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Sports
SHElONfS SKMKIS SCCX3P
Young Blazers go to war for Western Conference
C'-
HLEY 5HER0N
Staff Reporter
Being the second youngest
team in the National Basketball
Association isn't holding the
Portland Trail Blazers back.
Without injured player Raef
LaFentz, and newly acquired
veteran, Michael Ruffin, the
Blazers average age is 23.5, the
youngest team in the NBA.
Last year the Blazers were
the youngest team in the NBA,
and it showed when they
finished 41-41. They weren't
able to grab a playoff spot,
finishing behind both Golden
State and Denver.
This year the Blazers are
going to fight to stay above
fourth place in the Western
Conference and secure home
court advantage. The Blazers
are currently bouncing
between fourth and fifth in
the Western Conference and
continue to win.
The deadline for trades
on Feb. 19 was a date many
players were stressing about.
There were many rumors and
a lot of names being talked
about as potential trades.
Everybody thought the Trail
Blazers would make a big
move to help them advance
to the playoffs.
With the Blazers having
a general manager known
for making big trades, the
rumors for the Blazers
included well known names
such as veteran guard, Vince
Carter. When the day came
there were no headlines on
oregonlive.com about a big
move. The only headline
was "Blazers stand pat at
deadline."
The Blazers didn't make
any big moves but they
did make a smart move by
trading Blazers forward
Ike Diogu for Sacramento
forward Michael Ruffin.
The rest of the trade also
included a 3.13 million dollar
trade exception in which the
Blazers can make a trade for a
player whose salary is worth
up to $3.13 million without
having to give up a player
on the current roster. Instead,
the opposing team is paid
$3.13 million. The trade must
be made in one calendar year.
The next big move rumored
for the Blazers is to acquire
Spanish player Ricky Rubio.
With the first half of the
season over already the
Blazers have their best record
since the 2002-03 season.
If they continue at fourth
for the rest of the season
they will have home court
advantage, where the Blazers
are 23-5.
Espn.com ranks Portland's
playoff odds at 95.7 percent
and they are ranked to stay
here three years ago, and
having formed excellent
relationships with the social
studies staff, I jumped at the
opportunity to return when I
heard about a job opening.
much stricter about certain
things next year, especially
now that I know the culture
here so much better. And,
yes, I'm talking about cell
phones!
Workload and teaching:
I'm an English teacher. This
question incites indignant
and self-righteous fury in
all English teachers. I'm
so apoplectic I can't even
dignify this question with an
answer!
Reason for coming to West
Linn: I was impressed with
West Linn's dedication to
academic rigor.
in fourth place at finals at
8.7 percent and being NBA
champions as only a 2.3
percent chance. The Blazers
are considered underdogs but
Portlanders would love to see
them shock the nation and go
deep into the playoffs.
Brandon Roy and Steve Blake, Portland Trail Blazers guards, look
towards Nate McMillan, head coach, in the team's first season meeting
with the Golden State Warriors. The team is currently in fourth in the
Western division.,
Photo by Ashley Sheron
New teachers appreciate advanced
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continued from page 9
Enjoyable parts of the job: I
most enjoy teaching material
in which I have great interest
to students that care about
expanding their viewpoints
and understanding of the
^vorld.
I get up every day and
-.w
o
ink about
"what
matters
today?"
Only if
M
Anastasia Conlin
English teacher
Outlook on teaching: IVe
learned at West Linn to spend
more time encouraging my
students to trust themselves
and their ideas. Learning is
a conversation that students
must actively participate in,
so helping them lessen their
reliance on the teacher to
do all of the thinking is
one of my main goals.
What West Linn
has to offer: West
Linn is a far more
"traditional" high
school than the
two I taught at
in California.
Conversely, the
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technology
available to
West Linn
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Butch Self
English and history
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Anastasia Conlin
something really matters in
the scheme of life should it be
taught. I enjoy that creative
freedom that most other jobs
lack.
Classroom rules: I no longer
accept late work. In the real
world one either turns in
something on time or loses
his or her job.
Work load effecting
teaching: I work 55 hour
weeks and work on material
for school seven days a week.
I take pride in my work.
What I lack at the moment is
a social life.
Reason for coming to West
Linn: I came to West Linn
; the opportunity to work
one of the best schools in
the state. I student taught
*
is light
years
ahead of what most
California students
could expect.
There is also a
great emphasis
here at West Linn
on how things
appear.
Most enjoyable
parts of the
job: I'm
one of
those strange
people who
Joves teenagers, especially in
the classroom setting. I enjoy
my time in the classroom
more than any other aspect of
the job.
Classroom polices: I don't
think my policies have
changed much. I expect to be
Butch Self
Highlights of first semester:
The football season. What a
ride. Heartbreaking ending.
Outlook on teaching: I
don't think it has really?
I have been teaching
for 13 years. I truly love
teaching. Sure there are
better days than others, but
on a whole, teaching is a
The experiences I have had
wonderful experience. It
to get here today are long
isn't for everyone, but in my
and interesting if you want to
particular case it is a job that
have some other story some
I love to do each day and
day.
actually feel rewarded for
Eric Viuhkola
the experience. I have found
West Linn students to be very Wellness teacher
academically strong, and care Highlight of the first
semester: My first semester
about their experience. That
Healthful living class. They
is rewarding for a teacher.
were a mature class but they
What West Linn has to offer:
also knew how to have fun.
In a lot of ways students are
students. However, compared What West Linn has to offer:
The technology
to where I have been
and resources
before, the most noticeable
are much
difference at West Linn, is
better at West
the expectations students
Linn.
have for themselves. The
f i&Lx
Most
intrinsic desire the majority
of students demonstrate to
„ ..
enjoyable
do well in school, and be
part of the
willing to work at
example, students
I've
take notes, turn
work in on
time, come ask
for help, etc.
You might
think that
this is silly,
but in other
schools
teachers
constantly
discuss how
to get students
to do these things.
Eric Viuhkola
This is truly a great
enjoyed the changes that
place for learning, and
we've made in RE. where we
I encourage students to
give our students options on
continue this tradition. What
students can accomplish from activities. I also have really
enjoyed coaching the Varsity
here is amazing.
Boys' Basketball Team and
Most enjoyable part of the
job: Students. You guys make seeing the great improvement
from the beginning of the
me laugh everyday. Lunch
year.
with Coach (Joe) Cerny.
The most stressful part of
Enough said.
the job: Having to share four
Reason for coming to
or five classrooms.
West Linn: Long story. The
Reason for coming to West
Readers Digest version: A
Linn: I believe West Linn
great opportunity for myself
is a place where students
professionally, and for my
own children to attend West
want to pursue excellence in
Linn.
academics and athletics.