Why does Hugh Laurie get this weeks honor? Laurie plays the character House on the television show of the same name. Last night’s episode proved to me just how good of an actor Laurie truly is. Laurie had a reduced role on House last night. Without giving too much of the plot away, Foreman, one of the main supporting cast members took House’s position at the hospital. With Foreman at the head of the hospital the show was fairly boring. The normal witty yet brash dialogue that House brings in solving a medical mystery was missing. Normally the medical mystery would be enough to keep one’s interest however the show really lacked without the presence of Hugh Laurie as House. Thankfully, it appears that House will be back in his traditional role soon enough. He is a true talent as an actor to one of my favorite shows; and that is why he is this weeks, person of the week.
I never said that a person had to do something great, within the specific week, to win this illustrious award. This week’s special person is none other than Neil deGrasse Tyson. Who is Mr. Tyson? He is a well known astrophysicist who has served on commissions under George W. Bush. He has often been seen on the History Channel’s The Universe. He has written many works on different astronomical phenomena such as Pluto, black holes, and the evolution of the universe. He might be most known (among the common public) for his amazing appearance on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show or The Colbert Report. Why did I decide on this person? Well, he happens to be one of the few well-known, living human beings that I actually have a lot of respect for. In interviews he seems like a down to earth man that is not only passionate about his job and research, but just a really cool guy. If he ever were to make an appearance at my University I would definitely go and check out his lecture. If nothing else, I am a big fan of the famed astrophysicist, and that is why he is this week’s person of the week. If you have time check out his website, his interview with Mr. Jay Leno, or possibly one of his books.
I have decided to give this person of the week feature another go. This week the person is not a star of a sports game, a creator of a crazy invention, nor is he a politician implementing a revolutionary reform. Instead the award goes to Kaleb Eulls of Yazoo County, Mississippi. Just who is Mr. Eulls, and why was he chosen? He is an eighteen year old senior quarterback for his high school squad. But that is not important. He no longer can be thought as a mere football player, but a hero. He saw an opportunity to stop tragedy and he did. Kevin Eulls stopped a school shooting and possible massacre. CNN.com describes the event:
A Mississippi high school quarterback is being hailed as a hero for saving a school bus full of elementary and high school students from a gun-wielding girl.
Surveillance camera footage on the Yazoo County school bus on Tuesday captured 18-year-old Kaleb Eulls tackling the 14-year-old girl while the children evacuated the bus.
He managed to wrestle the .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun from her, Yazoo County Sheriff Thomas Vaughan told CNN.
It is so refreshing to hear a gun toting lunatic being incapacitated by an onlooker. Too many times have breaking news stories of tragedy hit the television sets of various homes. Too many times have families mourned the loss of their children. Too many times have people said: “what if?” Eulls would not have it come to that. As a quarterback, one is trained to make quick decisions and then to take action. That is exactly what Eulls did. Only this time when he decided to act, instead of throwing a touchdown pass, he saved the lives of others. He risked his own life to help others, and it payed off. Kaleb Eulls is a true hero, and that is why he is the Person of the Week (PotW). If it were not for Eulls, who knows what might be dominating news headlines around the country?
This marks the third straight week where the person of the week has been a sports player. However, this week, the PotW isn’t directly attached to him being a sportsman. Glen Davis is a powerforward / center for the Boston Celtics. He is nicknamed the “Big Baby” which is based he got the nickname when he was playing in peewee leagues. Because he was bigger than the other kids his age, he was playing with older kids and would whine at times and they would call him a big baby and the name stuck. That is according to a Celtics Blog. Well he now has extra reason for being called the “Big Baby.” What did he to to deserve this extra reasoning? Well, how about getting in an argument with Kevin Garnett, and then crying all on national television. Don’t believe me? Check it out on youtube here. I have to say I feel bad for him. He is a well liked player who got a lashing from a former well respected player. Garnett’s antics for this year and last have shown a darker, more of a jerk side to Garnett’s character. He must have said something bad really upset Davis and I honestly feel bad for the dude. I would say I hope all is well with him and the team, but I honestly don’t. I want this to be the begining of the crumbling of the Celtics that would lead to a championship for the Lakers.
This is a feature that I came up with a long time ago. It was actually around the time of the 2008 HR Derby for Major League Baseball. After creating the feature, and naming the first Person of the Week (POTW), I never did it again. Well I am now here to give it another go. Although until school winds down a bit, I am not going to be able to go too in-depth as to why I chose the person.
Person of the Week No. 2 is Sam Mitchell. Mitchell WAS the head basketball coach for the Toronto Raptors. Yesterday he was fired as the Raptors are below .500 and many, including GM Jerry Colangelo, thinks they should be doing better. I have to say that I think Mitchell should have been fired after Kobe dropped 81 on the Raptors, but I feel this is a tad unfair at this point. It is true that the team is underachieving, but it is too early in the season. They are only one game under .500 and everyone knows basketball is a game of streaks. They could win 5 straight, and be contesting for a playoff spot in no time. Chris Bosh is starting to take over with 5 out of the last 10 games with 30 or more points. Although they are 4-6 during that time. I just think they should have given Mitchell some more time. I just hope the new interim head coach Jay Triano gives backup Jason Kapono more touches. There has been a few recent games where he hasn’t even shot the ball and he has had significant minutes. But the reason I decided to make Sam Mitchell the Shane Haven Person of the Week is for his humility and grace in his interview after his firing. One of the best I have seen.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaBEsxggQZ4&hl=en&fs=1]
