Nov. 20, 2003
EDITOR'S NOTE: Senior power forward Mike Farrell is in his final season on College Hill and his second full season as the men's basketball team captain and author of weekly web journal entries on www.goleopards.com. Each week, the American Studies major and Florida native will detail his life as a student-athlete.
Well hello again. The autumn leaves have come, and are beginning to go. The air has that certain chill to it that can only be felt in Eastern Pennsylvania. And it is right about that time for our football team to play Lehigh. All this can lead us to only one conclusion. Yes, it is time for basketball season once more. I have the pleasure, once again, of writing my thoughts on the season. So, please, sit back and enjoy the stories of mystery, excitement, heartbreak (hopefully there won't be too many of those), and, well, basketball that I shall spin your way.
After last season's end, there have been few things on my mind as much as winning a championship. The only thing that I can imagine coming close is karaoke. For the past few years I have enjoyed the art of karaoke, where for 3-9 minutes (depending on the length of the song) anybody can fill the shoes of their favorite musician/singer. Once this summer rolled around, I fully immersed myself in the world of karaoke. It is a great pastime, and if you have not tried it, I highly recommend it. While living in Philadelphia this summer, I had the privilege of taking Jamie Hughes on his first karaoke experience, where he performed a wonderful rendition of "Living On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi. Besides watching him step into his own as a player on the Sonny Hill League courts, this was definitely the most proud I have ever been of young James. He stepped up to the mic, and left the crowd gasping for air. It was as if he was drawn to the microphone; he seemed destined to be there. And when he left the stage, it was as if he were Caesar, the roars of the crowd were so deafening for the new King of Karaoke.
Mike Farrell's Journal Archive
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2003-2004 Season
 • April 14, 2004
 • April 9, 2004
 • February 23, 2004
 • January 26, 2004
 • January 5, 2004
 • December 11, 2003
 • November 20, 2003
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2002-2003 Season
 • February 21, 2003
 • February 2, 2003
 • January 23, 2003
 • January 14, 2003
 • December 31, 2002
 • December 10, 2002 |
Mike Farrell |
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But that was only part of my summer prepping for this new season -- this championship season. Jamie Hughes, Grant Gibson, occasionally Pat Betley, and I shared an apartment in University City, Philadelphia this summer. It was a wonderful bonding experience for us teammates, and we plan to see this new understanding for each other manifest itself on the court this year. Winston Davis (pre-season All Patriot League pick), Sean "Chef" Knitter (nickname comes from the fact that he is always cooking the competition), Pat Betley, Jamie Hughes, and I all played in the Sonny Hill College League this summer, and I think we all felt that it was a wonderful experience. It was a great chance to play some very competitive ball, and it appears as though every Leopard represented the team quite well in the league. So bravo fellas, great job this summer.
As I said earlier, there have been few things on my mind other than winning a championship this year. This is my last hurrah, and I would like to go out on top. I get the sense from all the other players that this is their feelings as well, especially from the senior class.
So here is to runs to the Philadelphia Art Museum and runs to downtown Philly. Here is to the long hours we spent in the weight room, not only lifting, but also moving the machines around so that we could get a paycheck. Here is to the sprints and mile runs we did in preparation for those that would come later. Here is to the best season we have had as Leopards yet.
Enjoy the season
Mike Farrell
