Kid Reporter Deadline Oct. 12

What this Kid Reporter learned from his experience.

I enjoyed every story I covered as a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. I learned quickly that you really have to do your homework before you attend an event and know all your facts about the subject you are writing about or the person you are interviewing.

I like to do lots of research on the person or story so that when I’m coming up with questions I can use what I’ve learned to write more interesting questions. The better your questions, the better your answers, the better your story!

On my first story I had to interview an artist and I stuck to the questions that I had prepared. I learned, however, that it’s more important to listen carefully to the person’s answers because sometimes you can come up with a great question you hadn’t thought about based on what they are saying.

I actually learned a lot about reporting by covering a story with Bob Costas, the NBC sportscaster. He told me that reporters or sportscasters should be well read and very knowledgeable about the subjects they are covering. I also learned not to look at my questions during the interview, but to stop and listen to the person giving me the answers.

One of the things I loved about this year was that I got to review new video games, interview interesting people, and attend really fun events. The stories I covered ranged from a robotics competition at the Javits Center in New York City to interviews with professional baseball players Ike Davis and Keith Hernandez at Citi Field.

My favorite story that I covered was the Topps Attax event at CitI Field, because it gave me the chance to meet and interview Davis, a rookie Mets player. It was very cool to have a chance to ask him questions because I’m a huge fan and he is such a nice guy. I think It’s something I will remember forever because I’m a baseball fan. What could be more interesting than meeting someone who just a few months before was plucked from the minor leagues and put under the big league spotlight?

Being a Kid Reporter is like having a job while going to school. You have to be professional, prepared, and organized.

I always think that when I’m working as a reporter, I’m not just Joseph O’Connor, I’m also representing Scholastic. When I leave an event or interview, I want people to think, “Hey, that kid was really on the ball.”

Think you might want to be a Kid Reporter? Now is the time to apply! Click here for the application process. And get busy. Deadline is October 12.

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: Met's rookie Ike Davis and Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor at Citi Field in Queens, New York. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Today at U.S. Open

Will Wozniacki win?

Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York, is a venue that “has no mercy” say many of the tennis greats who have played there. This year, soaring temperatures and a hurricane have added to the stress.

On the first day of the U.S. Open, the final big tennis tournament of the 2010 season, temperatures reached almost 100 degrees. By the end of the week, Hurricane Earl hit and players were forced to battle their opponents in high winds of about 22 miles per hour.

“The wind was really tough for me,” said Beatrice Capra, 18, who was beaten by Maria Sharapova, the 2006 U.S. Open Women’s Champ.

"It was unfortunate she had to come out on Ashe for the first time and be in those kind of conditions," Sharapova said of Capra.

Whatever the conditions, tennis is not a game for those easily rattled by circumstances beyond their control—whether it be weather or noise or an intense opponent. Among those left standing at the end of this week were the toughest competitors: Roger Federer, Maria Sharipova, Rafael Nadal, and Venus Williams.

Federer is hoping to win his sixth title in seven years at the Open. Nadal has won eight major championships, but has yet to make it past the semifinals at Flushing Meadows. He has lost at that stage of the tournament each of the past two years.

Federer lost his number one ranking to Nadal this year, and has suffered from illness, including a lung infection. Nadal hopes this will be his year to become only the seventh man in tennis history with at least one title from each of the four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

For tennis fans watching the action, keep an eye on Mardy Fish, the number 19 seed who is ranked 21st in the world. He is only one of three Americans left in the final 20 of the men’s draw.

Caroline Wozniacki has a chance to dethrone the world's No. 1 player, Serena Williams. First she has to beat 17th ranked Sharapova in the fourth round today.

“I’m playing to win,” Wozniaki said, “and it doesn’t really matter how. Just win and enjoy to be out there.”

—Joseph O'Connor

PHOTO: Among the tennis fans helping kick off the U.S. Open tournament in Queens, New York, recently was Disney star Demi Lovato, shown here with Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Lego Harry Potter in Action

Playing this game is like stepping into the world of Hogwarts.

 The Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 video game hit the stores June 29 and I think it’s the best in the series.

The game uses characters, locations, and storylines from the first four Harry Potter books and music from the movies. Although the game is rated for ages 10+, even younger gamers will enjoy the game. It’s not scary and is often funny.

It helps to be familiar with the books and movies to really enjoy the game. You can choose to become any of 100 different characters, including Ron’s pet rat, Scabbers.

Each character has a special ability. For Harry’s character, it’s his invisibility cloak. For Hermoine, you get a spell book.

I like the split screen effect that the game uses when you play with more than one person. In fact, this game is much more fun to play with two players because some of the puzzles can be difficult.

You can take detours in every imaginable part of Hogwarts. Nearly Headless Nick is always available to get you back on track. One of the best parts of the game is that you can replay completed levels, and go back to try out new spells or unleash golden bricks.

I enjoyed using the wands. Also, breaking and using spells is something that is new and exciting in the game. I liked zapping objects with my wand to earn studs. Then, with your studs you can go to Diagon Alley to spend them on unlocking other characters or buying gold bricks.

If you like Harry Potter, you’ll love this game. It’s like stepping into the world of Hogwarts, complete with magic and intrigue.

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor gets into the spirit of the Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 video game at a game demonstration in New York recently. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Meet Met's Ike Davis

KId Reporter goes behind the scenes at Met's Citi Field baseball card event.

Meeting Ike Davis was like a dream come true for me. The new first baseman for the New York Mets told me his own version of a dream finally realized.

Davis was playing in the minor leagues in Buffalo when he got a call in April to fly to New York and play for the Mets. I was at Citi Field, the new home of the Mets in Queens, New York, when Davis played in his first major league game ever. He rocked the house by going 2 for 4, with an RBI that helped the Mets to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

I was dying to ask him what it felt like to get the call that brought him to the big leagues. I got my chance when I covered the Topps Attax National Championship Finals at Citi Field recently.

“I was so excited, so nervous, it was a dream come true,” he said. He added that it took him “a full week for it to sink in.”

When I asked which player he looked up to as a kid growing up, he didn’t even hesitate in saying that his dad was his hero for “teaching me how to live, how to play baseball, how to be a man.” His dad, Ron Davis, is a former major league reliever.

And as someone who dreams of being a major league baseball player myself, I wondered what Davis liked best about his career.

“Playing in front of 30 to 40 thousand people,” he responded to my question.

I also asked him what he would like the sports history books to say about him. He gave it some thought before answering. “That I was a really good guy,” he said.

As I watched him pose for pictures and sign autographs for kids at the Topps event, I thought to myself, “You know what, Ike? You already are!”

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor with New York Met's first baseman Ike Davis at the Topps Attax National Championship Finals. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Lakers Win NBA Finals!

L.A. team defeats Boston Celtics in last minutes of Game 7.

Last night the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Championship title for 2010. The Game 7 score was 83-79 in a game that stayed close most of the four quarters of play.

The Lakers came from behind in this action packed game. In fact, they were down by 13 points in the second half.

Laker Kobe Bryant, who was named MVP and now has his 5th NBA title, made only 6 of his 24 shots last night, but recovered 15 rebounds. He only made 3 of 14 shots in the first half. Bryant was playing with a broken finger and fluid in his knee.

“I was getting real, real tired,” Kobe said after the game. “And the more I pushed, the more it got away from me. I’m really glad my teammates got us back in the game and I’m happy I made even one shot.”

The interesting thing, for me, watching this game, is that I watched it right after losing my own baseball championship game by two points. After a loss, you examine the game and try to figure out how the win got away from you. You can have a fabulous team, as the Celtics do, and yet on any given day, you don’t know how things are going to work out.

Ron Artest of the Celtics scored 20 points, but the Celtics shooting guards were playing at their worst last night. Ray Allen hit only 3 of 14 shots and hit just 2 of 7 three-pointers.

Everyone watching knows that the Celtics came very close to pulling off a Final win. But we were all left to wonder—would it have turned out differently if Celtics guard Kendrick Perkins hadn’t been sidelined with an injury? Did the Lakers simply want the title more? Were the Celtics outmatched?

Earlier in the week Bryant laid it out.

“The challenge is to win the championship,” Bryant said. “The Celtics are in the way. They feel the same way about us.”

I think we can all agree, though, that the Celtics showed a lot of fight. They gave us a terrific NBA Finals because down to that last minute, it could have gone either way. Both teams also gave fans some really great games!

That’s little consolation to the Celtics, but as I sat in the back of my car, going home after my own championship loss, my grandfather put it into perspective for me.

“Joe you’ve got to learn to lose as well as win,” he said.

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher (center) holds the Larry O'Brien Trophy as Kobe Bryant (right) holds the MVP trophy during celebrations after beating the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA basketball finals Thursday, June 17, 2010, in Los Angeles. At second left is Lakers' Sasha Vujacic. (PHOTO Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP Images)

NBA Finals!

Forget LeBron! The action is between Lakers and Celtics.

Most basketball news the past few months has focused on whether or not LeBron James will stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers once he becomes a free agent July 1. In fact, I live in NYC, where sports enthusiasts are in a frenzy over the Knicks’ attempts to lure LeBron to the Big Apple.

But forget all that! The NBA Finals is now tied 3 games each between long-time rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Right now, that’s the most exciting news in basketball! LeBron who?

In an upset last night, the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 89-67 in Game 6 of the NBA finals. Now, for only the fifth time in NBA Final history, we are going to see a Game 7. And, after all, is there anyone who doesn’t love a Game 7?

The Laker win last night has upped the stakes to a winner-take-all game on Thursday in L.A. The Lakers went into Game 6 as the underdogs. Now they are the comeback kids. But don’t count out the Celtics. They began the entire tournament as the underdog team.

The Celtics played at their worst for Game 6. On top of that, Kendrick Perkins injured his right knee in the first quarter, and it looks like he won’t be available for Game 7.

This will be the first Game 7 for Lakers star, Kobe Bryant, who was really on his game last night, scoring 26 points and nabbing 11 rebounds.

Boston is one win away from their second title in three years, but the Lakers will have the home court advantage for Game 7.

“It’s a game we have to win,” Bryant said. “It’s as simple as that.”

I’m certainly going to be watching on Thursday night. What about you?

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: The Celtics' Nate Robinson gets his shot blocked by the Lakers' Lamar Odom in the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Zuma/NewsCom)

The Nerd Herd Strikes Again!

First Lego League Competition ends for NY team.

Four students from a small parochial school in Brooklyn, New York, recently brought their home-made robot to the Jacob Javits Center to compete in the First Lego League Robotics Competition. The Scholastic Kids Press Corps has been following these kids since they began the competition in the fall.

The four students—Gregory Chin, Benjamin Kelk, Noelle Mondaya, and Nancy Fieve from St. Edmunds in Sheepshead Bay—also had to develop a new form of transportation. They used a device called a Shweeb, which is a bicycle enclosed in a clear plastic bubble that hangs from tracks just like a monorail train. Each rider in the Shweeb gets his or her own pod to travel in.

The original Shweeb, which is currently in an amusement park ride at Agroventures in New Zealand, was originally designed by inventor Geoffrey Barnett. The students took Barnett’s design beyond the world of theme parks into a real world solution to transportation-based pollution.

The 6th through 8th grade students took home a third place trophy in Project Presentation. The Nerd Herd also had superb scores in Research and Teamwork categories.

The four students are affectionately called The Nerd Herd. Their assistant coach, Erica Barbieri, described how they got their name.

“Partly, a lot of students just think nerd when you talk about robotics, so we kind of ran with that,” she said.

Chin piped in saying that Nerd Herd came from the first year they competed when they were looking for a name that rhymed.

Last year the Nerd Herd won the New York Championship and went on to Atlanta to compete with schools from all over the country. Their coach, and computer teacher, Christine Zaremba, said that even though the Javits Center is huge, “you realize this is triple A and Atlanta is the big leagues.”

Chin was quick to point out that no matter how they perform, “we still have a meeting to talk about what went wrong and what we could do to make it better next year.”

That is one of the things that stood out about this group: their drive to do their best, and not let anything stand in their way.

They were all confident when I asked about their personal plans for the future. Chin wants to be a lawyer, Kelk is hoping to design roller coasters, Mondaya has her heart set on being a medical scientist, and Fieve is sure she’ll thrive in an artistic field like writing.

I have no doubt they will all succeed, not matter what fields they end up in. And as for the next First Lego League Championships in 2011, the Nerd Herd is already planning next year’s strategy, so look out!

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: The Nerd Herd with Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor and their First Lego League Robotics Competition project. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Haiti Hits Home in Queens, NY

Fifth grader shares his stories of Haiti with Kid Reporter.

When the earthquake in Haiti erupted it felt so far away. I didn’t know anyone there and knew very little about it. Then I got an assignment from Scholastic to cover people affected by the earthquake. All of a sudden, instead of strangers on the TV screen, I found myself speaking with people directly affected. It made the tragedy much more personal for me.

I interviewed one young man my age, Rickssen Oponte, who is in the fifth grade, just like me. He has family members in Haiti.

Before I interviewed him I was told his mother was among the missing. That made me a little nervous to ask him questions. Before our interview, however, Rickssen found out his mom is OK.

“I can’t talk to my mom, because I can’t get through,” he told me. “But my sister who lives in Florida spoke with her and found out she is OK.”

I asked him what it was like, before he knew she was safe.

“I was extremely worried that my mom would be hurt,” he said. “My heart was broken and my heart was in pieces that she was there.”

Rickssen lived in Haiti for nine years before moving to New York. He has good memories, he said, of going to school and playing soccer. He was quick to point out, however, that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and that people are going to need help rebuilding.

“I want people to know that the people of Haiti are in extreme pain,” he said. “It’s a disaster.”

I also spoke with Julie Le Pore, Director of Religious Education at Saint Ann’s Church in Nyack, New York, which is home to a large Haitian population. LePore stressed the need for both prayers and money.

“Haitians are not ready for clothing or food drives right now,” she said. “They really need money.”

She stressed the need to act quickly to get things as basic as clean drinking water to the people.

“Drinking polluted water means people get sick and if they don’t get cared for, infection will spread,” she said.

It is important for us to help Haiti, she pointed out, because Haitians are our neighbors.

“And just like we try to help our neighbors on our own block, we should also help our neighboring countries in the same way,” she said.

Le Pore’s parish is collecting money and sending it to Catholic Relief Services and to the Norwich Haitian Mission House in Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. Saint Ann’s parish already has an established relationship with the Norwich Mission House, because so many members of the congregation are from Haiti.

I also interviewed Jackie McCann and Nancy Taylor, both of Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York, one of the most diverse counties in the entire country. They immediately started fund raising efforts when the earthquake struck in Haiti because many of their staff are from there. They are baking cookies and other goods to be sold in the lobby.

You may think that a bake sale can’t raise enough money to make a difference. McCann told me that they make $600 to $1,000 a day on their bake sales. They donate all sales to www.foodforthepoor.org, because that particular charity sends 96 percent of the profits directly to the people of Haiti. Food for the Poor is a well-known charity in the Caribbean.

“We want to make sure every penny goes to Haiti,” Taylor said. Aside from the bake sale, the hospital also has collection containers in the gift shop and cafeteria.

“Every little bit is helpful,” Taylor said.

—Joseph O’Connor

RETURN TO CRISIS IN HAITI SPECIAL REPORT

PHOTO: Fifth grader Rickssen Oponte was relieved to find out his mother, who lives in Haiti, survived the earthquake. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)