By Dara Belic

In mixed martial arts, a growing number of women compete under the same rules as men, which means punching, kicking and body-slamming. This increasingly popular - and violent - sport is attracting women around the globe at amateur and professional levels.

Mixed martial arts is a combat sport held in a "cage" with walls of metal fencing. A match is won when one fighter either forces the opponent to submit-much like in wrestling-or knocks the opponent out-much like in boxing and kickboxing.

The rules of competitive MMA have evolved to increase its practicality and safety immensely, said Rick Hines, advisory board member of the International Sports Combat Federation (ISCF), a widely recognized MMA sanctioning body.

"Less than two decades ago, MMA fights had practically no rules and were border-line illegal in this country," Hines said.

By Sal Cano

Franky Ramirez, a senior at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, is late to varsity basketball practice every Friday during the season, and he isn't alone. Three of his 14 teammates do the same thing.

Ramirez is part of the school's Corporate Internship Program, which allows students to earn 65 percent of the cost of their education by working five days each month in entry-level positions at corporations in downtown Chicago.

Although the program provides practical experience for the future, it also creates some challenges for the present.

"It's frustrating because you can't help but wondering what your team would be like if you had all your players," said Jason Dillon, Cristo Rey's athletic director.

By Sal Cano

Despite having a student body of less than 200, members of Chicago Hope Academy's football team do not consider themselves underdogs. And they don't shy away from big challenges.

This year, the team has already played - and beaten - Roberto Clemente and Washington high schools, which have more than 1,500 students.

"We'll play anyone," said Mike Laneve, head coach of Chicago Hope Academy, a non-denominational Christian school located at 2189 Bowler St. in the Near West Side.

Laneve has watched his team, whose record is 3-4, play schools with winning traditions, such as St. Laurence High School (Catholic League Champions: 1972-74, ‘76, ‘77, ‘79, ‘82-‘85 and 1987).

By Andrew Reilly

Tom Kavanagh owns a condo in the 3400 block of North Seminary Avenue. After spending so many afternoons as a boy at Cubs games, and countless evenings of his early 20s on the streets of Wrigleyville, he thought living so close to the center of his baseball and nightlife universe would be a dream come true, his head swimming with visions of ivy-covered days and Old Style-fueled nights.

By Janoah White
With a 1-2 record, the The Fury, one of four local teams in the Windy City Rollers, hopes to win its next game July 21. Huls and her 16 teammates hope they'll win the right to call themselves the league's champions. "We have three more games, and need to win all of them to go to the championship, which is in October," said Stephanie Huls, a.k.a. "Go-Go Hatchet."