• Your one stop for college news and resources!

Danielle Adams

Josh Hamilton makes home run history

Rangers player hit eight home runs in five games

Josh Hamilton currently has 17 home runs, four of which happened in the same game. His closest competition, Matt Kemp and Carlos Beltran, are five behind.

Now, the bat Josh Hamilton used for eight of his nine home runs last week is headed for the Hall of Fame. The Rangers outfielder agreed to donate it to Cooperstown after he hit four home runs with it Tuesday night in Baltimore. He continued using the bat until the seventh inning of the Rangers’ 13-3 victory against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday night when the bat broke on his 44th run of the season.

“She died a hero. She was tired, she was getting as little weak,” Josh Hamilton said, with a smile.

Josh Hamilton started his home run streak on Monday night, hit four homers on Tuesday and went on to hit three more in the first two games of the Angels series in Texas. MLB authenticated the bat with a sticker after Tuesday’s game when he became the 16th player in big-league history to hit four homers in one game. On Sunday he started out using a pink bat for Mother’s Day and breast cancer awareness but switched to the now famous bat in the seventh.

The soon-to-be free agent is no doubt talented, but he’s also a bit of a liability. While in the Tampa Bay organization, he was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol abuse. He missed the entire 2003-05 seasons, returning late in ’06.

Josh Hamilton says he has been sober since October 2005 at the request of his grandma. He has had two alcohol-related relapses in the past three years. Hamilton is tested for drug use three times a week, and there has never been an indication of a positive result.

Joey Votto hits walk-off grand slam

Reds win 9-6 against Nationals

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds firstbaseman, hit a grand-slam in the ninth inning for his third home run of the game in the series finale against the Washington Nationals.

2010 NL MVP Joey Votto ended the game with a double and three home runs, the last of which was a walk-off grand slam off of Henry Rodriguez that gave the Reds a 9-6 win. The Nationals had only allowed 15 homers all season, fewest in the majors, and the homers were Votto’s first since April 30.

Joey Votto had been unimpressive so far this season, riding a lot of walks to a high on-base percentage and leading the National League in doubles with 15 going into play Sunday. Apparently, he has been working on his game. “I’ve noticed some things. We’ve talked about it, and I’ve tried to take it into the games and practice. It’s certainly a work in progress.”

His teammates are hopeful that this game is an indication of what’s to come. “Everybody talks about how he’s treading water,” center fielder Drew Stubbs said. “Then he has a game like that… Hopefully, he’s back to what he used to be.”

“Votto had a big day. That’s great,” said manager Dusty Baker. Hopefully, this is the type of game that will get us going. You like to see Joey hitting like that. I keep telling the guys you’ve got to believe.”

The walk-off grand slam was Cincinnati’s first since Adam Dunn hit one off of Cleveland’s Bob Wickman on June 30, 2006.

According to STATS LLC the last player to hit a game-ending home run in a three-homer game was Albert Pujols for St. Louis against Cincinnati on April 16, 2006.

Newsweek names Obama "First Gay President"

Cover shows the president with a rainbow halo

The latest Newsweek cover is sure to induce some head scratching. The magazine features a head shot of President Barack Obama with a rainbow striped halo floating above his head and the tag “The First Gay President.”

The Obama Newsweek comes days after the president officially announced his support for same-sex marriage. However, Obama is not, in fact, gay, and the word choice is puzzling.

In the corresponding article, openly gay Newsweek contributor Andrew Sullivan argues that this announcement is not just a political ploy. “When you step back a little and assess the record of Obama on gay rights, you see, in fact, that this was not an aberration. It was an inevitable culmination of three years of work.” And President Obama has much in common with the gay community. “He had to discover his black identity and then reconcile it with his white family, just as gays discover their homosexual identity and then have to reconcile it with their heterosexual family.”

After Tina Brown, editor-in-chief of Newsweek, saw Time magazine’s controversial breastfeeding cover, “She laughed and said, ‘Let the games begin,’” said a spokesman for Newsweek. Apparently, President Obama and his “gaylo” was her next move in this “game.”

In her time at Newsweek, Brown has taken to publishing tabloid-esque covers in an apparent effort to boost sales. She published an unattractive photo of a “wild-eyed” Michelle Bachman with the headline “Queen of Rage,” that brought accusations of sexism against the publication. Brown also printed Princess Di walking side-by-side with Kate Middleton on a cover that one Twitter follower described as vomit-inducing.

This edition of Newsweek is set to hit newsstands on Monday and is also available on iTunes.

Necrotizing fasciitis claims student's limbs

Woman fighting flesh-eating bacteria will likely survive

The flesh-eating bacteria known as necrotizing fasciitis has caused Aimee Copeland to lose her left leg and part of her abdomen, and she may lose more, including her fingers.

Copeland contracted necrotizing fasciitis when she tried to cross the Little Tallapoosa River on a homemade zip line and the line snapped, sending the 24-year-old crashing into the rocks below. The rocks gave her a nasty gash, which was closed with nearly two dozen staples at the local emergency room.

Three days later, when the pain was still continuing, a friend took Copeland to an emergency room again where she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and flown to Augusta for surgery.

It appears that she contracted the flesh-eating Aeromonus hydrophila, a common bacteria. Although the bacteria itself (found in warm and brackish waters) is fairly common, infections caused by these bacteria are usually mild. However, in rare cases, the bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis, which destroys the skin, fat and tissue covering the muscle.

One in four people who get this infection die from it, but, miraculously, it seems like Copeland will recover, albeit a leg and fingers. “However,” a blog set up by the University of West Georgia psychology department said, “Physicians have hope of bringing life back to the palms of her hands, which could allow her the muscle control to use helpful prosthetics. They are awaiting a safe time before embarking on surgery for this.”

Copeland’s family said she suffered cardiac arrest when her leg was amputated a week ago. She remains in critical condition at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, but she is now conscious, after spending most of the week unconscious.

Copeland’s parents said that she has to be told what happens every time she wakes up, as the medicine she is given leads her to forget each time she falls asleep. “It’s scary to her,” said her mother, Donna Copeland, reported CNN. She asks where she is and “doesn’t understand.”

Her dad said in a blog post that they have been communicating with her by reading her lips, and she has expressed concern about finishing her thesis. Copeland is a grad student at the University of West Georgia, focusing on eco-psychology.

Despite the fact that she will likely lose all of her extremities due to necrotizing fasciitis, the Associated Press has reported that Copeland’s friends and family are confident that she will overcome the infection and return to her former self. “She just tended to be the kind of person who always looks at things from the bright side and did that without any effort,” Donadrian Rice, chairman of the psychology department at UWG said. “I always felt that even during the lowest moments of her medical condition. She would fight, she would survive.”

Michael Phelps is hanging up his speedo

26-year-old to retire after London Olympics

Michael Phelps has announced he’s going to retire after the Olympics in London this summer.

A year ago, Michael Phelps was unmotivated, skipping practices and partying. But he’s recently pushed himself back into shape.

In an interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes Sunday, Michael Phelps said that it was hard to get back in training mode, but he feels ready for London now. “It was hard, because I didn’t know if the passion or the fire was still inside of me,” Phelps told Cooper. “And it took awhile for me to actually realize it myself. [Coach] Bob [Bowman] couldn’t tell me, my mom couldn’t tell me. They couldn’t help me find it.”

“I kind of feel like my old self again,” the 26-year-old said. “I’m swimming times like I used to. I’m swimming races how I used to.”

Bowman said that despite the swimmer’s lapse into laziness, he believes he can still walk away with several medals in London this year. If Michael Phelps can get just three medals during the Summer Olympics, he will retire as the athlete with the most Olympic career medals. The current record is held by former Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina.

Michael’s mom, Debbie Phelps is pushing  him to compete at the 2016 Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but Michael is adamant, saying he’ll take her to watch, but he won’t compete. “No. Once I retire, I’m retiring. I’m done.”

Michael Phelps has added seven sponsors since Beijing, including Head & Shoulders. It’s estimated he’s made $40 million so far over his career.

When he retires, Michael Phelps will only be 27-years-old. After spending so much time in the pool, he’s excited to experience what else is out there, he told Cooper. “I’ve been able to go to all these amazing cities in my travels and I haven’t been able to see them at all. I see the hotel and I see the pool. That’s it. And I’m just going to go and do whatever I want to do.”

Diamond dog food recall

14 cases of salmonella poisoning linked to dog food

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded a recall of several brands of dry pet food that have been linked to salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The company is pulling a totally of nine brands of Diamond dog food off the shelves after several of its brands were linked to an outbreak of a rare strain of salmonella poisoning that infected at least 14 people in nine states.

Originally, Diamond dog food pulled three brands off of shelves in April. The additional brands have been recalled as a precaution and have not tested positive for salmonella, according to a statement issued by the company.

The products were distributed in 16 states, mostly along the East Coast and Canada. Cases were reported in Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Diamond dog food first started pulling brands produced at a South Carolina plant after salmonella infections were reported from October 2011 to April of this year and five people were hospitalized.

The salmonella cases were found in humans who may have had contact with dogs or dog foods prior to their illness. Seven of 10 people affected said they had contact with a dog the week before becoming sick, and five of the sick people recalled the type of dog food with which they had contact, according to the CDC.

Individuals can become infected with salmonella simply by handling dry pet food, especially if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to the product. Possible signs and symptoms of salmonella include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and blood in stool.

Pets with salmonella may exhibit similar symptoms, including decreased appetite, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. If your has consumed the recalled Diamond dog food and has these symptoms, contact your vet.

Consumers can visit diamondpetrecall.com for a complete list of the recalled Diamond dog foods.

Baron Davis injures knee

Knicks player dislocated his kneecap

Baron Davis left the Game 4 of the Knicks-Heat series on a stretcher after injuring his right knee in the third quarter.

New York Knicks guard Baron Davis slipped while driving down the court on a fast break, buckling his right knee. The 33-year-old fell to the floor, holding his knee, obviously in pain. Davis had to be carried to the locker room on a stretcher.

As he was being wheeled off the court, Knicks fans began chanting his name, and Baron Davis put his fist in the air as a salute back.

The Knicks have since announced that Baron Davis has a dislocated patella. Tests will be done on Monday.

This is the second injury the Knicks have suffered in their first-round series. Guard Iman Shumpert suffered a torn ACL in Game 1 and will be out for six to eight months. Jeremy Lin tore the meniscus in his left knee in March and isn’t expected back until at least the second round of the playoffs.

Some NBA observers had speculated that Lin might be rushed back into the lineup for Wednesday night’s Game 5, but coach Mike Woodson told reporters on Monday morning that that’s not the case. “I’m not counting on Jeremy Lin to play.”

Now down three point guards, the Knicks will have to rely on veteran Mike Bibby and Toney Douglas, who has not played against the Heat at all so far. Bibby said, “In a professional sport, injuries happen. When the main guys are down, guys gotta step up.”

Cole Hamels hits Bryce Harper on purpose

Nationals-Phillies rivalry begins

Cole Hamels admits he hit Bryce Harper with a 93 mph fastball on purpose.

“I was trying to hit him,” Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels said. “I’m not going to deny it.” Hamels nailed the rookie phenomenon in the small of his back his first time up during the Phillies 9-3 win Sunday.

Why, you ask? “That’s something I grew up watching, that’s kind of what happened. So I’m just trying to continue the old baseball because I think some people are kind of getting away from it. I remember when I was a rookie the strike zone was really, really small and you didn’t say anything because that’s the way baseball is,” Cole Hamels said.

“But I think unfortunately the league’s protecting certain players and making it not that old-school, prestigious way of baseball,” he said.

In other words, Hamels said, “It’s just, `Welcome to the big leagues.'”

Cole Hamels maintains he was not attempting to injure Harper. “I think they understood the message and they threw it right back,” he said. Nationals Jordan Zimemrman hit Hamels with a pitch in the third, but he denied it was intentional.

Will Cole Hamels get in trouble, you ask? The pitcher may face suspension from Major League Baseball, but that decision has yet to be made.

In 2009, Chicago’s Bobby Jenks admitted to throwing at Texas’ Ian Kinsler. Jenks was not suspended, but he was fined $750. In 2008, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended two games for saying he had ordered pitchers to intentionally hit batters.

Jayson Werth breaks left wrist

Likely to be “out for a while”

Jayson Werth could be out for several months after breaking his left wrist during the Washington Nationals – Philadelphia Phillies game Sunday night.

While attempting a sliding catch, Jayson Werth bent his wrist backward after his glove got caught underneath him as he was trying to catch a sinking liner by Placido Polanco in the sixth inning. Werth threw the ball back to the infield after remaining on the ground briefly. He then walked off the field holding his wrist.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson spoke with reporters after the game about the extent of the star right fielder’s injury. “He’s going to go see a specialist, but it’s broken in the opposite side of where he had the other problem. It was a clean break, and he’ll be out for a while.”

During spring training of 2005, Jayson Werth injured the same wrist. Playing for the Dodgers that season, he played 102 games before having a torn ligament in that wrist surgically repaired and missed all of 2006 while recovering.

“Never a good time to lose anybody, especially a guy in the heart of your lineup,” cleanup hitter Adam LaRoche said. “We were looking forward to this next series, this next week, being together again. Now we’re obviously short another big bat and a big part of this team. So, time for everybody to step up and make up for it as much as we can.”

LaRoche is expected to return to the field this week, as well as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, after being on the disabled list. Cleanup hitter Michael Morse hasn’t played yet this season due to an injured back muscle.

The Nationals lost 9-3 to the Phillies on Sunday.

Joss Whedon smashes box office

The Avengers shatters opening weekend record

Joss Whedon has long had cult following, from Vampire Slayer buffs to Firefly fans to Dr. Horrible sing-alongers. Now, the writer-director is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

Joss Whedon has always been brilliant, but time and time again his projects have fallen short of mainstream success. Buffy almost faced cancellation several times before being shuffled off to a different network with a limited budget for its final few seasons. Whedon’s space western television series Firefly was cancelled after only 11 of the 14 completed episodes were aired (many out of the intended order). His Firefly film, Serenity, should have been a hit but was a box office disappointment.

Dollhouse had potential with a solid foundation, but it was cancelled after two seasons when questionable casting and other awkward creative decisions led to low ratings. Dr. Horrible has gained cult status but is still widely unknown.

After this past weekend, however, Joss Whedon has finally done it. The Avengers pulled the highest-grossing opening weekend in film history, knocking Harry Potter and the Hunger Games out of the park.

The Avengers film has been highly anticipated by Marvel fans, and throwing Joss Whedon into the superhero mash-up was just plain brilliant. Whedon’s knack for witty dialogue undoubtedly gave the film that extra edge. “I never write anything without humor, just because I like humor, but at the same time, it is a way for anything fantastical to become relatable,” Whedon told the Associated Press.

“The great thing about this team is, there’s an element of absurdity to the idea of the Avengers, and there always was. You read the first issue, and you’re like, ‘Really? Really? This is a team?’ ” said Joss Whedon. “That thread kind of carried through the whole history of the Avengers, and their constant changes in lineup became almost a joke. You have to let that absurdity bleed into the characters, because, if you don’t let the audience laugh at it, they’re going to LAUGH at it, and not the way you want.”

Apparently, Joss Whedon’s approach was the right one, as the film raked in an estimated $200.5 million in domestic returns, putting its estimated global box office gross at nearly $650 million. Well done, Joss, well done.