Around the Hornet: Basketball Star or Gang Star? Time to Decide Ja

May 16, 2023

The Hornet Staff Writers and Editors discuss a wide variety of sports on this episode of the Around the Hornet Podcast. Photo credit: Jake Rhodes

In the final installment of the Around the Hornet Podcast, The Hornet staff writers Quinn Cisneros and Pedro Saravia join the Editor-in-Chief Gerardo Chagolla, Producer of the show and Managing Editor Sara Leon, and the host of the podcast, Sports Desk Editor Jake Rhodes, to discuss the wide world of sports. Topics include: The Lakers vs. Nuggets WCF and the Heat vs. Celtics ECF previews, Premier League and La Liga roundup, our feelings toward the panel’s favorite MLB teams: the Angels, Braves, and Dodgers. The debate topic is a conversation about Ja Morant’s off-court decision making and where blames needs to be pointed at in that situation.

NBA- 1:12

Soccer- 19:58

MLB- 25:39

Ja Morant- 38:50

Music Credit: Esperar by Dadalu from the Periodo album.

About the Contributor

Jake Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief

Jake Rhodes is the Editor-in-Chief for The Hornet Newspaper. He has been on The Hornet Newspaper for four semesters. He is a seven-time award winning journalist. He has received second place in Sports Game Story as well as Meritorious recognition in Enterprise News Story/Series for an investigation into Title IX concerns at Fullerton College from JACC. Jake is also a national CMA Pinnacle award winner, receiving first place in Sports Multimedia Story, second place in Sports Investigative Story, and Honorable Mention for Sports Game Story. He has also received an honorable mention as producer of Around the Hornet for Audio Podcast and a third place finish as a contributor for Audio Podcast from JACC. While he has served as EIC, Jake is responsible for The Hornet securing an ACP Online Pacemaker award, which has been referred to as the "Pulitzer of college media." The Hornet has also been recognized for "General Excellence: Online News Site" by JACC in both semesters Jake has served as EIC. He was also elected to be the new JACC SoCal Student Representative for all JACC members in Southern California for 2024-2025. Outside of The Hornet, Jake is an assistant coach with the Varsity Boys' basketball team at Fullerton Union High School and is also a bartender at Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ. His end goal in Journalism is to be a beat writer for an MLB or NBA team or a sportscaster. Jake enjoys spending time with his wife Alexis, daughters Samantha, Madison, and dog Cocoa.