blog #11

Cash Money Records

Los Angeles, California

Drake releases his third album titled “take Care”

            Hip-Hop artist “Drake” will release his third album on November 15^th, 2011 entitled “Take Care”. The album will be released under the “Cash Money Records” record label. This will be his third album released with cash money records. The album is headlined with the major single entitled “ I’m so proud of you.”

            The album featured stars such as, Nikki Minaj , Lil Wayne, and Rhianna. There are high expectations for the album as his first two records went platinum.

            Allan Geoffrey Hodak has been a great mentor to many of his students and faculty that he has influenced with his many years in education. He also has affected the lives of many of his players that have had the opportunity to play under him in basketball, but being a coach or a teacher is not Mr. Hodaks’ job, he is simply a leader. His full intentions are to make sure you are a well-rounded individual and ready to make a positive stamp on the world by the time you graduate from his school.

            Allan grew up in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. His childhood was less than glamorous. He grew up in a single parent home, raised by his mother. His neighborhood was very poor as Allan described it as “a ghetto.” He gives accounts of being robbed in his home multiple times and seeing drugs effect lives every day. Seeing these things would give him a tough mentality that he would carry with him throughout his life and still carries it with him today.

            In high- school Allan really excelled in athletics. He soon became one of the best prep baseball players in the entire state of Arizona, as he was a star outfielder. He also played basketball where he also excelled. Allan had dreams of playing division one college baseball and those dreams looked like a reality until an outfield collision gave him a concussion that forced him to sit out his entire junior season of high school baseball. He then lost his passion for the game of baseball. Allan then spent hours in the gym exploring his newly found passion, basketball. Although he did not know it at the time, basketball would become a large part of his life and he would use it as a tool to both teach and coach, but also relate to players and teach them about life. Allan had an outstanding senior season in basketball with his team finishing third in the state; he played a crucial role on the team. After high school Allan was waiting for an opportunity to pursue a criminal justice degree and also continue his basketball dreams. He enrolled at local community college in Phoenix where he would play a year of basketball and begin working on his Criminal Justice degree. During his year of ball he dominated most competition and led his team to a winning record. He even had the opportunity to go head to head with future NBA all-star and Champion Byron Scott. The summer between his freshman and sophomore year while playing in a pick-up basketball game Allan tore his ACL and MCL and his playing career never recovered. He would never play competitively again; this was a crushing blow for a 19 year-old with a bright athletic future.

            After realizing his time playing was done he decided to transfer to Arizona State University to complete his degree as he had set a goal to become a policeman. He finished his degree and was selected to train with Phoenix Police Department. He passed his training and became an official member of law enforcement. He had accomplished and received the job he had strived for since he was in junior high school, but ironically before his first real day on the job he had second thoughts about his new profession. He realized that all his life he had loved sports and loved the idea of competition. He decided right there and then that he would pursue his love for teaching and coaching.

            Allan would get a job at a local grocery store and soon worked his way up to become a manager, while on the side coaching an elementary boys basketball team.

            From there Allan would marry Allyson and he would get a job becoming the administrator for a small Christian school in Central Michigan He would look over the school and coach basketball. He never would have pictured himself in this position years before, but he was very content.

            In 2003 Allan and his wife would move to Chisago City, MN. There he would spend 7 years being the administrator and coaching both the women and men’s basketball teams.

            Allan’s life is a true testament of how quickly our idea of what our life will look like can change from what it does look like. He let his life be transformed and led in a positive way and is very inspiring to all around him

Anoka –Ramsey Soccer Program Prospers Under Head Coach

            Anoka-Ramsey Community College Soccer Coach Brady Eichhorn-Hicks has drastically turned around the schools’ soccer program into one of the most successful men’s programs in the region. Coach Hicks has coached the men since the 2009 season, but what will forever put his name in A.R.’s history is his work with the women’s program. Coach Hicks was instrumental in creating the first competitive collegiate women’s’ soccer team here at A.R and also had the honor of being the very first head coach of our women’s’ soccer program.

            Coach Hicks soccer credentials are extensive and impressive, to say the least.

His love for the game started at a young age where he played youth soccer at the age 5. At a very young age he fell in love with the game and decided to completely dedicate himself to the sport. Coach Hicks, “When I was a kid, I was not a natural soccer player, but I loved it .I realized if I worked hard I could be good at it.” Coach Hicks obviously worked at it, as he went on to have success through high school where it would be only the beginning of his playing career.

            Coach went on to the University of Minnesota where he would play on their club soccer team for all 4 of his collegiate years. A persons’ last collegiate game, in most cases, is their final chance at competitive soccer; however this wasn’t the case for Coach Hicks. He would go on after his time at the U of M to play for the Twin Cities Phoenix, a local semi-professional team. He would have a few short gigs with some other professional teams, but injury plagued he was forced to end competitive play. At this time is when his coaching career began.

            Hicks started his coaching experience by coaching the Spring Lake Park High School girl’s soccer team. He would take the job in 2005. The girls would go on to win the North Suburban Conference Championship 3 straight years only losing a combined total of 2 conference games. He was quickly making a name for himself in the Minnesota coaching ranks. His early success also allowed him to coach the 2006 Women’s’ State Select Team where he would play the assistant coach role, that team ended up winning the Midwest region championship.

            What Coach brings to Anoka – Ramsey? Coach Hicks brings experience, a successful winning past, a burning passion and knowledge for the game, and a desire to see his players get better each at each and every opportunity. The Golden Rams players and Coach Hicks will strive to make our community and college proud with outstanding play and sportsmanship.