The Plank - Opinions
Opinion: “GOAT” roars in theatres
The new animated basketball film “GOAT” recently concluded its theatrical run, and received a good amount of attention from audiences. The movie focuses on a young goat who dreams of becoming a professional roarball (basketball) player, even though he is considered too small to compete. The film was very entertaining and did a great job telling an inspiring underdog story.
Opinion: Too Far Gone? NIL, The Transfer Portal, and the Downfall of College Football
Through the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) revenue to college football, a sport once defined by the development of young men as players and as people has been corrupted into a player-centric circus that promotes greed and rewards disloyalty.
Control of a program’s success no longer lies in the hands of coaches, but rather in the pockets of their school’s boosters. Programs once built on tradition and reputation have fallen, and new, well-funded programs have risen from the ashes. NIL has made an amateur sport pay-to-win, and it must be amended and limited before it causes even more harm than it already has.
Opinion: Keep the A’s in Sac
For the first time since the Athletics’ establishment in 1967, they are homeless. After spending 57 years in Oakland, they are spending the 2025-2028 seasons in West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, sharing the minor league venue with the River Cats. The A’s owner, John Fisher, is using Sacramento as a home temporarily as he chases the bright lights of Las Vegas. But what if Sacramento could be more than a pit-stop? What if it became the permanent address?
Opinion: “IT: Welcome to Derry” is a gut-wrenching watch
“IT: Welcome to Derry” is the newest installment in the Stephen King’s “IT” series and a prequel set in the 1960s. The show is directed by Andy Muschietti, who had previously directed both “IT” movies. The main character and star of the show is Bill Skarsgård, who retained the role of Pennywise from the movies.
Opinion: It’s Time for MLS in Sac
Two blocks away from the Golden 1 Center steel is going up at the Railyards. When the construction is complete in 2027, Sacramento will have a privately funded, MLS caliber, 12,000-20,000 seat soccer palace. The table is set—all that’s missing is MLS.
The MLS has just welcomed its 30th team, San Diego FC, for a $500 million expansion fee. The league has publicly stated that it’s pausing expansion for now. However, that pause could end the moment someone writes a check.
And it’s a no-brainer that Sacramento should be first in line.
Opinion: dreams deferred at the border
“How many more people have to die in the desert before we find a solution to this problem?”
This summer, I was lucky enough to join seven other Jesuit High School Sacramento students on an immersion trip to the Kino Border Initiative. Straddling the border between the United States and Mexico, in the town of Ambos Nogales, the organization provides essential services to asylum seekers and recently deported migrants: meals, shelter, basic medical care, childcare, and legal assistance.
Opinion: Ghost of Yotei: a worthy successor
Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, “Ghost of Yotei” is a sequel to the critically-acclaimed Playstation game “Ghost of Tsushima.”
“Ghost of Yotei” is an extremely fun game. I initially had my doubts, thinking it wouldn’t live up to its predecessor, but it blew my expectations out of the water. With its fluid character design and movement, the visuals are cinematic and surely one of Sucker Punch’s best projects.
Opinion: 28 Years Later: Bone Temple is a thrilling, apocalyptic adventure
“28 Years Later: Bone Temple” released on Jan. 16, 2026. It is a direct sequel to 28 Years later, and the fourth installment of the 28 Days Later series. The film is a zombie thriller that takes place in an apocalyptic future.
The story is great. You can watch the film without seeing the two other films and still have a good time like I did. However, to understand some of the characters, it’s wise to at least watch 28 Years Later, the film’s most immediate predecessor.
The Downfall of Brawl Stars
Brawl Stars was a mobile video game released in 2018 by Supercell that became popular among students at Jesuit High School Sacramento. The game is a fast-paced multiplayer battle where players control characters called brawlers, each with different abilities and play styles. For many years, the game stayed mostly the same and maintained a strong and loyal player base.
Opinion: ‘Stranger Things’ season five, a strange end to a beloved show
Released in late December after a three-year-long hiatus, it is apparent that the writers for the fifth season of “Stranger Things” had a lot to prove to please its audience. With growing impatience from a fanbase that has awaited the newest installment of the hit show, the last season carried very high expectations.
Opinion: Sopranos, the psychology of a psychopath
Although the final episode of “The Sopranos” aired in 2007, well before many of the students at Jesuit High School Sacramento were born, the critically acclaimed HBO (Home Box Office) series remains relevant nearly two decades later.
“The Sopranos” follows Tony Soprano and his mafia family in the North Jersey sect, and all the murder, racketeering, extortion, fraud, and drama that surrounds them. The show’s characterization of Tony is what makes it a masterpiece.
Opinion: love, loss and loneliness in Chainsaw Man
Perhaps the best movie to come out in October of 2025 was “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc”. This movie, a continuation of the anime series “Chainsaw Man”, was an absolute masterpiece in terms of animation, story, and character development.
Although it took 3 years for the franchise to return after the conclusion of the anime, the wait paid off with 120 immaculate minutes of screen time in theatres. Staying true to its manga (a Japanese comic book), it presented the intricacies of the manga incredibly well.
Opinion: NFL in Sacramento?
For decades, the Central Valley has been underrepresented in the big four U.S. sports leagues. Sacramento has always been in the shadow of California’s major cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles. However, one of these leagues just had a major shake-up, when the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas. Now that there is much less saturation in the California football market, could this be a golden opportunity for a Sacramento NFL expansion?
Opinion: Columbia University mixes a prime location with superb education
Columbia University is located in the Upperside Heights neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, in New York City. Columbia University is an Ivy League school and consistently ranks among America’s top colleges.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to stay for two weeks at Columbia, on campus, in the dorms. The program that allowed me to live on campus to study business and economics was the National Student Leadership Conference. They created a schedule personalized for me, and allowed 48 of other students across the country to study the same program with me.
Opinion: Unsung Supercell games
When most people think of Supercell, three games come to mind: Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. The “big three” have dominated the mobile gaming industry for nearly a decade, keeping teens all over the world addicted to their phones and inspiring memes, tournaments, and communities. However, behind the popular mainstream games lie a collection of underrated gems that never received the attention they deserve.
Aftershock: A Must Attend Event
Aftershock is an annual hard rock and heavy metal music festival based in Sacramento, California. This year, the event ran from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5, and marked its 13th year in operation. This festival is a haven for all hard rock enthusiasts who love to let loose, party, and have fun with blaring music.
The Aftershock lineup this year included Blink-182, Deftones, Lamb of God, Korn, Bad Omens, and Three Days Grace. The four-day concert is a constant flow of music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., packed full with merch stands and eager fans, including myself.
CW: Turning awareness into action at the Chicago Darst Center
By Emmett Gustorf '26 and Luca McGlynn '26
Over the summer, we had the privilege to visit the Br. Darst Center in Chicago. The organization seeks to raise awareness for social issues through spiritual retreats. When we visited, our group was exposed firsthand to the many societal injustices that plague the area.
One of these issues is food insecurity–essentially when people in an area cannot access healthy foods. Whilst working at the Saint James Food Pantry, we saw how many people were unable to feed themselves and their families.
CW: Listening, witnessing, and understanding at the border
By Jayden Schultz '26
When choosing an immersion trip, the Kino immersion stood out to me in particular since immigration is a complex topic in America, and I did not know much about it. I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to work and learn with the Kino Border Initiative. The trip was not just about community service, it was about listening, witnessing, and understanding.
CW: Service grounded in gratitude in Del Norte County
By Brody Bisbiglia '26
This summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Del Norte, California, to work with the Sierra Service Project, an organization that provides home repair and building services for underserved communities. This immersion trip was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had during my time at Jesuit. Throughout the trip, I worked on a variety of service projects that directly impacted the local community and environment.
CW: Building courts and community in Panama
By Nick Ryan '26 and Noah Espinoza '26
This summer, we had the opportunity to go on an immersion trip to Panama. During this immersion, we joined a small community and helped them build a multi use sports court through a program called Courts for Kids. Our time in Panama taught and challenged us in many ways. The time we spent there opened our eyes to a new culture, and it gave us a chance to contribute to a long-lasting cause.