The Plank - Opinions

Plank Article Milo Moggan ’26

Opinion: This season was not Sacra-meant-to-be

With All-Star Weekend in the rear-view mirror, the Sacramento Kings sit at seventh place in the Western Conference with a record of 33-24. At the start of this NBA season, The Plank anonymously polled 47 random student fans from Jesuit High School Sacramento, asking them what their Playoff expectations are for the Kings this year. Their confidence was clear: 52.1% said that this season’s team can make it past the second round, something the franchise hasn’t accomplished since 2002. Let’s see how those expectations stack up after 57 games.

Plank Article Brandon Smalls '26

Opinion: “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”: a unique take on AI

“Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is the latest installment of the “Mission Impossible” (MI) franchise and was released in theaters on July 12, 2023. The movie was released to streaming for Paramount Plus subscribers on Thursday, Jan. 25 2024. The movie is also available to buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. It was directed and written by Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen. The film contains thrilling action and has a unique take on Artificial Intelligence (AI), but its long action scenes and ambiguity can hamper the experience.

Plank Article Jason De Guzman ’25

Opinion: Chiefs hold the advantage in Super Bowl LVIII

Super Bowl LVIII will be held on Sunday, Feb.11, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many Jesuit students will be tuning in as the game will feature a familiar matchup: Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers will face off against Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. The two teams played each other in Super Bowl LIV four years ago, where the Chiefs won 31-20 thanks to a dominant final 8 minutes where they outscored the 49ers 21-0.

Plank Article John Covert '24

Opinion: Behind the odds

Gambling is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. According to data collected by the Federal Trade Commission, as stated in their “Daily News” press release, the global online gambling market size was valued at 63.53 billion United States Dollars (USD) in 2022, and is expected to grow quickly at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7% from 2023 to 2030.

Plank Article Cooper Zarro '26

Opinion: “The Creator”: stunning visuals can’t save a mediocre story

Filmmaker Gareth Edwards’s much-anticipated original sci-fi film “The Creator” was released in theaters on Sept. 30, 2023, and it failed to live up to the hype. This movie is disappointing because it feels as cookie-cutter and one-note as the typical blockbuster fare, despite it being one of the few sci-fi movies released in the past few years that is not attached to a series.

Plank Article Toby Hekkanen '25

Opinion: “My Pandemic Love Story” strikes a perfect balance

Students from Jesuit High School Sacramento joined students from Saint Francis High School and Rio Americano High School to produce the Fall Play event entitled “My Pandemic Love Story” (MPLS). Through song, dance, and monologue, the performers relived and revealed the realities they experienced  during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Plank Article Rowan Craig '23

Opinion: “SOMA” sends subtle psychological scares

“SOMA” is a survival horror game developed and published by Frictional Games, the very same studio that created the acclaimed “Amnesia” game/series. The base gameplay of “SOMA” holds many similarities to its predecessors in the “Amnesia” series, with stealth and puzzle solving being the main mechanics needed to progress.

Plank Article Charley Taylor ’25

Opinion: “IGOR” mixes amazing talent with deeper meaning

On May 17, 2019, Tyler, the Creator released his fifth studio album titled “IGOR.” The album won Tyler the first Grammy of his career: Best Rap Album of 2020. His fourth album, “Flower Boy,” fell short after being nominated but not selected for Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys, so winning was a huge accomplishment for Tyler. 

On “IGOR,” Tyler branched out from what people thought rap was and introduced a heavy R&B influence to his experimental rapping. Tyler utilized a wide array of sounds from psychedelic synths to distorted bass, providing an experience that fans of many different genres could appreciate. 

Plank Article Matin Sayareh '25

Smash Bros: The Ultimate Fighting Game!

“Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” (SSBU) is very popular at Jesuit High School Sacramento, and for a good reason. Adherents have been seen playing this game during lunch, community periods, and even in the morning on days with a late school start. I, too, am a fan of the “Super Smash Bros” franchise and decided to delve deeper into the game’s history and give an overall rating and opinion.

Plank Article Luke Kriss ’23

Opinion: Cornell University, go (other) Big Red!

Cornell University is a private Ivy League school located in Ithaca, New York that is well known for its Computer Science, Medical, and Hotel Management programs. Cornell is also famous for being the second largest school in the Ivy League with 15,000 undergraduate students.

Plank Article Rowan Craig '23

Opinion: MF DOOM’s presence still looms large

New York rapper Daniel Dumile, aka MF DOOM, is one of the greatest and most influential hip hop artists of all time. MF DOOM tragically passed away on Oct. 31, 2020, at the age of 49. Despite his passing, his presence and musical influence are still felt in pop culture to this day.