“SELL THE TEAM”, “SELL THE TEAM”, “SELL THE TEAM”

A famous movie called Moneyball has an often quoted line by baseball fans across the globe. Brad Pitt’s character, ironically playing Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, says “How can you not be romantic about baseball.” 

Based on the true story of the early 2000s Oakland A’s, Beane saw his team struggle and lose almost everything, yet he remained faithful and worked to save his team from absolute poverty, employing strategies throughout the movie to save his team, and in the end is successful. 

Sadly, it looks like the Athletics won’t get the fairytale hero to save them from relocation this time.  After years of rumors of a move to Las Vegas, it now looks like relocation is definitely on the A’s horizon. How did we get here? How does a professional baseball team get to the point where they aren’t making enough money?

Dr. Joe Dennis, professor and adviser for the sports communication major at Piedmont University, said the A’s situation is unique.  “They’ve adopted a barebone spending model — they are not making a lot of revenue, but they’re not spending a lot, either.”

Dennis is an associate professor at Piedmont University, the only college in Georgia which offers sports communication degree. He is also a lifelong baseball fan, specifically of the Chicago White Sox. Dennis grew up 15 minutes away from the White Sox Stadium and is no stranger to the history of baseball, as he said he has been a fan for nearly all 46 years he has been alive. As a baseball fan, Dennis said he is upset about the way the Athletics front office is handling the relocation option. 

“Baseball is really unique in that it has no salary cap and no salary minimum, and so it’s absurd that teams can get away with spending nothing and just putting a product out there that allows other teams to basically have exhibition games against them.”

He has seen Theo Epstein, former general manager of the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, employ tanking tactics, but feels what the A’s are doing is completely different.

“Many teams have done this. They will intentionally lose and trade their star player away, but they do that to get really great prospects and build through the draft,” Dennis said, adding that Oakland received very little in return for the trades of top players like Matt Olson and Chris Bassitt. “That message isn’t there, they got nothing for those trades – he’s (John Fischer) basically just tanking to get the team out of Oakland”

Dennis said this cheap attempt of ownership only hurts the fans. 

It isn’t all on the ownership though. Juan Pagan, assistant athletic director at Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, said there’s another group who has to pick up the slack — the front office. “They are pretty much the face of the team from a business aspect.”

In addition to being involved in athletics, Pagan also has a  master’s degree in business administration. Over the course of his lifetime, Pagan said  he has seen various players across various sports blatantly deny a team because of a front office issue. Major athletes like Ken Griffey Jr., John Elway and Eli Manning were all examples of athletes who saw a team with major front office problems and said “no” to being drafted by them. 

“Without a good front office you won’t get any big time free agents, big time players in draft picks, to make your franchise players,” he said. “I believe that’s what is going on with the Oakland Athletics right now.”

At least for one game on a Tuesday evening, deafening chants rained down from the Oakland Coliseum. Chants that overpowered the broadcasting crew’s voices. Chants that caused the pitcher to believe his headset was broken. This rare sight at the Coliseum, where the team typically averages 8,555 fans, was due to a reverse boycott by fans on June 13 against their owner, John Fisher. The often empty stands of the Coliseum were far from it, with game attendance at 27,759 people, as A’s fans wanted to show they can still support a team in Oakland.

Unfortunately, it may be too little, too late. 

As I sat in a cafe, waiting to order, I couldn’t help but eye the decadent pastries displayed in front of me. The tantalizing smell of sweet caramelized sugar reached my nose and suddenly it was my turn to order. Before I even knew it I had ordered a chocolate croissant without hesitation. 

“It’s fine it’s just this once,” I told myself. I knew how sugar made me feel, especially in the morning. Whenever I ate too much sugar I would start to feel lethargic, anxious, irritable, bloated and hungry. It was a constant battle of willpower and addiction that seemed to tighten its grip with every indulgence. 

However, I noticed it wasn’t just me. It seemed like everyone around me was indulging in sugary treats. I observed the man that sat at the table across from me, who looked like he was on his way to work. As he took his first bite of a coffee cake, a subtle moment of satisfaction and delight glimmered across his face. However, it seemed like it was overshadowed by a lingering sense of guilt and helplessness. This serves as a poignant reminder of the widespread effect of sugar addiction and the urgent need to find it.

According to Addiction Center, approximately 75% of Americans consume excess amounts of sugar and many of them could be classified as having a sugar addiction. This is an alarming amount of people whose health could be at risk. Many of which, probably aren’t even aware that they could have an addiction.

Society’s addiction to sugar has become a prevalent and important issue in the modern world. For many, it’s difficult to resist the temptation of sugary treats and drinks present in stores everywhere. In addition, it seems like added sugar is hidden in almost everything we eat. Most people believe that an addiction to sugar is simply the result of a lack of willpower. 

However, there are key psychological and biological factors that drive sugar addiction. The addiction is real and can have an effect on the brain similar to drugs. People claim that they feel compelled to eat sweet foods, similar in the way an alcoholic might feel compelled to drink. Despite what many companies want you to believe, sugar addiction is a big problem that can have detrimental impacts on your health.

When we consume sugar, the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system (its reward system) is activated. When the sugar reaches our system it triggers the release of a huge surge of dopamine. Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter that makes us feel pleasure. This feeling of pleasure reinforces the desire for more sugar. This creates a seemingly never ending cycle of consuming sugar in order to experience the pleasure again. 

The emotional and psychological associations with sugar and sugar addiction can vary from person to person. However, our brains are all wired similarly when it comes to dopamine release. The pleasurable sensation that sugar gives can lead people to develop emotional associations with sugar, such as using it to comfort unpleasant emotions. The consumption of sweet foods leads to temporary relief of stress and negative emotions, which can lead to a psychological dependence on sugar to regulate emotions. 

Similar to drug addiction, extended exposure to high amounts of sugar can build a tolerance. When we consume sugar it is broken down into glucose and is then absorbed into the bloodstream. The pancreas responds by releasing insulin which is a hormone that helps transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells that can be used for energy. Overtime, the brain becomes desensitized to the high levels of sugar and insulin which leads to insulin resistance. Therefore, more insulin is needed to have the same function of transporting glucose which leads to elevated blood sugar levels and potential long term health issues, such as type 2 diabetes. 

In addition to type 2 diabetes, sugar can cause a host of other health problems. Obesity is one of the most common and apparent health problems sugar can cause. While weight isn’t a direct reflection of one’s health, consuming excess sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity due to the sugary foods high calorie content. Excess weight from sugar can lead to other life threatening health issues such as heart disease and certain types of cancer. 

Science shows that high sugar intake has been linked to an increased risk in heart disease. Diets high in sugar can raise blood pressure, promote inflammation, and contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels. The inflammation caused can create stress on the heart and blood vessels which can lead to increased blood pressure. These are factors for heart disease and dramatically increases the risk of it becoming fatal. 

This problem can be solved by increasing awareness and encouraging people to reduce their sugar intake. Making people aware of the negative impact that sugar has on their health can help them begin to battle their addiction. Education on not only the impact but the presence of sugar is important as well. There are many hidden sources of sugar in foods and drinks. Hidden sugars are in many popular snacks and even foods that may be marketed as healthier. Learning how to read food labels can be helpful in avoiding concealed sugars. 

After education, gradually reducing one’s sugar intake and eating a balanced diet rich in fiber and protein can help. Emotional support and stress management are also important strategies to help prevent emotional overeating. If more people don’t make the effort to fight their dependency on sugar, then global health will continue on a steady and dangerous decrease. Starting with awareness, all of these strategies can be used to make a difference in one’s health.

So, the next time you find yourself gazing at a case full of tempting treats, reflect carefully on the unsettling effect that sugar has on your body. While I’m not asking you to never eat sugar again. Simply take a moment to remember that a few mindful choices at a time can bring you closer to breaking free from the firm grasp of sugar. 

One word that could be used to describe Joe Dennis is passionate … especially about his musical tastes.

“If you don’t like Kesha you can leave,” Dennis said to a group of high school students attending the Summer Media Academy at the University of Georgia. 

In an interview with the students, it became clear that Joe is passionate about a multitude of things. From Kesha to fedoras to the White Sox, Joe has many passions. But one of his core passions is journalism. 

On the surface, Joe Dennis is a talented journalist and professor who is currently the chair of the mass communications department at Piedmont University. However, diving deeper, a particular point of interest for Joe is his collection of fedoras. While it may seem silly, his fedora collection actually reflects a piece of cultural identity as a half Filipino. “‘I needed something that defined me,” he said, recalling how became a fedora wearer. “I was walking around the streets of New York City when I saw a woman selling fedoras. Bruno Mars was popular around then, and he rocks the fedora. And he’s Filipino. I thought, That’s it! I’m going to wear a fedora.’”

Although he is comfortable in his career and identity now, he felt challenged when starting out his career. As a budding journalist, he found it difficult to recognize that there was a business end in the field. His first journalism job was at The Walton Tribune in Monroe, Georgia which is a small publication that relies on the community it covers. The people that he would cover — the community leaders and politicians — also often advertised for the paper. Therefore, Joe found it difficult to understand how to balance creating compelling stories while respecting the advertisers. 

Despite this, he says that he wouldn’t do anything different. He believes that he is exactly where he is supposed to be. When asked if he would change anything about his life he simply replied, 

“Nothing. I really think that everything that’s happened has happened for a reason.”

Success and stardom, are the two really as alike as we may think? Though many people enter the industry with dreams of becoming the next Steven Speilberg or Audrey Hepburn, very few truly reach that level of fame. So, the question arises, is it truly fame and fortune which defines someone’s success or is it something else entirely?

  “If you’re just in it for the money… I don’t think success is linked to money,” said award-winning screenwriter Neil Landau. “I think success is linked to freedom. And, you know, your idea of success changes to be healthy, happy, loved, appreciated, inspired.”

Neil Landau is an active screenwriter who is set to become the new Director of Screenwriting at the new MFA Film & Television Program at the University of Georgia. Thanks to the success of his movie Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, Landau broke into the industry at a young age and has gone on to work with many well known film companies even becoming the executive writing consultant at Sony as well as Columbia Pictures. Being a part of the industry for such a long time has helped shape his perspective on success, evolving from a need to be recognized to a satisfaction in knowing he can share his story as well as help others do the same.

“Right now, like my main emphasis is to mentor younger writers and new writers because I feel like I’ve had my opportunities,” said Landau. “And it’s not like, I don’t still write and have a lot of projects, but I’m very content, paying it forward, and mentoring and helping other people.”

For Landau, the idea of success is linked to the mentality you have when looking towards your future and he hopes to help his students embrace this idea as well. “What are you willing to do to make it,” is the biggest question any person within the industry must answer and it’s important to recognize that not everyone is willing to go the lengths others will.

“I did not have enough of a drive to give up everything and just pursue,” said Suzanne Dunn when asked about her success within the industry.

Dunn had always dreamed of going on Broadway and getting awarded an Oscar, but after a while her dream changed and she just hoped to live a life which would allow her to do what she loved. Being an actor, she knew that it would be difficult to find stardom with it being such a competitive industry however, success was a different story.

“I think as we get older, the idea of stardom, because you know, the realities of the business is it doesn’t look kindly upon older people,” said Dunn. “Since then, success has become more about, am I still working? Can I make a living at this? Am I being seen? Is it fulfilling?”

These are all questions Dunn answered after rejoining the industry in her mid 50s. Persevering through every situation is what allowed Dunn to enter and make a living when  so many others could not. While she used to focus on her acting career, she has spent most of her time in recent years directing productions with her most recent work being an onstage production of Grease the Musical. While some may not view this as success, she strongly believes that she has managed to retain a balance which allowed her the happiness of a family while also the joy of the theater and that’s all she really needed.

So, stardom and success, are they really the same? I’d like to think not.

The speakers of the stadium blare the disheartening sound of a “tomahawk chop” as football players burst through the breakaway banners with a picture of a “chief” on it. 

My friends and I stare awkwardly at each other, not knowing whether to partake in the cheering or not. We look around us, and no one in the crowd has bat an eye to the situation unfolding around us. People are moving their arms as if they are chopping, they are cheering for our “Warriors.” At this point, my friends and I are extremely uncomfortable. Maybe this is just harmless fun, maybe my friends and I are all just too sensitive? 

According to a study conducted by Michigan University, 65 percent of Native Americans find sports fans chanting the tomahawk chop offensive. Another poll conducted by Washington State showed that up to 75 percent of Native Americans oppose symbols of Indigenous people in sports, with the number shooting higher among younger age groups.

“These mascots are teaching stereotypical, misleading and too often, insulting images of American Indian,” said former APA (American Psychological Association) President, Ronald Levant. 

There are many instances where high schools, sports teams and even professional sports teams use these offensive images of Native Americans as their mascots. Although some people might not find this insensitive, some people find it to be straight up uncomfortable. Just like my friends and I. 

Not only are these portrayals offensive to Native Americans, they continue to produce harmful stereotypical images about Native Americans. These stereotypes undermine the ability to portray the actual images of their culture and traditions. Stereotypes undermine culture for all minority and ethnic groups, this instance is just an example.

Moreover, there are no beneficial effects from having these harmful mascots. In fact, it’s the opposite.

“We are left with harm. Depression, suicide ideation and lowered self-esteem,” said Stephanie Fryberg, PHD, of University of Arizona. 

Young Native Americans are especially impacted because they are constantly reminded of the limited ways in which society views them. As a result, it causes young Native Americans to only view themselves in a certain way. 

Prejudice mascots are only a small example of the many stereotypes that Native Americans face. However, it adds fuel to the fire of racism targeted towards the Native American community that has already been trampled on.

After learning from award-winning journalist, Joe Dennis, it is safe to say that Joe is the man. And he’s not modest enough to admit it.

“Pretty much, I am the journalism program there,” said Joe, chair and associate professor of mass communications at Piedmont University. “I love being a part of (a student’s) journey, and someone they can go to when they need help.” 

When Joe isn’t teaching at Piedmont university, he spends his time teaching high school students at University of Georgia summer camps. After getting his master’s and his Ph.d from the University of Georgia, Joe has just entered his fourth consecutive year teaching journalism to aspiring young journalists. He loves his career, and has no regrets.. 

“I really think that everything that’s happened has happened for a reason,” he said. “I’m really happy with how things turned out.” 

Joe’s co-teacher of the journalism class, said her former professor has a unique style of teaching. “I feel like he’s hands on,”said Keshondra Shipp, a former student of Joe’s. “I like that about Grady, that it’s like real hands on.” 

Keshondra “Kee” Shipp believes that Joe is passionate about his teaching. From being a student in his graduate newsroom class back in Fall of 2021. Kee states that he’s taught her a lot. He’s a very technical person. He taught her a lot about the technical side of journalism, which is something that she will take with her to her job in Corpus Cristi, Texas. 

“He really knows what he’s doing, but he’s not like braggy about it,” says Elsa Block, a student in his summer multimedia journalism academy at the University of Georgia. “He’s very humble, and he’s just a really nice person. And he’s very easy going, and he’s easy to talk to if you need help.” 

Students passionately believe that Joe Dennis, the current Piedmont University chair of communication, should permanently teach journalism full-time at the University of Georgia.

“Nobody wants a boring teacher,” said Hunter Pitrak, one of Joe’s students at UGA’s summer academy. “I feel like I would definitely go into journalism at UGA if I knew he was going to be my professor.”

Joe Dennis attended the University of Georgia, where he received his PhD in Mass Communications. Now, he is currently the mass communications chair at Piedmont University, where he teaches students during the regular school year. However, during the summer, Joe returns to the University of Georgia to teach at the summer academy, and continues to get invited back each summer.

“I think UGA has a really good journalism program,” said Joe. “When you combine it with the Red & Black, (UGA’s independent student newspaper) it’s a one-two punch that I think is one of the best in the country.”

Joe has allowed his various experiences to shape the way he views people, as he portrays his love for people and their differences through teaching. Teachers expressing real passion for their work and their students are difficult to encounter. The prominent Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication program at UGA could further benefit with humorous and genuine professors like Joe, who truly make an impact on students.

“Joe is a very engaging teacher,” said Elsa Block, who traveled all the way from California to attend UGA’s journalism class during the summer. “He is very positive and funny.”

Mixing comedy with learning creates successful teaching styles, as many of Joe’s students have agreed that they have learned more in his class than any other journalism teacher, making Joe a valuable professor that UGA should undoubtedly consider. 

“Teaching with humor allows the students to enjoy it and relate to it more,” said Maika Walker, another attendant of UGA’s summer academy. 

If Joe were to expand his career onto UGA, the amount of students he would surely impact would increase significantly. Joe, who is obviously very qualified, would be one of UGA’s greatest professors, continuing to teach with a permanent smile. 

“I think UGA would most definitely benefit from a professor like Joe,” said Keshondra Shipp, who just recently graduated from UGA with her masters degree in journalism and mass communication. “I think he’s a hidden gem, and I don’t think many people know about him. But I think he’s great.”

Have film companies and producers really lost their spark? Film enthusiasts and experts say yes.

“They make a lot of unoriginal stuff now,” said Eli Saliba, the production coordinator at Athena Studios in Athens. “They make a lot of remakes and a lot of spinoffs. I think they have the opportunity to be good, but there are certain things that production companies know will make money for them, like Star Wars and Harry Potter.”

Saliba and many others in the film industry state that franchises like Marvel, Star Wars and Harry Potter continue to produce spinoffs that are not necessarily better than the original, but still create revenue because millions of people are part of the fandom and feel as if they must see it. However, original ideas that many have never heard of might not produce as much revenue, because these movies do not have a specified fandom yet, making people not feel the necessity to see them. This further persuades producers to stick with what they know will bring large revenue. 

“I think it’s not so much that they (film producers) are running out of ideas, it’s that they are running out of time,” said film enthusiast Alex Cook, a student at the UGA summer academy. “I think because of Tik Tok and YouTube, they have to speed themselves up to pick up with culture because trends move so fast.”

To test the thesis statement that older movies generally outmatch newer movies, a poll was conducted within a journalism class at UGA, with ages ranging from 13 to 46. The poll asked what students and professors favorite movie was, with results stating that 77% of the movies declared were movies produced before 2010, giving evidence that older production and creativity is in fact preferable.

Further, to eliminate any bias towards the question, some students were asked what their favorite movie produced later than 2010 is. Student Hunter Pitrak from Georgia, said her “favorite movie post 2010 is the new version of “The Little Mermaid” .” 

Another student, Elsa Block from California, said “ “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is my favorite newer movie.” 

The movies that the students chose, the new version of The Little Mermaid and Spider-Man: No Way Home, further reinforce the statement that movie production has lost their spark. The new “The Little Mermaid” is exactly like the original, but without the animation aspect. Spider-Man has been a character in the Marvel Franchise since 1962, and although new storylines have been produced, the same character has been in use for more than 60 years.

Even people like Keshondra Shipp, a teacher assistant at the UGA summer academy, who haven’t seen many movies believe that movie producers have lost their imagination. “I think that movies tell a story, and to some degree, there’s some truth to it,” she says. “Some of the newer ones tell a story, but the question is if that story is good or not.”

 Chicago is  the hometown of professor, journalist, and family man Joe dennis, who says he has no regrets in life.

“I really think that everything that’s happened has happened for a reason, I’m a big believer in that. I usually try to treat people with respect.”

Joe Dennis is 46- years old from the southside of Chicago. He has an extensive background in journalism and radio. He worked at WPUP-FEM in Athens, Georgia, for seven years. Dennis had his own show on the station “The Big Rock show”. His current passion is teaching journalism.

“My students should know not to mess with AP style. And now they know the consequences.” He once tweeted. 

 Dennis first worked at the Walton tribune in Monroe, Georgia. Fast forward 20 years, he’s the director of the mass communications department at Piedmont University  and works at the University of Georgia as an adjunct instructor.

“Bruno mars is Filipino and wears fedoras, I’m Filipino, I could wear fedoras.”

He has three sons and a wife, Carla Dennis. “Thats what it’s all about” he wrote  on his personal website.

Joe Dennis has had a life with many careers such as journalism, a photographer, a radio show, and plenty others. But now, he’s finally found his home at Piedmont University. That’s true peace, and teaching future generations of Journalists.

 Chicago is  the hometown of professor, journalist, and family man Joe dennis, who says he has no regrets in life.

“I really think that everything that’s happened has happened for a reason, I’m a big believer in that. I usually try to treat people with respect.”

Joe Dennis is 46- years old from the southside of Chicago. He has an extensive background in journalism and radio. He worked at WPUP-FEM in Athens, Georgia, for seven years. Dennis had his own show on the station “The Big Rock show”. His current passion is teaching journalism.

“My students should know not to mess with AP style. And now they know the consequences.” He once tweeted. 

 Dennis first worked at the Walton tribune in Monroe, Georgia. Fast forward 20 years, he’s the director of the mass communications department at Piedmont University  and works at the University of Georgia as an adjunct instructor.

“Bruno mars is Filipino and wears fedoras, I’m Filipino, I could wear fedoras.”

He has three sons and a wife, Carla Dennis. “Thats what it’s all about” he wrote  on his personal website.

Joe Dennis has had a life with many careers such as journalism, a photographer, a radio show, and plenty others. But now, he’s finally found his home at Piedmont University. That’s true peace, and teaching future generations of Journalists.

 Chicago is  the hometown of professor, journalist, and family man Joe dennis, who says he has no regrets in life.

“I really think that everything that’s happened has happened for a reason, I’m a big believer in that. I usually try to treat people with respect.”

Joe Dennis is 46- years old from the southside of Chicago. He has an extensive background in journalism and radio. He worked at WPUP-FEM in Athens, Georgia, for seven years. Dennis had his own show on the station “The Big Rock show”. His current passion is teaching journalism.

“My students should know not to mess with AP style. And now they know the consequences.” He once tweeted. 

 Dennis first worked at the Walton tribune in Monroe, Georgia. Fast forward 20 years, he’s the director of the mass communications department at Piedmont University  and works at the University of Georgia as an adjunct instructor.

“Bruno mars is Filipino and wears fedoras, I’m Filipino, I could wear fedoras.”

He has three sons and a wife, Carla Dennis. “Thats what it’s all about” he wrote  on his personal website.

Joe Dennis has had a life with many careers such as journalism, a photographer, a radio show, and plenty others. But now, he’s finally found his home at Piedmont University. That’s true peace, and teaching future generations of Journalists.

 Chicago is  the hometown of professor, journalist, and family man Joe dennis, who says he has no regrets in life.

“I really think that everything that’s happened has happened for a reason, I’m a big believer in that. I usually try to treat people with respect.”

Joe Dennis is 46- years old from the southside of Chicago. He has an extensive background in journalism and radio. He worked at WPUP-FEM in Athens, Georgia, for seven years. Dennis had his own show on the station “The Big Rock show”. His current passion is teaching journalism.

“My students should know not to mess with AP style. And now they know the consequences.” He once tweeted. 

 Dennis first worked at the Walton tribune in Monroe, Georgia. Fast forward 20 years, he’s the director of the mass communications department at Piedmont University  and works at the University of Georgia as an adjunct instructor.

“Bruno mars is Filipino and wears fedoras, I’m Filipino, I could wear fedoras.”

He has three sons and a wife, Carla Dennis. “Thats what it’s all about” he wrote  on his personal website.

Joe Dennis has had a life with many careers such as journalism, a photographer, a radio show, and plenty others. But now, he’s finally found his home at Piedmont University. That’s true peace, and teaching future generations of Journalists.