The James Logan Courier

By Leila Fadel
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has been on a roll, and American officials are getting worried.

Once perceived as a sectarian Shiite Muslim leader, the U.S.-backed Maliki has won over Sunni constituents in recent months with offensives to curb Shiite militias in southern cities such as Basra and Amara and in the Baghdad Shiite slum of Sadr City.

He then turned his security forces north to wrest control of Mosul and Diyala province from Sunni extremists. U.S. forces provided strong backing, and except for Basra and Sadr City, the operations were announced in advance so that militants and insurgents had a chance to run.

By Larry Eichel
The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

With the conventions over, the stage has been set for the final acts of the amazing 2008 presidential campaign.

And the shape of things to come seems relatively clear.

From here on, the race will be about Republicans saying that Barack Obama is not ready to lead and Democrats countering that John McCain offers more of the same.

It'll be about whether the Republicans, with their groundbreaking vice presidential candidate, can now credibly claim to be the true agents of change.

LUNCH
Featured entrée selections include Pasta, Pizza, Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Fried Rice, Burgers, Chicken Strips & various Deli items. Lunches include a variety of fruits, veggies and milk.

MISCELLANEOUS
Anyone interested in playing soccer for Logan this year needs to see Coach Sills in Room 73, and attend open field after school today.

Come to the Ohlone College Fair on Wed. Sept. 17 @ 6:30 p.m. This is one-stop shopping for colleges, universities, military academies, vocational, tech schools and financial aid.

By Chris Winn, Courier Staff Writer
Chris Winn is a member of the James Logan Colts varsity football team.

The James Logan Colts traveled to Pittsburg Friday to face the Pittsburg Pirates, De La Salle Spartans and Turlock Bulldogs in a scrimmage. It didn’t go very well for the Colts; we got our butts kicked.

It wasn’t a very fun night for our team, but it was a good wake up call for us before the official start of the season. I truly hope we get our act together and produce a different out come this week.

From wikipedia:
Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard (September 8, 1907 – November 27, 1997) was an American first baseman in Negro League baseball.

Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Leonard left school at the age of 14 because no high school education was available for blacks in his hometown. He worked in a textile mill and as a shoeshine boy at a railroad station, the latter being typical of the economic situation for many African Americans at that time.

He began his Negro League career in 1933 with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, then moved to the legendary Homestead Grays in 1934, the team he played for until his retirement in 1950. The Grays of the late 1930s through the mid-1940s are considered one of the greatest teams of any race ever assembled. Leonard batted fourth in their lineup behind Josh Gibson. Since Gibson was known as the "Black Babe Ruth" and Leonard was a first baseman, Buck Leonard was inevitably called the "Black Lou Gehrig", an apt comparison in terms of their hitting numbers, although some consider Leonard superior to Gehrig as a fielder. From 1937 to 1945 the Grays won 9 consecutive Negro National League championships. Leonard led the Negro Leagues in batting average in 1948 with a mark of .395, and usually either led the league in home runs or finished second in homers to teammate Gibson.

Learn more about Buck Leonard. Visit the Buck Leonard Association For Sports & Human Enrichment, Inc. at buckleonard.org.