Sports

sports: Randoll Tom competes in the NCAA Championships and other UCI sports coverage over break.

While we see the best players in college sports coming from the top programs across the nation, many of the players in the professional ranks don't necessarily come from those schools. Pro Bowl wide receivers Chad Johnson and Steve Smith came from Santa Monica Community College, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Ben Rothlisberger came from the University of Miami in Ohio and there are plenty more to be named. But the point is that athletes from schools that aren't as big as the Dukes or the North Carolinas or Ohio States, like the ones from UC Irvine, have as good a chance to make it to the Pros.

Volleyball: First-ranked men's volleyball team sweeps Hawaii in both matches at the Bren Events Center.

While we see the best players in college sports coming from the top programs across the nation, many of the players in the professional ranks don't necessarily come from those schools. Pro Bowl wide receivers Chad Johnson and Steve Smith came from Santa Monica Community College, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Ben Roethlisberger came from the University of Miami in Ohio and there are plenty more to be named.

A park is a beautiful thing. It goes through the seasons with grace and ease as it sheds the colors of the previous months. It stands as a place of sanctuary and peace, blocking the city sounds of cars, buses and sirens. It contains childhood memories, family reunion photo-ops and a jogger's moment of zen. A park, whether it be Central Park or in South Central, L.A., is a beautiful thing.

VOLLEYBALL: Men's team sweeps Loyola-Chicago at home and then escapes UCLA 3-2 in Westwood.

THE D-TRAIN: Everyone makes mistakes. Whether or not the individual can learn from the consequences is entirely up to them. But when you disregard someone who has literally redefined the quarterback position, infusing agile dexterity into what used to be a conventional drop-back-to-pass formula, it doesn't seem like the most logical thing to do. Despite his legal issues, especially his role in a dog fighting operation that created a stir nationwide, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick deserves a second chance.

THE FRESH-SWAG: Where do we begin? The Freshness and The Swagger are tag-teaming the issue of how good our volleyball team actually is. The reason for the dual column is simple: This issue is huge. Our team is incredible and is lining up a national championship as we speak.

BASEBALL: After being upset by LMU, UCI goes 2-1 in QTI Baylor Classic in an exciting weekend in Waco, TX.

BASEBALL: The Company, the greatest baseball improv group, returns to chat with the New University.

BASKETBALL: UCI defeats CSU Fullerton 65-62 to complete the regular season sweep of the pesky Titans.

FANS: UCI sports are blowing up right now. This is one fan's account of how to be a part of this evolution.