Ben Malcolmson, a Daily Trojan sports reporter who has covered the USC football team for three years, made it onto the team as a walk-on. Cool! He tried out, just so he could write an article about the experience. He had no intention of actually making the team. Here’s his article about it. Excerpt:

But as many times as I have told the story - a silly undersized newspaper writer tries out for the football team without any objective of making it and then he actually makes the team - I still could not fathom what was going on. People across the country idolize USC football, and here I am now a player on that team.

It didn’t fully hit me until about a week after, and even then, the magnitude of it was overwhelming enough that I still had some disbelief inside of me.

I’m on the USC football team? This can’t be real.

I’ll forget about it and then all of a sudden, it hits me again - I’m on the USC football team.

This can’t be real.

Heh. Is it sacrilege to throw out a “Rudy” reference when we’re talking about USC? Yes, yes it is — and I’m going to do it anyway. BENNY! BENNY! :)

(Hat tip: Deadspin.)

The AP article about tomorrow’s total solar eclipse — which will be visible in parts of Eurasia and Africa — contains an egregious factual mistake that could have been avoided if the reporter, Kwasi Kpodo, had done rudimentary research, or if the AP’s fact-checkers had been a bit more careful:

Night will turn to day in the eclipse’s route and a corona will glow around the edges of the moon as it comes between the earth and the sun. But the corona’s light can burn eyes.

First of all, Mr. Kpodo obviously meant “day will turn to night,” not “night will turn to day.” Heh. (Hat tip: B. Minich.) But looking beyond that embarrassing slip-up, I’m more concerned about the “corona’s light can burn eyes” thing. That is simply NOT TRUE, and the error is significant.

It is the light from the Sun’s photosphere, not from the corona, that can burn people’s eyes. This is a crucial difference. It is indeed unsafe to look at the Sun during an annular or partial eclipse — and that includes the partial portion of a total eclipse, even mere moments before totality — but during totality, when the solar disc is completely obscured and only the corona is visible, it is safe to look directly at the Sun. Indeed, it is highly advisable to do so, if you want a decent view. During totality, you won’t be able to see much of anything through your solar filter. I quote NASA:

Certainly the most spectacular and awe inspiring phase of the eclipse is totality. For a few brief minutes or seconds, the Sun’s pearly white corona, red prominences and chromosphere are visible. The great challenge is to obtain a set of photographs which captures some aspect of these fleeting phenomena. The most important point to remember is that during the total phase, all solar filters must be removed! The corona has a surface brightness a million times fainter than the photosphere, so photographs of the corona are made without a filter. Furthermore, it is completely safe to view the totally eclipsed Sun directly with the naked eye. No filters are needed and they will only hinder your view.

Wikipedia also provides an excellent summary:

Contrary to popular belief, it is safe to observe the total phase of a total solar eclipse directly with the unaided eye, binoculars or a telescope, when the Sun’s photosphere is completely covered by the Moon; indeed, this is a very spectacular and beautiful sight, and it is too dim to be seen through filters. The Sun’s faint corona will be visible, and even the chromosphere, solar prominences, and possibly even a solar flare may be seen. However, it is important to stop directly viewing the Sun promptly at the end of totality. The exact time and duration of totality for the location from which the eclipse is being observed should be determined from a reliable source (local astronomers, etc.). Note that it is never safe to look at an annular or partial eclipse directly, because the Sun’s disk is never completely covered during this type of eclipse.

Had the AP reporter double-checked his facts with anyone having the slightest amount of expertise in solar eclipses — or, for that matter, with Google — this error could have been avoided. (I found the above info by googling solar eclipse corona safe viewing.) Instead, the AP is materially contributing the counterfactual “popular belief” that the Wikipedia article mentions. Basically, America’s premier wire service is spreading urban legends. Not exactly a journalistic triumph, that.

P.S. I e-mailed the AP, so hopefully they’ll issue a correction.

Its been awhile since I have done one of these but there just happened to be a number of interesting religious related stories this week:

First stop: Afghanistan, where the government showed some sanity and dismissed the case against Ahmed Rahman, the man on trial and facing a possible death sentence for the heinous crime of converting to Christianity. Mr. Rahman had recently been moved to a more secure prison for his own safety after threats by other inmates were made against him. If released he could face the same as Muslim Clerics in the country werecalling for him to be killed if he is released. Reports are that he is seeking asylum in another country, preferably one where he won’t face death for, you know, holding a different belief and not harming anyone while doing so.

Moving on to our next stop: India, where local Muslim clerics have told a couple they must stop living together as they are now officially divorced because the man apparently uttered the word for divorce three times in his sleep, a valid form of divorce under Sharia law. The couple have refused to comply as they do not believe this is binding and scholars appear to agree, arguing that being asleep is similar enough to being drunk and incapable of behaving rationally which under the same law means the divorce is invalid.

Staying in Asia our next stop is: Israel, where an Orthodox Rabbi has started telling parents that they should maim/disfigure their childrends dolls and stuffed animals so not to run afoul of the prohibition of possession of idols.

Moving along, our next stop: the Telecom world where enterprising companies are filling a market niche for religious cell phone users offering barebones phones without all the extra features like cameras and such that are considered material distractions to some, or offering religious ringtones, or even models with built in reminders for prayer times for Muslim users.

And finishing our trip right here in the good old US of A where hypocritical liberals, those champions of respect and diversity continue displaying their double standard when it comes to Christianity. This week marks the release of the “Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster” a book devoted to the “teachings” of a mystical pasta being created as an asinine joke in last years fight over Evolution and Intelligent design.

Okay, watching CNN in the law lounge, people are, like, throwing flaming objects around, and clashing with police and stuff, in France. Craziness.

I guess Mark Few is staying at Gonzaga. (Knock on wood.) Oklahoma’s Kelvin Sampson has apparently accepted the head coaching job at Indiana, according to ESPN. (Hat tip: Chris.)

Tonight’s NCAA women’s tournament regional finals are about as high-profile as anyone could ask for — #1 North Carolina vs. #2 Tennessee (7pm, ESPN) and #1 Duke vs. #2 UConn (9pm, ESPN) — and they have major implications for the 9th annual Living Room Times women’s NCAA pool. (Details here.)

But unlike the women’s pool, the 2nd annual BrendanLoy.com NIT pool could actually be decided tonight, depending on how the two semifinals — #1 Michigan vs. #5 Old Dominion (7pm, ESPN2) and #1 Louisville vs. #3 South Carolina (9pm, ESPN2) — turn out.

Gary Kirby (a.k.a. “gahrie”), Brad Miller and Andrew Long are still alive to win. Miller will win the pool if South Carolina wins the championship. Long needs Louisville to beat Old Dominion in the title game. Kirby, the current leader, would win in all other scenarios (if Old Dominion or Michigan wins the title, or Louisville beats Michigan in the title game).

That means, if Michigan and Louisville win tonight, Kirby will clinch the pool. Miller needs South Carolina to beat Louisville. Long needs both Louisville and Old Dominion to win.

Kirby and Long are both USC grads, from the Classes of 1987 and 2002, respectively. Although no Trojan has ever won a Living Room Times pool, a win by either Kirby or Long would increase USC’s record in BrendanLoy.com NIT pools to 2-0. Tom Keck (a.k.a. “Scientizzle”) won last year.

Kirby now lives in San Bernadino, CA. Long lives in Long Beach, CA. Brad Miller is a law student at Capital University in Columbus, OH.

Current standings here and after the jump.

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First, two teams in the Sweet 16. Now, a student living at Wal-Mart. The Missouri Valley Conference can’t get enough of the spotlight!

On YouTube last night I found this video, taken from the UCLA band section, of Bruins celebrating their comeback win over Gonzaga. Painful for a Zag fan and Bruin-hater to watch, but great footage, and appropriate for me to post today, in light of the bet and all that.

Alas, at last, here it is: my repayment of the debt I owe Mike for losing our bet on the UCLA-Gonzaga game.

Originally, I was only going to have to post the picture of myself wearing Mike’s UCLA jersey (at top left, and after the jump) for a short time, but because I overslept twice when I was supposed to be at the law school having the picture taken, and thus I inadvertently delayed things by several days, I agreed to a substantial increase in the penalty, for good faith’s sake. As a result, the UCLA jersey photo will remain there through Saturday, until the end of UCLA’s Final Four game against LSU. And, far more horribly, the name of my blog has been changed — for today only — to “The Irish Bruin’s Blog.” (”Today,” for purposes of the bet, starts at 9am Tuesday and continues until 8:59am Wednesday. But I’m posting this now to prevent any further potential oversleeping problems.)

Let this be a lesson to you, boys and girls: if you lose a bet, show up on time to pay your debt. :)

For the uninitiated: I graduated from USC in 2003; hence the hatred of UCLA. I now attend Notre Dame Law School, where Mike is one of my good friends; he graduated from UCLA in 2004. Entirely unrelated to all that, I’m a Gonzaga fan; I’ve been cheering for the Zags since 1995. So when it developed that Gonzaga and UCLA were set to meet in the Sweet 16, it was only logical that Mike and I make a friendly bet on the game, just like we did on the USC-UCLA football game last December. (That one went rather better for me.) So, you’re seeing all of this because of Gonzaga’s horrendously heartbreaking loss last Thursday. If Batista had just passed the damn ball to Raivio (duh!) before Farmar could steal it, y’all wouldn’t be looking at these ugly pictures of me in cardinal-and-powder-blue. (Instead, there’d be a picture of Mike in a Gonzaga sweatshirt.) Harumph.

But I still love my Zags… and my Trojans. For the next few days, however, I have to pretend to love the Bruins. Excuse me now while I go barf. :)

Anyway, here’s a picture of Mike and me yesterday, after he took the “official” picture:

And here’s a larger version of the “official” picture:

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“We believe that the law is constitutional and that this is yet another political attempt by the Democrats to stop us from cutting spending” said Ronald D. Bonjean Jr., a spokesman for Speaker Dennis “Son of Satan” Hastert, R-Ill about a bill that President Bush recently signed into law despite the fact that the bill never passed the House.

Never fear though, the “law” is being fought by those freedom hating, traitorous, anti-American liberals.

Further proof that this administration cares absolutely nothing for the law or the Constitution if it gets in their way.

Considering that this has been one of the best years ever for NCAA upsets, I figured my 2004 anthem “Glory, Glory, Cinderella!” was due for an update. So I made a few modifications (replacing “Gonzaga” with “Northwestern” — meaning Northwestern State, of course — was painful but necessary) and added a new verse. Oh, and I added a line making fun of Billy Packer. :) As before, it’s set to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Enjoy!

Mine eyes have the glory of a bracket freshly made
And prognosticators certain that the seeds will be obeyed
But like clockwork, underdogs emerge and favorites are waylaid
The Madness marches on!

Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
The Madness marches on!

I have seen Them sprint to glory from a hundred feet down court
With the buzzer fast approaching, taking shots of last resort
Valpo, Hampton and Northwestern, bringing drama to the sport
The Madness marches on!

Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
The Madness marches on!

I have read the breathless headlines scream, “It’s late, it’s Tate, it’s great!�
I have witnessed the impossible, watched plays that cheated fate
Like the airball that became a winning dunk for N.C. State
The Madness marches on!

Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
The Madness marches on!

I have watched unlikely upsets enter NCAA lore
I have rooted for mid-majors as they busted down the door
I have wondered how the heck George Mason reached the Final Four
The Madness marches on!

Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
The Madness marches on!

They have shredded “expert� brackets that each year must call retreat
They have baffled Billy Packer as they topple the elite
Carolina? See you later! UConn Huskies, you’ve been beat!
The Madness marches on!

Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
The Madness marches on!

It’s the beauty of the tourney that these teams we yearly see
Tiny schools from no-name leagues like CAA and MVC
So forget the BCS, for it’s the Dance that sets us free
The Madness marches on!

Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
Glory, glory, Cinderella!
The Madness marches on!

Mike Tran is pretty good at this whole tournament prediction thing, but he’s no Russell Pleasant. (Hat tip: Dan O’Hara.)

Pleasant’s story actually reminds me a bit of Justin Vale, who won my 2003 men’s pool in part because he accidentally picked Marquette to go to the Final Four. (Coincidentally, it is Vale’s record for the largest margin of victory in Living Room Times history that Tran will break if UCLA wins the championship or loses to Florida in the title game.)

Anyway… speaking of the NCAAs, here are some SI photo galleries: crazy fans, the George Mason celebration, and cute cheerleaders.

God bless the NCAA Tournament. :)

Boston resident Sean Sullivan, who led the 9th annual Living Room Times women’s NCAA pool just a few hours ago, was knocked out of first place Monday — and, at the same moment, mathematically eliminated from any chance of winning the pool — when LSU beat Stanford, leaving new leader Rick Boeckler and seven others still alive to win.

Boeckler, the 2003 champion and Becky Loy’s uncle from Silver Spring, MD, moved ahead of Sullivan — for good — when the LSU women joined the LSU men in the Final Four. Because his bracket is identical to Sullivan’s from this point forward, the LSU-Stanford game was Boeckler’s last chance to gain ground on Sullivan (who had picked Oklahoma, which lost to Stanford on Saturday). If Stanford had won, Sullivan’s 10-point lead over Boeckler would have become set in stone, and Boeckler would have been eliminated. Instead, Sullivan is eliminated, even though he is still in second place with 315 points.

Boeckler has 320 out of a possible 382 points as the tournament moves to the second day of the Elite Eight tomorrow. Victoria Lopez (a.k.a. “Vicki from NJ”) and Jay Johnson (a.k.a. “DrawingDead”) are tied for third place with 313 points. Unlike Sullivan, however, they are still alive to win the pool.

Aside from Boeckler, who is looking to join Todd Stigliano in the pantheon of two-time women’s pool champions, and Lopez and Johnson, the other five contestants who still have a chance to win the pool are: Kim Stone, Conor Sullivan, Lisa Velte, Scott Loomer and A.J. St. John. Sullivan was one of 2004’s co-champions.

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Fox Sports’s Charley Rosen pulls no punches in expressing his opinion about the NBA prospects, or lack thereof, of college basketball’s two brightest stars this season. Rosen on J.J. Redick: “Even the worst NBA defenders will contain him, and the league’s most impotent scorers will have career games against Redick’s pitiful defense.” Rosen on Adam Morrison: “If he works hard on his flaws, Morrison might some day become a double-digit scorer in the NBA. But to compare him with Larry Bird is heresy.” Also, a glorious back-handed compliment: “he certainly has the athleticism to develop into a mediocre defender.” Heh.

Rosen also advises Morrison to “do his crying in the postgame locker room.” More on that topic here. [UPDATE: Also here. Heh. Hat tip: Joel.]

On a semi-related note, this thread on “People More Clutch Than JJ” is pretty funny. (Hat tip: a commenter.) Also funny, though entirely unrelated, is this thread on “Things more legitimate than UCon’s trip to the Elite Eight.”

Ok, maybe this is cruel and unusual punishment, though Brendan may prefer it over the idea of having to wear a UCLA cheerleader uniform.

Seriously though, who gets that upset about not having meat? Try Catholicism during Lent buddy!