The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 24

March 2, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 8 Sports THIS WEEK SPORTS IN HISTORY March 8 - US women’s soccer team sues the US soccer federation for equal pay On this day in 2019, the U.S. national women’s soccer team filed a federal gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation. Judge R. Gary Klausner of Federal District Court in Los Angeles denied their case claiming that any pay differences between the men and women’s teams were based on salary agreements in their contracts. March 3 - The NAFL changes back to NFL On this day in 1950, the National-American Football League reverted back to calling itself the NFL after only three months of merging with the AFL. The NFL name would go on to become one of the biggest brands in the world but would adopt many of the AFL’s rules and regulations such as an on-field game clock and the addition of names on player jerseys. March 6 - Cassius Clay changes his name to Muhammed Ali On this day in 1964, boxing legend Cassiuss Clay converted to Islam and changed his named to Muhammed Ali. He called his former name a “slave name.” March 2 - Wilt Chamberlain the first NBA player to score 100 points in one game In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points during a game against the New York Knicks. This was the most points ever by an NBA player in a single game. The Warriors’ won 169-147. March 5 - Carol E. Heiss wins at Worlds Ladies’ Figure Skating Championships On this day in 1960, New Yorker Carol E. Heiss won first place at the 1960 World Figure Skating Championships. A month prior, Heiss had won gold at the Winter Olympics in women’s singles skating competition. March 4 - Babe Ruth becomes highest paid player in the MLB n 1927, New York Yankee Babe Ruth became the highest-paid player in MLB history when he signed a three year, $70,000 per season deal with the Yankees. $70,000 in 1927 is equivalent to about one million dollars today. March 7 - Neymar makes his professional debut In 2009, Brazilian soccer star Neymar made his professional debut with soccer team Santos FC. He was only 17 years old. Keep Messi or stay messy What is a team without their superstar? That is a question FC Barcelona should soon begin asking itself. The pandemic seems to have negatively affected one of the world’s richest soccer clubs, and maybe, it can say its success has been its greatest fault. Being the club that brings in the most money isn’t always the best if they have also been the club to notoriously overpay its players. Who could have ever guessed that FC Barcelona could owe 1.1 billion euros to banks, taxes, rival teams and its very own players? No one could have ever expected a pandemic causing revenue to take such a huge hit. However, anyone with a brain could have assumed that there was some sort of safety net in place in case clubs weren’t able to pull in the usual billion dollar revenue each year. Yet, that doesn’t seem to be the case for FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona’s diamond in the rough, Lionel Messi, just so happens to be its greatest financial commitment. Messi’s latest contract, signed in 2017, meant a total value of almost $675 million, if he stayed loyal and followed each clause in his 30-page contract. For a regular person like myself, I can only think, “What an absurd amount of money for a 33-year-old By: Ana Maria Soto Contributing Writer man who has, sometimes, underperformed when his efforts were most needed. Why would Messi be worth this much?” Some could say it’s because he is the face of FC Barcelona, and this is one of the greatest truths. As soon as this summer, Messi could have the option to move on to another club. This could be a great financial break for FC Barcelona, but is it willing to let him go and is he willing to leave? I have never been a fan of FC Barcelona. Not because I have not come to realize how talented its players are, but because I have always been loyal to Real Madrid. Yes, I am a Christiano Ronaldo fan, but it goes deeper than that. I remained a Real Madrid fan even after Ronaldo left La Liga. Considering I am not a Messi or FC Barcelona fan, this question on whether he should stay or go is quite simple. FC Barcelona needs to sever its emotional ties and begin to think from a financial standpoint. Sure the public would be upset that a player who has been with the club for more than half his life is leaving, but it would mean saving $250 million that could keep fans and players happy. Only time will tell whether this aged diamond is really worth the trouble. Finding Fitness: Get a free gym membership with free weights It’s no secret that college can be tough on your mind and body. Not to mention, all the stress that the COVID-19 pandemic has added to our daily life. Even with a busy schedule of Zoom calls and other prior commitments, being in a quarantine during the pandemic has made people more interested in working out at home and focusing on their mental and physical health. According to a survey from OnePoll released in an article in the New York Post, 63% of people said they are taking this time to focus on their health and 64% of respondents said they are more interested in at-home workouts now compared to before the start of quarantine. So, if you are like me and are overwhelmed by your busy schedule of Zoom calls and socially-distanced lectures, going to the gym by carving out that precious time in your schedule is the last thing on your mind. Instead of wasting time and money on a gym membership or subscription service that you may only use a few times, invest in some free weights (or homemade ones) for a quick and easy at home workout. Free weights, or workouts that involve dumbbells or other free moving objects, can range based on budget, health conditions or fitness level. When I started focusing on my fitness, I went to my local Five Below to find the basic necessities I needed. If you were unaware, Five Below sells dumbbell weights from 1 to 5 lbs. They also sell other equipment such as yoga mets, basic workout gear, resistance bands and other tools all at cheap prices. It’s a great way to get started on your fitness journey especially if you are on a budget. However, if you aren’t willing to spend some cash on dumbbells and other materials, you can start with some things you have at home. Take empty cartons or containers and fill them with rice, water, sand or pebbles to work out with. Once you collect your barbells or homemade barbells you might be thinking, “Great, I have these free weights. What do I do now?” Well, start thinking about what body group you are thinking of focusing on and find the dumbbell activities that work for you. For some, that might mean assisted workouts through sitting or laying on the ground. Some popular dumbbell workouts involve squats to focus on your glutes or legs, bicep curls to focus on your arms and dumbbell swings that focus on both your shoulders and leg muscles. Don’t just listen to me. Working out is a personal journey that has so many variations and freedom of choice that can be added to your workout. Some of the best resources for workout plans are YouTube or fitness magazine articles. If you feel you need more instruction, reach out to a fitness enthused friend or even a personal trainer to teach you all the important tips to make sure you maintain proper form while you workout and ensure your safety and don’t injure yourself. I know it might be difficult to start, but by starting with something like free weights, it’s a great start on your fitness journey, wherever it may lead. By: Christina McLaughlin Co-Editor-in-Chief PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY UN- SPLASHED.COM Someone holding dumbbells.