'Herald' spanks the 'Daily'

The YDN is to the Herald what Harvard is to Yale: a bigger institution that's "special" in every way. The Herald's superior quality of writing, thorough research, relevance to student life, overall professionalism, journalistic integrity, and cooler staff was proven again last Sat., Mar. 31, the annual Herald-Daily annual basketball game. The Herald went undefeated this season, reaming the Daily 42-39.

Many spectators agreed afterwards that the margin of victory would have been greater if Daily players had not wasted so much time whining.

Among the game's highlights were its various "theme minutes." Featured in the last minute of the third quarter, with the game knotted at 32, was the managing board match-up, showcasing the much ballyhooed rivalry between Herald Grandmasta o' Disasta Kate Moran, DC '02, and YDN Editor in Chief Michael Barbaro, DC '02. Commentators expressed surprise after the game that Barbaro was not a bigger part of the Daily strategy. His blindingly white legs would have provided a successful defense against the Herald sharpshooters.

By the end of the third period, the YDN managing board had a two-point lead. It was time for the Herald to bring in its heavy hitters: A&E editors past and present. Going head-to-head with Scene in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, A&E rallied the troops. A strong defensive effort by Jim Laakso, DC '03, whose two steals resulted in immediate turnovers, stymied the YDN offense. But it was Josh "Shaquille who?" Drimmer, DC '03, who held up the wall of A&E defense. Vaulting himself a few inches in the air, Drimmer slapped down a shot that would have reached the opposing team's bench if it didn't bean the shooter's head. From then on, opponents ventured across the three-point arc with visible fear. There was little offense, though Daniel Silk, SY '01, managed to cross half-court with the ball at one point.

The mainstay of YDN power came from a silent but swift ball-handler in a wife-beater. He seemed like he could have been good if Aaron "I'm just an honest guy with neo-Nazi hair" Lichtig, JE '02, had not shut him down. Lichtig perhaps offered the packed John J. Lee Amphitheater the game's most spectacular highlight. Taking on the YDN, Lichtig drove right, cut under the hoop, and miraculously scooped up a one-handed reverse lay-up over flailing YDN arms.

The player who most stood out, though, was Geoff "Where's my East Hampton country club?" Chepiga, JE '02. A man of impeccable dedication to the Herald, Chepiga arrived late—dressed to kill in khakis and a polo shirt—because of obligations to the varsity golf team. Other players felt his impact immediately with the marked increase in number of fouls called after he stepped on the court.

Fellow redhead Nick Zamiska, DC '04, fired up his teammates by prancing around the court. The on-court reunion of Chepiga and Ewan MacDougall, BR '03, the game's MVP, provided the winning combination. They attributed their success to their high school days. "In a Manhattan prep school where everyone is a 6'1" white shooting guard, there's a lot of competition for playing time," they said.

Asked if he plans to forego his final two years of college to take his skills to the NBA, MacDougall answered, "I have other priorities right now. This summer, I'm joining the Marines. I'm doing it because if you were to draw a venn diagram of girls who fall for Yalies and girls who fall for Marines, there wouldn't be too much overlap." For such a young, raw talent, MacDougall comes across as very level-headed. "Yeah, even if I have a drill instructor's foot up my ass for six weeks, I'm doubling my range of appeal. Saying I'm from Yale doesn't work too well on the girls."

With such a focused staff, it is no wonder the Herald kicked the YDN's ass.

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