#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.

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#SocialStudies v6.0

March 8, 2012

Glad to have you back, video junkies.

This week on #SocialStudies, a smorgasbord of ridiculousness including (but not limited to) grenade avocados, tiny terrible soccer players and, of course, this guy…

1. When it Snows, it pours

Brian Snow, now-renowned amateur hoops announcer from Marist High School (near Chicago) has become a viral sensation this week after shredding his vocal chords on a series of playoff calls. We’ve taken the liberty of linking to the best here.

First playoff win, also known as “what greatness is all about in the IHSA.”


2. We can't get enough

Second playoff win, after overcoming a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit.  “My gracious!”


3. We can learn something here 

File this next one under well-produced and heart-warming. “l’equip petit” tells the story of a youth soccer team that has a serious problem: it can’t score goals. Consequently, wins are pretty tough to come by – but after watching this short film, I realized that wasn’t what mattered at all.


4. Seriously, fascinating

Here’s your non-sport awesomeness for the week: a stop-motion short about making guacamole.  Don’t question it: just watch and enjoy.


Remember: if you find something you think should make the grade here on #SocialStudies, send it on over! We’d love to see/hear/read what you’re digging on the World Wide Web each week. 

Until next time…

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