Since today I start writing for a new audience, I think it’s only proper that I should introduce you to my beliefs.This is what I believe …

I believe I learned more about journalism in the first weekof my schooling at Loyola than I ever learned in two yearsof high school.

I believe I learned things in those two years that I’ll never be able to learn here.

I believe that Barry Bonds’ records should be taken off the books, as he knowingly took steroids of every form.

I believe the NBA and national media outlets should have putmore pressure on the New Orleans Hornets organization aboutchanging the name of the team for this season to the NewOrleans/Oklahoma City Hornets and for marketing OklahomaCity Hornets merchandise … since no such team exists.

I believe the Hornets organization does not likeHornetsReport.com.

I believe that if anyone does not vote for Hornets rookieChris Paul for NBA Rookie of the Year, they should not beallowed to vote in any sort of election ever again.

I believe the New Orleans Saints should draft Vince Youngwith the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft regardless of hisWonderlic score, basically an IQ test (rumored at a 6 outof possible 50). I believe the Saints will win the Super Bowl before I die.Well … I pray the Saints will win the Super Bowl before Idie.

I believe that everyone who loves boxing should play FightNight Round 3 on Xbox360 because it is simply the greatestboxing game ever. I also believe this will apply to maybeseven people on campus, as no one watches boxing anymore.

I believe that Duke and North Carolina have the greatestcollege basketball rivalry of all time.

I believe Duke’s J.J. Redick is one of the greatestshooters in NCAA history.

I believe the San Antonio Spurs will win another NBA titlethis season.

I believe the Loyola men’s basketball would excite me a lotmore if we had more athleticism and more wins.

I believe the Loyola men’s basketball won’t like that lastcomment.

I believe the Loyola women’s basketball will go to anotherNAIA national tournament before I graduate in 2008.

I believe high school athletics have more spirit, and theathletes give more than on any other level. I believe that even though you have probably never heard ofEpiphanny Prince, a New York City high school phenom, her coach should be fired for letting her score 113 points in a single game. The opposing team only scored 36.

I believe that even though you have probably never heard ofJason McElwain, an autistic 17-year-old basketball managerfrom Greece, N.Y., his story is the most touching you’veheard in a while, and if Disney and Warner Bros. haveanything to say about it, you will hear about it soon in a bigway.

I believe ESPN’s Scoop Jackson and Bill Simmons, as wellas Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly, influenced me to readmore sports columns than anyone else.

I believe that one day I will be able to converse with themas an equal as the next great sports columnist.

By the way, I’m not cocky … I’m confident.