WNBA supports Warnock The 2020 U.S. elections have remained heated in Georgia, with Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler facing off against Democrat Raphael Warnock in a runoff in January 2021. Among the groups who helped Warnock advance are WNBA players, including several from the Atlanta Dream, of which Loeffler is part-owner.[Read More…]
Articles by Kaja Surborg
McGill Space Institute hosts talk on the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory
On Nov. 17, the McGill Space Institute (MSI) hosted a special public lecture titled “Surveying the Universe,” given by Steven Kahn, the director of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and a professor of physics at Stanford University. Khan discussed the goals of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) which is[Read More…]
Book report: The Tribune Sports Section’s holiday reading list
Managing Editor Kaja Suborg gives her holiday book list for the upcoming winter break.
Redbird name fails to bring unity to McGill Athletics
On Nov. 17 McGill announced a new name for the men’s varsity teams: Redbirds. The long-overdue announcement came more than a year after an initial email from the office of Principal Suzanne Fortier, sent in April 2019, which stated that McGill would be dropping the slur formerly used as the[Read More…]
Covering the odds and ends of sports in 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought sports leagues across the world to a screeching halt in March 2020, many sports journalists were faced with job losses, while those who remained employed were left scrambling for content. Broadcasters and writers continued reporting on current developments in sports, such as leagues’ responses to[Read More…]
The Tribune’s declassified pumpkin disposal guide
Every year in early October grocery stores across Montreal, much like the rest of North America, place large bins full of bright orange pumpkins outside their shops, and every year customers buy them all up. The market for pumpkins and pumpkin-related activities, like hayrides and farm visits, has grown in[Read More…]
I love ‘Shrek 2,’ hear me out
I love Shrek 2. It is one of my favourite movies of all time. Most people who have met me know this about me because I manage to work it into every conversation that lasts five minutes or longer. Shrek 2 follows Shrek and Fiona, two ogres fresh from their honeymoon,[Read More…]
Let meme explain: Christian Girl Autumn
In August 2019, Twitter user @bimbofication, real name Natasha, tweeted a now-iconic photo that garnered nearly 50,000 likes and a combined 20,000 retweets and quote tweets. The photo features two young white women wearing coordinated blue skinny jeans, brown ankle boots, and leather handbags. It is the kind of photo[Read More…]
Documentaries for staying in the sports mood
Although most sports are currently on hold, staying engaged with the world of sports has never been easier. Here are some of The McGill Tribune’s favourite sports documentaries that will tide you over to the next season. Athlete A Content warning: Graphic descriptions of sexual violence Athlete A is a[Read More…]
My big, fat online identity crisis
I was 11 years old when I created my Facebook account. That was over 10 years ago, and since then, I have been broadcasting a highlight reel of my life for the world to see. Undoubtedly, beginning the moment that I clicked the green ‘Sign Up’ button, being constantly plugged[Read More…]
Style Seminar: Russell Westbrook
While the Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook was incredibly inconsistent in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, his pre-game outfits have never failed to impress. When it comes to bold and flavourful ensembles, nobody else in the league can compare. As many mourn the Rockets’ second round playoff exit to the Los Angeles[Read More…]
A street-Kart named desire
Like most students returning to Montreal for the Fall semester, Matthew Hawkins, U3 Arts, is weathering out his 14-day quarantine in his apartment. During his spare time, he decided to hone his Mario-Kart skills. “I’ve seen vlogs, read captions, and watched stories of people quarantining, and I knew I’d have[Read More…]
Mewis to Manchester exemplifies the NWSL exodus
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the sports world hard, with many leagues initially cancelling their seasons. Some leagues, including the WNBA, the NBA, and the NHL, have since restarted in “bubbles,” and one of the most successful in this restart was the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The NWSL was[Read More…]
Where do I begin? ‘The Kissing Booth’
When Netflix released The Kissing Booth in May 2018, it appeared to be just another one of the teen rom-coms that the streaming service had become known for. Most Netflix users simply ignored it, and they were right to do so: It’s a terrible movie rife with misogynistic tropes[Read More…]
The best sports to play indoors
Sports fans everywhere are suddenly unable to watch their favourite teams or even go to the court and play with friends due to the spread of COVID-19. While confinement to one’s home makes it difficult to maintain an active lifestyle, it is not impossible. To help individuals practicing social distancing[Read More…]
US Soccer board under fire for sexist comments
Court filings in the United States Women’s National soccer team (USWNT)’s lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) have put the federation under intense scrutiny and caused its president, Carlos Cordeiro, to resign on March 12. “The overall soccer playing ability at the senior men’s national team level is[Read More…]
Winter 2020 season recaps
Artistic Swimming The McGill Women’s Artistic Swim team started their season off strong, finishing first out of 11 teams at the McGill Invitational in November. Strong performances from sisters third-year Ioana Gheta and second-year Maria Gheta earned them first place in the duet/trio category. First-year Katherine Demond also performed well,[Read More…]
10 things: The best nicknames in sports history
A March 4 Jeopardy contestant hilariously, and incorrectly, guessed that the nickname of Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid was “Do a 180.” In honour of this mixup, The McGill Tribune sports section compiled a list of some of our favourite sports nicknames of all time. Shaquille O’Neal: The Big ____[Read More…]
In conversation with Shireen Ahmed
Shireen Ahmed, a Toronto-based activist and sports journalist, is a powerful voice in Canadian sports journalism. Her work covering stories about equity and inclusivity across various sports has been published in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and SB Nation, among others. Ahmed values the role of social media in[Read More…]
Reflecting on my “Mamma Mia” Years
I grew up hearing that university would be the best years of my life, where I would figure everything out. I would come out the other end with a better understanding of myself and the world, and after graduating, my friends and I would look back on these years fondly.[Read More…]
Sports are political
McGill Faculty of Medicine alumnus Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (MD ‘18) is, as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, the first Quebecer to win a Super Bowl title. The victory has placed the Chiefs’ offensive linebacker in the spotlight, with McGill administrators sparing no expense in promoting Duvernay-Tardif’s ties to the[Read More…]
AUS Legislative Council demands new space for Bar des Arts
The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council met on Feb. 12 to discuss finding a new permanent space for the Bar des Arts (BdA) and to consider banning blood drives that discriminate against 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals on campus. A presentation from co-chairs of the BdA Mercedes Labelle and Ethan Casey highlighted[Read More…]
Making space for all memories in the wake of tragedy
Content warning: Mentions of sexual assault and grief. There is no doubt that Kobe Bryant’s death on Jan. 26 shocked the world. The immediate outpouring of praise from athletes, journalists, and fans alike is a testament to his reach as a basketball player and a person. At the same time[Read More…]
10 things: The best animals in sports
Sports are known for many things: Upset victories, legendary players, and championship glory. But what really matters are the cute, loveable animals behind some of the greatest moments in sports history. Here are The McGill Tribune’s picks for the top 10 best animals in sports. Atom and Humber Chilean footballer[Read More…]
Pop Dialectic: Is Tanner Zipchen a Canadian movie legend or failure?
Last week, long-time Cineplex pre-show host Tanner Zipchen announced on his personal Twitter account that he had been let go from his position. UK-based media conglomerate Cineworld had just acquired Cineplex, and a change in the Canadian market had been expected. Yet, Zipchen’s legacy remains divisive. The McGill Tribune debates whether[Read More…]
The most atrocious Oscar snubs of 2020
It’s that time of year again: Awards season. Love it or hate it, it is impossible to ignore the discourse surrounding which movies (dare we say, films) are worthy of claiming hardware. The McGill Tribune is here to add to that discourse, presenting movies that we believe have been wrongfully left[Read More…]
Higher wages lead to change in NWSL draft classes
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) held its annual college draft on Jan. 16 in Chicago, and for the second year in a row, an underclassman was selected first overall. This year’s first pick was 19-year-old Sophia Smith, who, along with being the first teenager drafted into the NWSL, is[Read More…]
10 things: Impactful sports moments this decade
As the decade comes to a close, The McGill Tribune looks back in chronological order on 10 of the most impactful moments in sports that helped shape athletics and the world. From incredible upset victories to social movements, the 2010s will go down as a decade to be remembered. LeBron[Read More…]
Martlet hockey falls to crosstown rivals
McGill women’s hockey (3–6) fell 1–2 to top-ranked Concordia (8–1) in a fast-paced game on Nov. 24. Concordia gained the upper hand early, scoring just 55 seconds into the first period. The Martlets allowed a second goal on a power play later in the period, after third-year centre Marika Labrecque[Read More…]
Seeing the trees through the forest
Prologue: I’m perched high in the branches of the red cedar across the street from my childhood home. I have a book, Warrior Cats, and a water bottle, and I feel like I could stay here forever. In my head, I’ve already devised a rope harness system so I don’t[Read More…]
Don Cherry is a symptom of a larger problem
Don Cherry is known for many things: His wacky suits, strong opinions, and unfortunately, over the years, a series of racist remarks. On Nov. 9, Cherry added to the list of reasons why he should no longer have a public platform with a rant claiming that immigrants do not wear[Read More…]
Where do I begin?: ‘Ancient Aliens’
Ancient Aliens first aired on The History Channel in 2010, and for one month this year, I let it take over my life. The documentary-style series, produced by the Emmy Award-winning Kevin Burns, follows a group of conspiracy theorists as they attempt to convince the audience that life and culture on[Read More…]
10 Things: Creative sports Halloween costumes
Halloween is an exciting time for everyone, but finding a costume that is affordable and unique can be challenging. This year, The McGill Tribune’s sports writers put together a list of costumes for fans looking to do something more interesting than just wear their favourite athlete’s jersey. These ideas turned[Read More…]
Behind the Bench: More than her husband
Internet personality and wife of English professional soccer player Wayne Rooney, Coleen Rooney, rocked Twitter on Oct. 9 with her claim that Rebekah Vardy, a competitor on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and wife of Jamie Vardy, had been leaking personal details of Rooney’s life to British tabloid[Read More…]
10 Things: Sports misrepresented on-screen
Stranger Things – Basketball Indiana is renowned for its Hoosier basketball; however, the battle of Steve “the Hair” Harrington and Billy Hargrove wildly misses this mark. Rather than a 1980s callback to the likes of Larry Bird, this poorly executed game inexplicably features multiple beyond-the-three-point-line postups and a ridiculous through-the-legs[Read More…]
Body diversity and “The Body Issue”
On Sept. 4, ESPN The Magazine released the 11th edition of “The Body Issue.” This year’s issue boasts 17 covers, all featuring world-renowned athletes completely nude. The artfully-shot photographs are meant to celebrate these athletes and the bodies that allow them to perform at the highest level. The accompanying interviews frequently[Read More…]
McGill men’s rugby dominates Harvard 47-15
McGill men’s rugby (2–0) is looking strong heading into the regular season after a resounding 47–15 win against Harvard (0–1). In the 38th annual Covo Cup, McGill’s final preseason game before RSEQ competition begins, McGill came out with a tenacious defensive showing and exciting play. “We played hard defence, we[Read More…]
Women in Sports Initiative makes an impact
In Sept. 2018, McGill Athletics and Recreation launched the new Women in Sports Initiative thanks to a $3.5 million donation from McGill alumni Sheryl and David Kerr. The initiative aims to promote women in leadership roles within McGill Athletics and help female athletes balance their academic obligations with their athletic[Read More…]
Montreal Curling Club announces new sponsorship deal with Swiffer™
On March 25, Canada’s most decorated curling club, The Montreal Curling Club, announced their new sponsorship deal with the iconic household brand Swiffer™. Club President Joey Moore and Swiffer™ CFO Howard Tallman signed a five-year contract worth $1,000 at the club’s office in Côte-des-Neiges. “We here at Swiffer™ are just[Read More…]
In conversation with Gemma Clarke
This summer, France will host the eighth FIFA Women’s World Cup. Although historical record shows that women formally organized their own soccer games starting in the late 19th century, it took until 1991 for FIFA to establish a Women’s World Cup. To celebrate the trailblazers who have made women’s soccer[Read More…]
10 things: Female athletes who inspire us
Angela James Zoe Babad-Palmer Few hockey players embody perseverance like Angela James. Despite opposition at every stage of her 20-year professional career, James has left a monumental mark on the hockey scene. Along with Cammi Granato, James was one of the first two women inducted into the Hockey Hall of[Read More…]
Point-Counterpoint: Paying NCAA student-athletes
On Feb. 20, Duke University basketball star Zion Williamson suffered a knee sprain, reminding the basketball world that one major injury can jeopardize any college athlete’s future earnings. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its member schools, meanwhile, make over a billion dollars a year off of the backs[Read More…]
McGill Martlet basketball upsets Rouge et Or in regular-season finale
McGill Martlet basketball (10-6) ended regular season play on a high note, defeating the RSEQ no. 1 seed Laval Rouge et Or (15-1) 53-52 on Feb. 23. Despite a strong defensive effort from Laval, McGill took the win in front of the 212-member crowd. The Martlets had already secured their[Read More…]
Changing concussion policy in youth sports
With growing amounts of research on the occurrence of concussions in contact sports, conversations about how to keep young athletes safe in organized sporting environments have expanded. At his Feb. 14 talk, “The Games We Play: What Should Law and Policy do About Playing Collision Sports?,” Jason Chung, an attorney[Read More…]
Martlets beat Rouge et Or in straight sets in season’s final home game
McGill Martlet volleyball (15-3) took home a win on Feb. 8 in an exciting victory over the Laval Rouge et Or (10-8). The Martlets won in three sets, securing their position as RSEQ pennant winners for the first time in 17 years. “This is a project of [several] years,” Head[Read More…]
Changing the game: Competition in pro sports
Fixing the flaw in NFL OT rules Gabe Nisker Some of the NFL’s biggest games come to anticlimactic finishes, with stars like Patrick Mahomes stuck on the sidelines because of the current overtime rules. As it stands, if the team that starts with the ball in overtime scores a touchdown[Read More…]
Tremblay scores overtime winner in comeback win
On Feb. 1, the McGill men’s hockey team (16-11) defeated the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) (13-13) Ridgebacks in an exciting 3-2 overtime win. Despite a slow start to the game, McGill opened scoring in the first period with a goal from second-year defenceman Nikolas Brouillard assisted by[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Tia Lore
Fourth-year Martlet winger Tia Lore is at a pivotal point in her athletic career. With only one season of McGill soccer left, Lore is both reflecting on her time as a student athlete and looking ahead to her post-university future. But before her career in university athletics, the Richmond, British[Read More…]
10 things: Powerful sports moments of 2018
North and South Korea enter Pyeongchang under a united flag For the first time since the Korean War, athletes from North and South Korea entered the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Games together under the Korean Unification flag. Despite its purely symbolic value, the act was a strong gesture of[Read More…]
Women’s soccer growing in Latin America despite lack of investment
Twelve years after they last appeared at the Women’s World Cup, the Argentine national women’s soccer team is back in the competition. It may seem obvious that they are going to the World Cup; after all, this is the same country that produced Messi and Maradona. The women in Argentina,[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Emilie Matte de Grasse
Fifth-year power hitter Emilie Matte De Grasse grew up already immersed in the sporting world. Her mother was a physical education teacher; her father was a hockey player. Now, Matte de Grasse is in her 13th volleyball season, but before volleyball, she practiced other sports, too. “I did gymnastics when[Read More…]
Martlet volleyball beats UdeM in three sets
On Nov. 2, the McGill Martlets (5-0) won in three sets against their crosstown rival Université de Montréal (UdeM) Carabins (4-1) and took their fifth consecutive victory in front of a crowd of nearly 300 fans. With the win, they stayed atop the RSEQ and cemented their number six spot[Read More…]
10 things: Spooky mascots
Sometimes, a lovable mascot does not turn out the way a team’s management had imagined. With Halloween just around the corner, The McGill Tribune ranks the top-10 most terrifying mascots in the world of sports. 10. Buster Bronco (Western Michigan University) Western Michigan University introduced Buster Bronco in 1988 but came[Read More…]
McGill swim hosts second RSEQ Cup of the season
On Oct. 27, McGill hosted the second RSEQ swimming meet of the season. The men’s team took home a first place finish, while the women came in second. Since Saturday was the only meet that McGill will host this season, these impressive finishes were that much more special for the[Read More…]
How we fell in love with our favourite teams
Kansas City Chiefs Stephen Gill Managing Editor The first professional sporting event I ever remember going to was a tilt between my hometown Kansas City Chiefs and their arch-rivals, the Denver Broncos. The Broncos held a six-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and were punting the ball away to[Read More…]
McGill men’s hockey falls to Queen’s in season opener
On Oct. 5, the McGill Redmen (1-1) hockey team opened its season against the Queen’s Gaels (1-0) with a 2-1 loss in overtime. Their first win of the season came the following night against the Université du Québec à Trois Rivières Patriotes. Just three minutes into the game, fourth-year transfer[Read More…]
Four teams to watch in Women’s World Cup qualifiers
Starting this week, the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) will host its qualifying tournament for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup that is to take place in France. The McGill Tribune has compiled a list of four teams to keep an eye on as the tournament[Read More…]