Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
You still have the opportunity to join us for a night that promises to be among the best in all of sports. The National Sportsmanship Awards inspires, entertains, and restores confidence in what we all love most about sports. Get your tickets today. Call 314-345-5130 or visit http://bit.ly/BigSolNSA for more information. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Monday, 25 April 2011
Have no fear. There is a solution. More importantly, if you're reading this blog you know the solution is most likely free. St. Louis Blues strength and conditioning coach Nelson Ayotte is hosting a free seminar at Strength 360 in St. Louis on Monday, April 25 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Ayotte is in his sixth season as strength and conditioning coach for the Blues and is recognized as one of the top sports performance coaches in the world. He has coached for several Canadian National teams, U.S. Olympic Track and Field, as well as professional athletes in the NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, and PGA. As a Chartered Professional Coach (Ch.P.C.), he is a level five coach of the National Canadian Coaching Program - the highest level a person can achieve.
Free food and beverages will be provided courtesy of St. Louis' premiere organic meal delivery company - Metabolic Meals. Coach Ayotte has a tremendous passion for training and for young people. You will be impressed with his knowledge and encouraged by his attitude. Click here for full registration and contact information for the Strength 360 facility in suburban St. Louis. The event is free but registration is required. Don't miss your chance to learn from one of the best coaches in the world. Register today! Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
P.S. Don't forget to register your organization to become a Team Player with the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative. The first 10 participants will receive their Cardinals Care Package on the spot. Everyone else will get the sportsmanship kit shipped to them in four weeks.
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Friday, 22 April 2011
Sportsmanship Brigade - America SCORES St. Louis 04.21.2011, a set on Flickr.
That's not a typo. Kobe showed tremendous sportsmanship yesterday. No, not that Kobe. The one I'm talking about is a young man who respects his teammates, opponents, and the game he loves. The Sportsmanship Brigade paid another visit to the great young people at America SCORES St. Louis yesterday. We met Kobe, who's featured in the photo set on this page. Kobe scored three or four goals for his team and gave up several chances for more by letting his teammates take shots as well. He helped up several fallen opponents, asked if they were OK and continued to play hard. Kobe was rewarded with a $10 Target gift card for his efforts, but the true value of his character is priceless. I also think he likes getting his picture taken. The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of volunteers who visit St. Louis area youth sports events looking to reward acts of good sportsmanship. If we haven't visited your organization, then we should. To get on the Brigade schedule, please call 314.345.5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org. Until next time...Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Thursday, 21 April 2011
I'm on my way to an important meeting, but I didn't want to shirk my responsibilities. While I'm gone, check out the latest Sportsmanship Radio podcast below (Email subscribers click here). You didn't really think what Kobe did last week would slip past me, did you? Nah... By the way, you can still get your National Sportsmanship Awards tickets by clicking on the following link. Enjoy the podcast and I'll have more later. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Yadier Molina Field Dedication, a set on Flickr.
Believe it or not, this day began for me at 4:04 a.m. Why? Well, the world's greatest kid decided she wanted to be early for school and came to get me up. I was groggy and trying my hardest not to completely wake up. So, I told her to climb into bed with my wife and me and go to sleep. She decided to go back to her room where it's much more comfortable. Fine with me. Boom! Crash! Great, now the thunderstorms have started. It's 5:00 a.m. and there's no chance I'm going back to sleep. I started to plan the workday in my head while watching severe thunderstorm warnings dance across the TV screen.I thought to myself, "The Cardinals are supposed to dedicate a new baseball field in Wellston today...guess that won't happen." Midwest weather changes quicker than a hiccup and the storms were passing before the station could get to commercial break. By the time I really had to drop the kid off at school, severe weather had become a harmless drizzle. Thirty minutes later I arrived at work to a peek of sunlight. Maybe the field dedication would happen after all.
Thankfully, it did. I took the 15-minute drive from downtown St. Louis to the small community of Wellston, Mo. For anyone reading this who's not from the St. Louis area, you have to also realize how special this is. Wellston is a suburb of St. Louis, but it is anything but suburban. Think of Gary, Ind. or Compton, Ca. I'm not putting Wellston down. Everyone who lives here knows about the struggles and wishes someone would do something.
Someone has done something. In a community where "those people" live and "you don't want to be after dark," a person could shake hands with an All-Star catcher, an MLB general manager, and its team president. The St. Louis Cardinals are committed to reviving baseball in the inner-city and places where kids may not be able to afford the necessities of the game. Redbird Rookies is a program developed by the team that provides bats, balls, gloves, helmets, uniforms, and even pitching machines to youth baseball clubs. The Cardinals also build and refurbish baseball fields for the kids to play on.
One man you'll see quite often in this photostream is Tim Bright. He's wearing Cardinal red to commemorate the occasion. Bright coaches eight teams in the Wellston Redbird Rookies league by himself. That's right. He coaches 120 kids alone. Bright is not a glutton for punishment. He's just had a hard time finding coaches who want to commit to the kids for an entire season. You see, most youth league coaches in any sport come from amongst the dads. In communities like Wellston, fewer fathers are in the home. Hence, fewer fathers are available to coach. Bright takes it in stride, though. He said he has two or three good prospects this year and no matter what, the kids will have a great time on the new field.
As for the field's namesake, he was polite and humble as usual. Yadier Molina looked comfortable while holding his young son with his left hand and signing autographs with his right. The young people of Wellston will certainly benefit from Yadier Molina Field for years to come. Enjoy the pictures and even if the Cardinals aren't your favorite team, cheer for them anyway. They really hit one out of the park for the community today. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Monday, 18 April 2011
Solomon,
I have not had the chance to blog, because I tend to stay out of [social media]. But one concern of mine with the way sports are handled now a days is appalling. I am not sure when, but when did the sports we would play all the time in the neigborhood become win, win, win, win? This is what Select ball teaches. I still have to write to the [youth organization], because who ever is in charge has completely lost the focus of what sports should be for kids from 1st grade up to 8th grade. Kids in 5th grade should not have to deal with being cut from a team, unless they try out for a select team. [The organization] was meant to be for all kids who wanted to have fun and learn about the game no matter how good they were or how bad they were. Now the kids who want to just play the game and have fun are being tossed to the side and convinced that they should of never tried in the 1st place. My biggest example of late is that my son's soccer team had some good and some bad players and they complemented each other. [The team] decided they needed to have try outs and pulled all the good kids onto one team and all the ok players on the other. So one team won a lot of games and the other team struggled all season.
Most of the players will probably not come back to play next year. Driven away by the win win win, gotta play, play. My wife works at a surgery center and is amazed at the amount of young kids who are coming in for surgeries on elbows, knees, and shoulders, because the parents and coaches of today preach win, win, win, play, play, play 24-7, never giving these kids time to let their muscles grow the proper way. I like competition and I do believe that kids who want to play select ball should go play select ball, and stay out of the [local youth] program. Sorry for rambling, but I coach and it kills me to see what some coaches are doing to their players just for a win. How a lot of coaches will sit a player, because he isn't as good as the other players. I take coaching seriously and my goal when I coach is to make sure all the boys have fun and in the process learn about the sport they are playing so when they do get into high school they have a chance to try out.
This coach's words speak for themselves, but I think he's saying that winning can't be everything on the youth level. He's right. Winning is useless if all of the kids quit. What can we do? We can start by educating ourselves. The Sportsmanship Initiative started the Team Players program as a way for local organizations to commit to good sportsmanship and improving the sports experience for young people. Team Players receive the Cardinals Care Package - a sportsmanship kit filled with materials to help educate parents, coaches, athletes, and officials on each of their roles and what youth sports is all about. Click here to join the Sportsmanship Initiative as a Team Player and keep sports fun for you and your kids. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Friday, 15 April 2011
Seriously, the National Sportsmanship Awards presented by Maryville University will be held Saturday, April 30 at Edward Jones St. Louis Headquarters. Individual tickets are just $50. So, come on out and join us for the night that celebrates all that's right in sports. You can also order tickets online by clicking on the following link - http://bit.ly/BigSolNSA. I prefer that you call Kristin directly, though. The pedestal we have her on here at the Sports Commission is so high, she gets lonely sometimes. Now, you're all set. Order tickets to THE sportsmanship event of the year and make a new friend. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Thursday, 14 April 2011
My daughter's question leads me to a word thrown around a lot in sports and I'm sure very few people know what it means. The word is class. We're so quick to judge someone as having class or being classless. What does it mean? I'll get back to that in a moment. I was listening to sports-talk radio earlier this week and the host was going on and on about how Tiger Woods lacks class. I'm not about to debate whether he does or doesn't here, but a guest asked the host a very interesting question. "How do you define class?" The host went on to say that a person with class is cordial and engaging. As a matter of fact, it doesn't mean either of those things. By the definitions I found in the Merriam-Webster and Oxford dictionaries, class has nothing to do with sportsmanship, character, or attitude. I know. I'm throwing a monkey in the wrench, but the discussion is necessary.
What is class? I'm challenging every reader of this blog to respond in the comment section with a definition of class focused on sportsmanship or character. Just to sweeten the pot, I'll make it worth your while. We'll have a contest. I'm looking for the three best definitions of class relative to sportsmanship. Submissions must be made by 5 p.m. CDT on April 15, 2010. Be sure to copy your comment in an email to me - salexander@stlsports.org. Our three winners will receive a Target gift card mailed to them anywhere in the Continental U.S. You have your orders. Proceed with class. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Monday, 11 April 2011
I've blogged about this type of thing before, but I don't remember the consequences being so severe. Bryan Stow, 42, of Santa Cruz, Ca. loves his San Francisco Giants. He went to Los Angeles to see his team play the rival Dodgers in the season-opener. As you might imagine, Stowe made it clear who he was rooting for. He wore his Giants hat and jersey and cheered as loudly as he could for his team. After the game, Stowe was walking to his car when he was attacked by two men wearing Dodgers apparel. The Associated Press provides a more detailed account in the video below (Email subscribers click here).
In cases like this, some of the best examples of how to behave during a rivalry game come from the players themselves. You do know that Giants players don't actually hate Dodgers players, right? Many of these guys are the best of friends. They hang out after the game. Their wives shop together. Some even take family vacations together. Let's be clear about this. Every fan has the right to go to a game and cheer, boo, and wave foam fingers as much as they want - even if they're wearing the other team's colors. What's not covered in the video is that the police don't have any suspects, even though there were at least 100 eye-witnesses. Come on, people. Have the courage to step up and give Bryan Stowe and his family the justice they deserve.
You can make sure this doesn't happen in your youth league or when you and the guys go watch the pros. Through a Child's Eyes is a booklet available from the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative that clearly details the roles of athletes, coaches, officials, and fans. Best of all, it's free. Click on the following link and order as many as you like - http://bit.ly/KnowYourRole. So, remember to cheer loudly and have a good time. Just don't be an idiot! Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
In cases like this, some of the best examples of how to behave during a rivalry game come from the players themselves. You do know that Giants players don't actually hate Dodgers players, right? Many of these guys are the best of friends. They hang out after the game. Their wives shop together. Some even take family vacations together. Let's be clear about this. Every fan has the right to go to a game and cheer, boo, and wave foam fingers as much as they want - even if they're wearing the other team's colors. What's not covered in the video is that the police don't have any suspects, even though there were at least 100 eye-witnesses. Come on, people. Have the courage to step up and give Bryan Stowe and his family the justice they deserve.
You can make sure this doesn't happen in your youth league or when you and the guys go watch the pros. Through a Child's Eyes is a booklet available from the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative that clearly details the roles of athletes, coaches, officials, and fans. Best of all, it's free. Click on the following link and order as many as you like - http://bit.ly/KnowYourRole. So, remember to cheer loudly and have a good time. Just don't be an idiot! Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Cliff Forrest, Jr. has character beyond his years. The 10-year-old Pittsburgh native sacrificed a portion of his future to return the symbol of a former NFL great's glorious past. William Perry, popularly known as 'The Fridge' played 10 seasons in the NFL. He was a very popular member of the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, but has fallen on hard times in recent years due to health issues. In 2007, Perry sold his Super Bowl ring at auction. During a family outing at Mickey Mantle's restaurant in New York, Forrest saw the ring and told his parents that he wanted to return it to its rightful owner. Watch the following ESPN interview with Forrest and his father, Cliff Forrest, Sr. (Email subscribers click here)
The young man described how he came to the decision to return Perry's ring and what that cost him - literally. In the interest of full disclosure, I do not agree with Forrest's parents allowing him to do what he did. However, I do applaud the young man's selfless act and willingness to give of himself to help someone else. All of us should borrow some of the younger Forrest's attitude. Thankfully, stories like this are not uncommon. Many young people, coaches and their parents are proudly carrying the sportsmanship banner. Make sure you join us for the National Sportsmanship Awards presented by Maryville University on Saturday, April 30 at Edward Jones St. Louis Headquarters in St. Louis. Individual tickets are just $50 and table packages are available as well. Please call 314.345.5122 to purchase or visit http://bit.ly/BigSolNSA. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
The young man described how he came to the decision to return Perry's ring and what that cost him - literally. In the interest of full disclosure, I do not agree with Forrest's parents allowing him to do what he did. However, I do applaud the young man's selfless act and willingness to give of himself to help someone else. All of us should borrow some of the younger Forrest's attitude. Thankfully, stories like this are not uncommon. Many young people, coaches and their parents are proudly carrying the sportsmanship banner. Make sure you join us for the National Sportsmanship Awards presented by Maryville University on Saturday, April 30 at Edward Jones St. Louis Headquarters in St. Louis. Individual tickets are just $50 and table packages are available as well. Please call 314.345.5122 to purchase or visit http://bit.ly/BigSolNSA. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
The National Sportsmanship Awards presented by Maryville University will be held Saturday, April 30 at Edward Jones Headquarters in St. Louis. It is the signature event of the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative and the foundation for all of our sportsmanship programs. Individual tickets are just $50 with table packages available as well. For ticket information, go to http://bit.ly/BigSolNSA or call 314.345.5122. Please enjoy this classic story from our 2009 event and we hope to see you this year for a night that celebrates all that's right in sports!
People make mistakes. Children are people. They make mistakes. Some mistakes cause harm to others. What happens to the children who make those kinds of mistakes? Juvenile correctional facilities all over the country are filled with young people who have made regrettable mistakes. Do those kids get to do the things that other kids do? Yes and no. While many will never attend senior prom, many still have the opportunity to participate in sports. Such is the case at Gainesville State School. Gainesville is a maximum-security youth correctional facility located 75 miles north of Dallas. Last fall, Grapevine Faith High School hosted Gainesville for a regular-season football game.
Gainesville plays all of its games on the road due to security concerns and logistical issues. So, the team never has the support of home fans. Grapevine Faith coach Kris Hogan decided to make a positive change in favor of Gainesville. Hogan encouraged fans to form a spirit line that stretched 40 yards for Gainesville players to run through during introductions. He went a step further and had 200 Grapevine Faith fans sit on the visitor's side to cheer for Gainesville. After the game, Gainesville coach Mark Williams found Hogan and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know." Hogan knew what he was doing. He restored a sense of belonging to the Gainesville players. Hogan let them know that despite their situation, people still care. On that night, they were not visitors, outcasts, nor the enemy. They were just kids...playing football. View the full story below (Email subscribers click here). Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
People make mistakes. Children are people. They make mistakes. Some mistakes cause harm to others. What happens to the children who make those kinds of mistakes? Juvenile correctional facilities all over the country are filled with young people who have made regrettable mistakes. Do those kids get to do the things that other kids do? Yes and no. While many will never attend senior prom, many still have the opportunity to participate in sports. Such is the case at Gainesville State School. Gainesville is a maximum-security youth correctional facility located 75 miles north of Dallas. Last fall, Grapevine Faith High School hosted Gainesville for a regular-season football game.
Gainesville plays all of its games on the road due to security concerns and logistical issues. So, the team never has the support of home fans. Grapevine Faith coach Kris Hogan decided to make a positive change in favor of Gainesville. Hogan encouraged fans to form a spirit line that stretched 40 yards for Gainesville players to run through during introductions. He went a step further and had 200 Grapevine Faith fans sit on the visitor's side to cheer for Gainesville. After the game, Gainesville coach Mark Williams found Hogan and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know." Hogan knew what he was doing. He restored a sense of belonging to the Gainesville players. Hogan let them know that despite their situation, people still care. On that night, they were not visitors, outcasts, nor the enemy. They were just kids...playing football. View the full story below (Email subscribers click here). Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Monday, 4 April 2011
This is the shortest blog I've ever written, but one of the most important. Get your 2011 National Sportsmanship Awards tickets now! - http://bit.ly/BigSolNSA
Shame on them and shame on you if you feel that way. Some have suggested the current format for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship does not reward the best team. They say it rewards the best team in the tournament. Here we go again. Time for the non-barbers to start splitting hairs. The current tournament format rewards the best team in the tournament as National Champion. Tournament winners are deemed national champions because they have to defeat the best teams in the nation to win the tournament. You also have to win all of your games. The tournament winner is the only undefeated team in the tournament. It's not a series where you can drop a game or two.
Funny how this argument doesn't come up when a lower seed wins the Super Bowl. Green Bay won the title as a #6 seed. No one has questioned whether or not the Packers are the best team in football - and they shouldn't. They won the tournament. UConn has won 10 games in a row dating back to the Big East Tournament; including victories over #2 San Diego State, #5 Arizona, and #4 Kentucky. Let's not forget Butler; who had to go through #1 Pitt, #2 Florida, #4 Wisconsin, #9 Old Dominion, and an upstart VCU squad to make it.
There are no computers and no polls. It doesn't matter what the schools' enrollments are. The NCAA Tournament represents sports in its purest form - my five guys against your five guys and let's see what happens. Good luck tonight to the Huskies and Bulldogs. May the best team win. Until next time...
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
