SLU Students Participate in Hall of Fame Showcase

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program served as host athletic trainers for the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase Men's Basketball Event on November 17, 2009 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.  This year's event featured the University of Louisville vs.the University of Arkansas and the #1 ranked University of Kansas  vs. the University of  Memphis.  It provided a great opportunity for our students to coordinate a large off-site event and they also had the opportunity to network with the athletic trainers and other staff for these schools.

Jake Blasingame and Kellie Black served as hosts for the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Kansas Jayhawks.

Geanie Butts and Mollie Cole served as hosts for the Louisville Cardinals and the Memphis Tigers.

Ten-Year-Old Tasered in Arkansas

Tasers are supposed to be used in place of lethal force when a criminal is uncooperative or combative. In this case, however, a ten-year-old was tasered when she was combative as an officer tried to get the girl into a patrol car to be taken to a youth shelter.

Ah, but it's all OK, right? According to authorities, the Tasering was "very, very short."

The incident occurred in Ozark, Arkansas. According to reports, officer Dustin Bradshaw went to the girl's home after her mother called police. According to a report filed by Bradshaw on Thursday, the officer found the girl on the floor of the house screaming and crying.

More fun facts: at this point, as the girl refused to follow her mother's instructions, the mother told Bradshaw to use his Taser. He didn't, but when trying to take her out of the house, the girl began kicking, and struck Bradshaw in the groin.

Bradshaw's report said he administered a "very, very brief" stun with his Taser. He then put the girl in handcuffs and carried her to his patrol car. She was taken to the Western Arkansas Youth Shelter in Cecil.

Poll: Two-Thirds Do Not Want Palin In 2012

A new CBS News poll (.PDF) shows Americans, by a 2/3 majority, do not want Sarah Palin to run for president in 2010. In fact, 38 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Sarah Palin, while only 23 percent of those surveyed think highly of the former VP candidate.

At the same time, 37 percent say they do not know enough to form an opinion. That's hard to believe, if you know that Palin was ignorant enough to believe Africa was a country and not a continent. It's also hard to believe, since there's been much publicity around Sarah Palin of late, with her new memoir, "Going Rogue," releasing today.

Among the GOP, only 52 percent give her high approval. That's somewhat surprising, but the number among Democrats is not: only four percent of Dems give her high marks.

Overall, two out of three people surveyed said they do not want her to run for the presidency during the 2012 election. In fact, a majority of the GOP, by a 48 - 44 percent majority, do not want a Palin candidacy in 2012.

Unsurprisingly, the survey revealed that Palin's greatest support appears to come from white evangelical Christians. Those would support a Palin 2012 presidential bid, but only by a slim majority, 48 - 42 percent.

Ten-year-old Won't Recite Pledge Until Gays Can Marry

Here's an act of defiance on the part of a ten-year-old that deserves some applause, rather than a sit-down in a corner. It all began when Will Phillips refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance in a West Fork, Arkansas elementary school.

Why did he do so? Not because it has the phrase "Under God" in it, which some have protested against. No, he did so because of the phrase "Liberty and Jutice for All" in it.

Speaking to CNN's John Roberts on CNN's American Morning on Monday, Will said he remained seated four straight days while his classmates repeated the words, "with liberty and justice for all."

Will, who wants to be a lawyer, said he was analyzing the meanings of the Pledge of Allegiance, the weekend before his protest. When asked what he found in the Pledge that caused him refusal, Will said:

"Well, I looked at the end and it said 'with liberty and justice for all.' And there isn't really liberty and justice for all. There's ... Gays and lesbians can't marry. There's still a lot of racism and sexism in the world. Um, yeah."

Roberts: "So you think then that the country isn't living up to the ideals of the Pledge, and you took it upon yourself to sit down, not recite the Pledge Allegiance until the country comes in line to embody the ideals that are embodied in the Pledge.

Will: "Yes."

When asked what he told his substitute teacher when he was given grief over the issue, Will said:

"I eventually, very solemnly -- with a little bit of malice in my voice -- said, 'Mam, with all due respect, you can go jump off a bridge.'"

While his father initially reacted as most parents might, which is with anger, once he spoke to Will and realized the reason for his stance, his tune changed, and he became supportive. Once again, when asked why he took the position he did, Will said:

"Because I have many -- I've grown up with a lot of people and good friends with a lot of people that are gay and I really -- I think they should have the rights all people should. And I'm not going to swear that they do."

This video is from CNN's American Morning, broadcast Nov. 16, 2009, via Raw Replay.