Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

Se Bowl mayhem is finally
ramping down, and as the
dust settles, we look at what
remains relevant. Ironically,
it isn’t any of the winners that
people are talking about. Is Cam
Newton a sore loser?

Well the simple answer
to that is, yes. Newton has
previously admitted to media
that he isa “sore loser,” but is it
that simple? Nothing is ever as
simple as it seems in the world
of sports, and the same goes for
this.

Newton, who was named
MVP of the league this year,
is in a lot of hot water for his
behaviour after his team’s loss
in the Super Bowl. Traditionally,
when teams lose, they are still
expected to be available fora
post-game press conference.
This year, Newton appeared
at his conference, apologized
to his fans for the loss, and
abruptly left. His actions caused
an uproar amongst fans, who
were quick to call him out on
his behaviour, labelling him asa
child playing a grownup’s game.

This wouldn't be the first
time that Newton has received
negative attention for his
behaviour this season. Newton
is known as one of the more
colourful personalities in the
league. When he wins, he

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ensures the whole world knows
it. The fact that his team only
lost once in the regular season
did not help his seemingly
inflated ego. That being said, it
would be hard to argue against
Newton’s dominance this
season. The man earned every
second of his short-lived media
fame. But does that justify his
actions in walking away from his
press conference?

Many people feel like he
wronged the entire league by
disrespecting the culture of the
post-media press conference. To
that, I have to say, so what? If
anyone put themselves in that
position, having lost a maybe
once-in-a-lifetime game, I’m
sure that few people would want
to face media questions asking
them why they played so poorly.

On top of all of that,
consider the fact that behind
Newton, they were conducting
an interview with one of
the players on the winning
team, and discussing how the
opposition’s defence was able to
overpower the league MVP. It
was audible to Newton during
his post-game conference.

To lose the championship
game, and then hear the other
team bragging about it while
being expected to answer
questions from a hungry media?
It’s no wonder Newton left
abruptly. I don’t know many
people who would be able to
stay in that situation.

Player of the Week

> Grant Campbell: Men’s Basketball

Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

rant Campbell was the
heart and soul of the men’s
basketball team this week as he

led them to a 1-1 weekend at home.

He tallied a total of 40 points over
the weekend, with 28 of them
being during his spectacular
singular effort in the team’s loss
against VIU. He also recorded 8
rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and

1 block along the way. Grant has
been on a tear since coming back

 

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Grant Campbell

to the team on January 22, having
recorded at least 25 minutes in 6
of his last 7 games with the team,
while contributing at least 12
points each of those times.

Smooth sailing

> Volleyball teams cruise through UFV

Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

he trip to UFV was supposed

to be an easy one for the
men’s volleyball team. Six sets
and done. That must have been
the mindset as they opened up
their first of two games against
UFV on the weekend, because
that’s definitely how they played.

The home team made a
showing for themselves as they
unloaded on the unsuspecting
Royals in the first set. Much to
the surprise of the visiting team,
UFV showed deadly precision as
they dismantled the Royals on
the court in the first set, taking it
25-12.

Fortunately, that was more
than enough for the Royals to
snap out of it and get back into
the game, which, unfortunately
for UFV, meant that the Royals’
unstoppable offence was about to
get going.

The second set showcased
just that. In dominant fashion,
the visiting team unleashed well-
placed shots that gave UFV little
to no chance to react, snatching
back a set 25-13. The third set was
a testament to UFV’s iron will to
fight, but the Royals proved that
the Cascades needed more than
just will to overpower them, and
took the second set 25-22.

That set proved to be the
backbreaker for UFV, as the
Royals surged to take the fourth

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set 25-13, and close the game ona
decisive note.

The aftermath of that game
carried onto Saturday, as the
rematch quickly turned into a
rout. Having been sloppy in the
first set the day before, the Royals
ensured that their mistake was
not repeated. They took apart the
UFV team, one point at a time,
taking the first set 25-14. The
second set was no different as the
home team struggled to find an
answer to the crushing pressure
the Royals were applying, but
could not, surrendering the set
25-15.

As the Royals moved to the
finish and brought out their
brooms, UFV made their final
stand against their powerhouse
rivals. In a valiant effort, the
home team showed heart as they
attempted to claw their way back
into the game. But the Royals
would have none of that, closing
out the game 25-20 and sweeping
their opponents.

Meanwhile, the women took
their shot at the struggling UFV
squad. However, unlike the men,
the women came dialed in and
ready to play. They opened their
weekend with a strong first set,
taking it 25-19.

The second was harder as the
UFV squad rebounded from their
earlier difficulties and challenged
the Royals much more. But
crucial mistakes made by the
squad allowed the visiting team
to capitalize and finish the set,
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25-22.

From there, it was all about
momentum. The Royals were able
to come out in the third and close
the game without issue, sweeping
the home team in the first of two
games. The second game was
quite the contrast.

It wasn’t long after the start
of the game that the Royals
found themselves 2 sets down
and in dire need of three ina
row. With their backs against the
wall, and the odds against them,
the ladies knew it would take a
mammoth effort to salvage their
early mistakes. But they proved
that they were more than up to
the task.

In a statement of a third
set, the Royals demolished the
hopeful UFV team, who were
looking to return the sweeping
favour, taking the set 25-12. With
the push stopped, it was a relief,
but the pressure was still there.
The team came out in the fourth
to ravage the home team’s side of
the court with scorching finishes,
leaving little doubt of their
comeback intentions.

With their lead gone, and the
last two sets a smoldering ruin,
UFV had little to push back with
as the Royals team came barreling
towards them in the fifth and
final set. The momentum proved
too much for the home team
as the Royals finished their
comeback in style, taking the last
set 15-9.

Photo by Davie Wong