Category: Ben McLaurin

Why Golf is the Best Hobby

By: Ben McLaurin

Golf is one of the best hobbies as it combines solid physical activity with a significant mental component. Making it enjoyable to hang out with friends and have a good laugh or play a competitive round for money. Golf is a once-in-a-lifetime game and can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Golf uses balance, coordination, and flexibility, and is good for older people. Walking across the beautiful green landscape and spending hours outdoors is also excellent for your well-being, leading to improved health and reduced stress.

Apart from the physical aspect, golf is also a game of the mind. Each round challenges people, and especially myself, to stay composed after bad shots and not have a snowball effect after one bad shot. The ability to stay calm after missing a putt or the ability to think ahead before a tricky shot helps to acquire patience and discipline—attributes which can be transferred well outside the course. Perseverance is also acquired through the game, with improvement through consistent practice and many rounds of golf.

Socially, golf encourages relationships. Whether played among friends, family, or random people met right before you head out for a round and decide to pair up, business partnerships and long-term friendships have developed on the course, as people are allowed to connect in a relaxed setting.

One of the things that makes golf such a fulfilling activity is that it is available and can be played in all countries, unlike many other sports. From small neighborhood courses to famous championship courses, it is easy to play almost anywhere. Technology has even branched out the activity into virtual golf simulators and online competitions. Golf is the perfect combination of relaxation. It’s a sport that calms the body, forces laser focus from the mind, and strengthens social bonds. While enabling players to work with what nature gives them on the course, from bad lies to perfect gaps between trees. These are qualities that make golf more than a hobby. It is a passion and one of the best hobbies anyone can experience.

Why Hurdling Should be Allowed in Football

By: Ben McLaurin

I am going to be talking about a penalty that happened on Friday night. So we were playing LMA, and two plays before, I had been hit low in the knee on an outside run, and it had kind of hurt my knee because it was planted in the ground. The safety came down and down low when I tried to truck him, and right when I landed after being flipped from the low hit, I told myself the next time I get an outside run, I’m going to hurdle this cat.

Next play comes, it is Lizz lead left, and I do not get the ball. The wide receivers came into the huddle to tell us our next play, the rip lead option right, and this was my moment. As long as my quarterback pitched it, I would have my chance. Ready, set, I go in motion, hut; Ford runs to the right. The outside linebacker is coming for him, which means he needs to pitch it, which he does. I am taking off from the sideline when the corner appears earlier than I thought due to him maneuvering around my blocking receiver. I knew how this corner in particular was going to tackle since he was a shorter dude, and I ran and jumped over him immediately after I got up. I saw two penalties, which I knew the move was illegal, but the corner was so low there was no other option. They announced the penalty for hurdling, which was 15 yards! Which I thought was absurd considering it was a minor penalty, not like targeting. This rule needs to be taken out of high school since it is allowed in college and the NFL. The point of the rule is to prevent injury, but in my opinion getting hit in the knee repeatedly is much more detrimental to a player’s health than getting grazed by a cleat on a hurdle.

Why Clemson lost to LSU

By: Ben McLaurin

To begin, Clemson was favored going into the game, but for some reason Clemson decides to the game. We were not expecting our star receiver to get hurt on the 2nd drive of the game. LSU does not breed star players, they get them in the portal like Mansoor Delane was a locksmith all night for LSU as a Virginia Tech transfer. Antiono Williams fell with a hamstring injury and he was expected to be Cade’s number one target all night. Clemson’s corner Ashton Hampton played a disappointing game with 3 Pass Interferences, but one was a horrendous call around the fifty-yard line which not only led to a first down on 3rd and 11 but led to a touchdown that put them ahead 17-10. Clemson’s 2nd half and run game was pathetic with 31 total rush yards all night with constant costly penalties that led to drive killers for the Tigers and extenders for LSU. Clemson  had a hot start to the 2nd half with a drive until Hauser missed an important kick to extend the lead which fell wide right. The Clemson o-line was experienced and failed to execute unlike LSU’s young o-line that had an effective run game with well over 100 yards.  Tj Parker and Demonta Capehart, two projected first round picks, put up 2 total tackles made by Tj Parker which led to 1st year starters like Ronan Hanfan to step up with 12 tackles followed by Sammyn Brown’s 11. In all, Clemson did play a poor game and the ref’s were no help for Clemson. Even without the bad calls, Clemson just played a bad game and were not prepared especially on Garrett Riley’s part with a sorry game plan. Especially in the beginning, instead of getting Cade easy completions he tried to have him read deep concepts against a star studded secondary.