#SocialStudies v3.0

February 15, 2012

If you were able to escape all 4,864 angles of the NBA’s hottest sensation Jeremy Lin going “rags-to-riches” all over the Internet this week, you might’ve discovered these little morsels scattered about.

1. Phi Slama Jama

By now, you've figured out that we're dunk fans (who isn't?). ... The title of this clip might be a little hyperbolic, but it's still a pretty nifty jam.  I imagine the play-call went something like this: "Okay.  Whistle blows, you run, I'll heave it."


2. Just like the pros

It was bound to happen sooner or later ... ice hockey makes its long-awaited #SocialStudies debut in Week 3. Reigning Division 1 runner-up Orchard Lakes St. Mary will look to return to CompuWare Arena in March; for now, senior captain Luke Rodgers (#87) is content to flaunt some "stick trickery."


3. It's almost time

One of our most popular and well-liked promo pieces resurfaces this week: the Individual Wrestling Championships will take place March 1-3 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Tickets are available for purchase through the Palace Box Office starting at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 29.

For now: get hyped.


4.  'This is crazy'

And lastly, a non-video story that caught our attention.  Social networks like Facebook and Twitter instigate a smattering of negative celebrity chatter – and rightly so, in some cases. But, on occasion, there are tales of someone using a service to extend itself in a capacity that wasn’t available a decade ago.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes about an astonishing week in the lives of a Twitter fan and a superstar (who formerly starred at Central Michigan).

That's it for 3.0. Remember, if you see something high school sports-related online that the rest of us must see, or if you videoed something yourself, upload it to Youtube and send it on over. It could make next week's #SocialStudies line-up. 

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Wounded Warrior Project: DeWitt vs Portland

December 16, 2011

DEWITT -- The meeting of two state-ranked teams always will ratchet up a typical football night. Both communities, naturally, want to see which is better on the field.

But during the hour before the opening kickoff Oct. 14 of DeWitt’s game against Portland, those teams and their supporters together recognized a grander cause. The night was dedicated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which aids U.S. soldiers (and their families) who have suffered service-related injuries and illnesses.

Rain washed out some planned attractions, but the evening certainly was memorable. Both teams wore camouflage jerseys and each sent its captains to the pre-game coin toss with an honorary captain representing the military. A number of other service personnel were involved – including a local color guard that presented a 30-foot flag for the national anthem.

It’s understandable if people’s visions of wars and our military are focused an ocean away. But connections hit close to home. DeWitt’s honorary captain, Lansing’s U.S. Army Spc. Jacob Shumway, recently returned from a deployment and has been in the service for two and a half years. He’s a 2003 Lansing Everett graduate, and his mother Susan Land is the principal at Lansing Eastern. His cousins Ethan and Collin Rennaker start for DeWitt, and he walked alongside them for the pregame flip. Shumway plans to attend Lansing Community College and study digital graphic design.

Both teams are considered contenders for their respective state titles next month; DeWitt is ranked No. 7 in Division 3, while Portland is No. 4 in Division 5. And they played like it – Portland prevailed 22-20 in overtime.

A great game, no question. But similarly significant was a preliminary figure of more than $11,000 raised for the WWP.

For more about the Wounded Warrior Project visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.