NICE BUILDING...WHAT'S IT FOR? -- With all eyes on Philadelphia as the city celebrates Independence Day by launching the $185 million National Constitution Center, a hulking homage to the document that defines American democracy, Temple University--minutes from Old City's living history laboratory--is asking incoming freshmen to rethink the many myths of U.S. history. This summer, Temple's Class of 2007 will read James Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, an award-winning work that debunks the folklore propagated in high school history textbooks that produces graduates ignorant of their collective past. "Learning to think is integral to the Temple experience, and learning to think critically is integral to the discipline of history," says history department chair Richard Immerman. "James Loewen argues that high school students are cheated out of the opportunity to learn to think critically." Loewen will visit campus Tuesday, Sept. 23, to defend his critique and jump-start the academic year.
THERE'S NO TYING IN BASEBALL: SELIG TWEAKS ALL-STAR GAME --After the abysmal conclusion to last year's Midsummer Classic--an extra-inning marathon that ended in a tie as each manager exhausted his roster of pitchers--Commissioner Bud Selig will link World Series home field advantage to the outcome of the July 15th All-Star Game in Chicago. While FOX television is already hyping the game's added consequence, Temple sports psychologist Michael Sachs says the home field twist offers little incentive to players or viewers. "Having home field on the line could add extra pressure, but it's not a major deal for most fans or players," Sachs says. "If you're on the Detroit Tigers and out of the playoff race, you're not as motivated to win just so the Yankees can have home field." Sachs points to a number of factors that have devalued the All-Star Game since its heyday in 1970 when Pete Rose bowled over American League catcher Ray Fosse to plate the winning run. "As teams are paying out more for player contracts, they don't want them getting hurt in an exhibition game," Sachs says. "Managers have also shifted to the idea that everybody should play, rather than preserving players to win the game." Sachs suggests that baseball take a cue from hockey and match American players versus the world to rekindle the drama.
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