#SocialStudies
February 1, 2012
Welcome, welcome, welcome. So glad you’ve stopped by our new Second Half Thursday feature -- #SocialStudies.
This weekly collection of video clips, tweets and posts should serve to get you up-to-speed on whatever has gone viral, victorious or just plain weird this week in high school sports and beyond.
As your tour guide, I’ll take the reins in providing commentary for what you see here – feel free to ignore what you don’t like and watch everything else on repeat. Additionally, if you’ve found something spectacular on the ‘interwebs’ that you think deserves a spot on #SocialStudes, submit it!
Now, let’s get on to the goodies, shall we?
1. Are you ready for this?
In order to get you amped for the first installment of #SocialStudies, I think it’s necessary to begin with what only a true high school sports fan can begin with: a "Jock Jams Remix." Enjoy. (Cue toe-tapping and an immediate nostalgia-induced adrenaline rush!)
2.!!!elbaveilebnU
File this next clip under the “We Enjoy People with Totally Bizarre Talents” category. When I first watched this clip, I was convinced that either (1.) everything was scripted or (2.) this girl is an alien robot.
Turns out, neither is true. Watch and try to keep up. Or better yet: try this with your teammates on your next long road trip to an away game. If you can rival Alyssa, it’s probably time to call Letterman.
3. Glove save
It’s official: Prince Fielder needs to DH. I think I’ve found a solution for the Tigers’ hot corner.
4. Launch the shot, off the defender, nothing but net.
Oh, and just in case you missed it earlier this month: Olivet handed defending Class C Boys Basketball champion Schoolcraft a heart-breaking loss on this bizarre buzzer-beater in double OT. We take you to the good stuff, starting at 2:20 into the clip with Olivet (white jerseys) leading 94-91.
5. Howell Highlander -- or High Flyer
Kudos to Brandon Nazione for this ridiculous dunk. Seems that Howell High School has their own Blake Griffin doppelganger! (Note: I don’t think it’s necessary to watch all 5 slow-mo versions of the dunk – but that’s just me.)
6. And in this corner ...
Lastly, we’d like to present Michigan State University Women’s Basketball Coach Suzy Merchant, who happens to be our keynote speaker at this weekends’ Women In Sports Leadership Conference. Who knew the reigning Big Ten Coach of The Year had such a sweet left jab?
On that note, we’ll knock out for the week. See something over the weekend that caught your eye? Snag a stupendous cheerleading squad on video at a pep assembly? Actually: snag ANYTHING at a pep assembly that we should see? Upload it to YouTube and send it on over.
You might just see it on Second Half’s #SocialStudies.
#SocialStudies v8.0
April 5, 2012
Happy Spring Break, #SocialStudies regulars! It's been a quiet week in our office with many Lower Peninsula schools off all week -- but I still managed to dig up some web gems for your perusal. *Beach umbrella optional.
1. Fore real?
Oh, professional golfers. Do they even know? They can't possibly understand how difficult this game is for the rest of us; I look like a toddler aimlessly swinging a metal stick while teetering around well-shorn grass plateaus.
The 2012 Masters Tournament tees off today -- and players in the field lurked around Augusta earlier this week, reading greens and testing the waters, if you will. One such tester? Martin Kaymer, who tees off second in this clip. I'd suggest watching the entire 37 seconds.
2. Floored by this performance
This woman is named Johanna Quaas, and she is 86 years old. Read that twice for effect. Here's her floor routine (yes, FLOOR ROUTINE!) at a gymnastics tournament called “Turnier Der Meister,” or Tournament of Masters, at the 2012 Cottbus World Cup in Germany.
3. Watch the guys who are supposed to be defending
In Iowa, it looks like mash-up sporting might be the next big thing. I think this play could be called a roll-out?
4. Moves like Stokkebroe
We opened with an octogenarian doing something amazing; and I think it's appropriate to bookend things with this little heart-breaker. William Stokkebroe is 2 years old, and wee man can flat-out shake it. Try not to smile: Dare you.
As always -- if you find something worthy of us watching, send it over. Links, photos, stories ... whatever strikes your fancy that week. Make it part of our #SocialStudies!
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