Washington managed to make Donovan McNabb look like a lost rookie. Could a 3-0 beginning for the Skins be possible? We hope so. Meanwhile, Nitin looks to even up the scoreboard after an embarrassing start to this year's NFL picks that has him looking up at Andrew, Pia and Anshul, who are all currently tied for the lead. Can Week Three turn his fortunes? Season standings:
| Andrew | 21-11 |
| Pia | 21-11 |
| Anshul | 21-11 |
| Nitin | 19-13 |
It may only be the second week of the season, but emotions are already running high. The Buffalo Bills are praying that their reserve tight end will walk again, the New England Patriots were found guilty of cheating and lo and behold -- the Redskins won! As for our humble panel of experts, there appears to be no such thing as beginner's luck; Pia has yet to be dethroned. And now without further ado: week two. Season standings:
| Andrew | 11-5 |
| Nitin | 10-6 |
| Pia | 12-4 |
| Anshul | 11-5 |
The College Board approved all of Blair's Advanced Placement (AP) course syllabi, deeming them to be at college level. All 36 of the AP teachers at Blair passed the audits and will not be required to redesign their AP courses.
In this time period, classrooms are not only places where teachers present lectures, but also situations for students can participate in active discussion on topics of study. A limitation on that classroom practice comes as a sad reminder that some subjects are just too controversial for a classroom setting.
Sylvester Stallone did it with "Rocky Balboa" in 2006 and now director Len Wiseman has done it with "Live Free or Die Hard." Rarely do film franchises make a comeback after a long break and the odds were against the fourth installment of the "Die Hard" series after 12 years since "Die Hard: With a Vengeance." But Wiseman pulled it off and created an action-packed film that is one of the best in the franchise.
Senior co-captain Rutvij Pandya (center) finished ninth in the 4A Regional Championship.
Senior co-captain Elaine Chung lead the girls' team to an eighth place finish.
One of the highlights of Nationals Park is the large new scoreboard in center field.
Nationals Park contains many extra activities, such as a Playstation Arcade.
One of the unique food choices is Gelato's Italian Ice Cream.
Of course, no stadium is complete without a hotdog stand.
Younger visitors may prefer the in-stadium playground over the actual game.
The most expensive seats are the Presidential Seats located directly behind home plate.
Nationals Park contains many local favorites such as Georgetown Grill.
The Red Porch is the new stadium's club and lounge located in center field.
The all new Nationals Park is something every Washingtonian should see.
Students in the FEA and TSA work together to make the paper hearts.
FEA sponsor Lisa Seid and president Jennifer Romero oversee the construction.
Lee poses in front of her classroom.
Social studies teacher Stephanie Lee poses in front of her classroom.