Word on the Street

About Word on the Street

I grew up watching “football”, but it was different to the one that reigns supreme on these shores. My international background will ensure that the perspective present in “Word on the Street” is different from those of many die-hard American football and basketball fans. Several aspects of professional and collegiate sports in America have stood out for me (in my few years in the country) and I've heard people talking about various different sports related topics. My dreams of economic policy analysis must wait for the future, and for now I will focus on providing a light-hearted analysis of everyday aspects of Columbia and Ivy League sports, in an attempt to put to rest some of the myths I hear on the street.

Mrinal Mohanka is a Columbia College senior majoring in economics.

Articles

GUEST COLUMN: Lessons learned on the diving board

Discomfort and fear bring out Columbia students' hidden qualities.

MOHANKA: CU's search for coach might have been flawed

Mangurian's NFL experience may not help him turn around ailing CU program.

MOHANKA: Passing the armband to young Lions

With seven seniors graduating this spring, the soccer team looks for players to fill vacant roles, especially in the defensive midfield.

MOHANKA: Persistence and patience pay off for Lions

Columbia athletics was patient with coach Willy Wood, and after delivering a title with the cross-country team in 2003, he delivered again, nine years later, with women's track.

MOHANKA: College or country: an athlete’s choice

With Light Blue fencers representing their countries at national tournaments and Olympic trials, they often have to sacrifice competing in the Ivy League Championships.

MOHANKA: Finding our own Lord Voldemort

The Light Blue is the good guy of Morningside Heights, and the Crimson may well be our bad guy.

MOHANKA: Columbia sees Agho Theory in effect

The Light Blue has been able to win 11 of 12 games despite an injury to star player Noruwa Agho, a remarkable feat that no one saw coming.

MOHANKA: Stunned by athletics' magic spell

My tenure as one of Spectator’s sports editors is officially over—don’t worry, I’ll save the emotions and the majority of the thank yous (there are more than a few) for Apr. 30—and I’ve seen, learned, and heard a tremendous amount about Columbia athletics.

MOHANKA: Emotions run high even for soccer spectator

I hate when sports drive a dagger into my heart. I hate when soccer, the beautiful game, leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

MOHANKA: For Columbia, close counts for something

It’s often said that sports aren’t our thing, we suck, we don’t care, etc., but recently the conversation has been about how several of our teams are in the race for an Ivy crown in 2011. Field hockey, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s soccer all had title aspirations going into this weekend’s action.

MOHANKA: When one type of football can teach the other

It’s no secret that I’m a die-hard fan of the beautiful game—soccer—and very often it’s a struggle for me to call it something different from what’s ingrained in my system.

MOHANKA: Men’s soccer overtime win more than just a coincidence

The Lions overtime win against Brown was their third 2-1 golden goal win at home this year, but it was more than just a coincidence.

Lions are older, wiser in a new year for athletics

In the spirit of optimism, I’m going to be bold and say that the 2011-12 academic year could be one of the best for some Lions teams in recent years for one reason: the athletes are older and wiser.

A call for CU to expand global recruitment

There’s a wide range of sporting talent out there in the big bad world, and I strongly believe that our athletics department should make global recruitment a higher priority than it is now.

Spring brings new promise to CU athletics

I’ve always paid more attention to the sports in the spring season than any other and there’s a very simple reason. These teams win.

Choosing the Spectator Team of the Month

Director of Columbia Athletics Dianne Murphy has just been informed that she has been chosen by Spectator to manage its Team of the Month. Being a complete and exhaustive professional, she has chosen to hold player auditions to help decide which ten athletes should be honored for their performances this March.

Women athletes also deserve to be recognized

Valerian Sikhuashvili, a close friend and a fellow junior at Columbia, pointed out something very interesting to me the other day. He said, “You know your last column? It began with ‘David Beckham, Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, and Rafael Nadal.’ Why were there no females in that list of brand-name athletes?”

CU athletes merit more recognition

Sports may never be a lone priority at an Ivy League school—we just have to accept that. But, nonetheless, we should all try to show our athletes a little love—they deserve it.

Why we should look beyond marquee sports

Football and basketball may get all the headlines, but there are several other sports at Columbia that are worth giving more attention to.

Breakout stars lining up for CU's sports programs

Columbia needs match-winners.