Michelle Lim

Journal Staff

They say to pursue your passion, and Suffolk senior Mary Garon is doing just that.

Developing a love for basketball at the tender age of six, Garon’s commitment to and continuation of playing the sport has gone on for an unwavering fifteen years. Second on Suffolk’s women’s team in points this season with 10.0 ppg, Garon has come a long way in her basketball career.

The road to achieving her current success came with hard work put in on Garon’s part. Up until university, all her life, her role on the courts was as a wing. Since enrolling in Suffolk, Garon has made her way up, starting off as a guard in freshman year and becoming a forward in sophomore year, a position she still holds today on the team.

Admittedly, part of why Garon chose Suffolk was for the basketball—and the fact that Suffolk is Division III. She disabuses any notion of inferiority in the status, saying that D3 basketball is still “very, very competitive.” The other half of the reason Garon chose Suffolk was because of the Sawyer Business School, in which she currently double majors in marketing and global business. She says that the competitive-yet-not-overly-stressful basketball combined with the solid business school turned out to be the “perfect balance” for her.

Among some of her strengths, Garon prides herself on trying her hardest. The past couple of seasons in particular, she has been the rebounder who immediately shoots after a game and pushes up to the point guard. Although she has a lot under her belt, she admits that she is still working on earning the top score and being a top rebounder.

As she looks to the upcoming basketball season, she aims to refine her consistency. One long-term goal in particular that she is hopeful of is winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship.

With her adventure at Suffolk about to come to a close, she is now focused on getting a job. When basketball season is over, however, she is not deterred from wanting to continue playing what has and always be part of her life. In fact, she expresses an interest in participating in a women’s league down the line.

Hailing from New Hampshire, Garon is unsure whether she will return home upon graduation or if she will stay around the Massachusetts area. But what she is sure of is the love and support she receives from her parents, teammates and coach. They have helped impact Garon on what she does everyday and how she can do better; sticking by her and being her source of encouragement has kept her going.

It is almost time for Garon to go, but before she does, as always, she is ready to play ball.

Senior Mary Garon is second on the team in points, having averaged 10 points in six games so far this season for the Rams. The team has started off the season 4-2.

 Mike McMahon

Journal Staff

There is no week in sports that is filled with more rumors and speculation then the MLB Winter Meetings. This year, many big names are still lingering, many big deals have already been made and some teams may look a lot different come spring training in February.

On the home front, Sox fans are eager to see what new management has up their sleeves. So I’m going to tell you what I think Sox management should be focusing on as well as keeping you up to date on who might be going where around the league.

First, the Sox, all I have to say is, think small. Don’t expect the Sox to bag a big name free agent this week.

The team’s payroll is already going to be at an insane number and this is before the team has even resigned Big Papi. Assuming the Sox close the deal with Ortiz, which they should, there is not much leeway for the Sox to go out and sign free agents. I think the first priority for the new management is to focus on keeping the payroll where it is and do everything it can take to stay below the league luxury tax threshold.

Another thing to keep in mind is the contract expiration of Jacoby Ellsbury at the end of next season. So, I’m hoping the Sox stay quiet this week and stay away from guys like Carlos Beltran and Michael Cuddyer. The only other concern is the pitching staff and questions surrounding the closer spot.

My advice to the Sox, do not go out and sign Ryan Madson. If any deal is going to be made for a closer, it should be a trade for Oakland closer, Andrew Bailey.

Compared to the rest of the league, things are relatively quiet in Boston. Apparently the Miami Marlins have caught “heat fever” because out of the nowhere, the new-look Marlins are looking like contenders in the NL East. First bagging Heath Bell then following through on talks about Jose Reyes by signing the shortstop hours before the Winter Meetings.

The infield drama of Reyes and Hanley Ramirez might give “the big three” a run for their money. Although this makes them a better team on paper, I don’t see this working incredibly well.

Remember, this is the same organization that couldn’t handle Logan Morrison and his tweeting. How will they handle two spoiled superstars in the same infield? Yet, the signings might not be over in Miami. Sources are linking the Marlins to talks with Albert Pujols, CJ Wilson, and Mark Beuhrle.

This year might present one the biggest markets for sluggers in recent memory with Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Aramis Ramirez all on the market. If I had to take a swing at it, I would have to say the Pujols picture will not look much different. He stays a Cardinal despite being linked to Chicago and Miami.

Fielder has not had as much speculation surrounding him due to Pujols’ availability, which leads me to believe that he might wait for Pujols to sign before making his decision. If he doesn’t end up back in Milwaukee, I could see the young slugger landing in Chicago with the Cubs, in Toronto, and Seattle has expressed interest as well. I will also stress the urge to not sleep on the Yankees, they are sneaky, they may seem uninterested, but they are always involved.

Aramis Ramirez will most likely be heading to a top tier team. If the Phillies are able to move Placido Polanco, look for them to land Ramirez but the Angels and Brewers are also interested.

The pitching market is fairly bleak this season. CJ Wilson is the top dog available but I’m not sure if he is worth the value is being put at. His offseason numbers were average and he fell off the map in the World Series.

The pitching market will stay quiet until after Wilson signs. Guys like Edwin Jackson and Mark Beuhrle will have increased value once Wilson is off the market. I would say the Marlins or the Nationals are the most likely to land the lefty, but don’t count out the Yankees and the Angles have also speculated interest.

I can speculate all I want to, but year after year we see that the Winter Meetings tend to take on a life of their own. Very few things are certain. But one thing is certain: for baseball nerds like myself, this time of year is exactly what is needed to help cope with baseball deprivation.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has 37 TD passes for the undefeated Green Bay Packers this season.

Athanasios Armenis

Journal Staff

As Aaron Rodgers stepped out of the huddle with 55 seconds remaining, late into Sunday afternoon’s clash with the New York Giants, the #12 on the front of his uniform seemed to stick out.

12. It represents the number of wins that the undefeated Packers have been able to consecutively capture, as their unbeaten streak this season still remains intact. Ironically, the hosting Giants, along with the noise of a sellout crowd from Met-Life stadium in East Rutherford, NJ were almost able to knock off the unbeaten Packers, as everyone recalls the Giants putting a “perfect end” to the Patriots 18-1 season.

Rodgers, along with the plethora of weapons he has on offense, including wide-outs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, along with tight end Jermichael Finley, were able to cap off a 68-yard drive in the final minute of regulation as kicker, Mason Crosby was able to convert on a 30 yard field goal, giving the Packers a 38-35 victory.

So what’s next for Green Bay? Well, the almost surging Raiders looked like they had a good shot at knocking off the defending champs, but that was before the 34-14 beat- down the Dolphins gave them on Sunday in Miami.

Now, assuming the Packers are able to handle the unpredictable Raiders at home next Sunday, that leads them into their following two matchups which include an away game at Arrowhead stadium to face a Kansas City team who just lost their starting quarterback, Matt Cassel for the rest of the year. Then they are back to Green Bay to host their divisional rival, the Chicago Bears, who also just lost their starting quarterback for the year, Jay Cutler, who broke the thumb in his throwing hand.

So can one of the two backup quarterbacks on either the Chiefs or Bears really produce enough offense to knock down the highest scoring team in the NFL?

That could leave the Packers at 15-0, heading into the final week of the season against the young, inexperienced but sure as heck fun to watch Detroit Lions. The same Lions, who started off this same season a quick 5-0 before they mysteriously vanished out of everyone’s radars.

But sitting at 7-5, Detroit may have playoff implications at stake heading into their week 16 matchup with the cheese heads in Wisconsin and with an explosive quarterback in Matthew Stafford and an elite receiving corps, in Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, sky’s the limit for the young Lions, who very well could be playing the role of spoiler.