Cardinals and Rangers fans show class after World Series

And the winner is...

The World Series is about an inning from being over. Winner gets the trophy and the loser gets the questions. No matter who wins, I'm writing this in advance of the ending to congratulate fans of both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers for their impeccable class and sportsmanship. You have the two best teams in all of baseball and you should be proud. There won't be any stories of destruction, fighting or poor behavior after this series is over. You love your cities as much as you love your teams and you wouldn't do anything to tarnish their respective League or World Series Championships.

Rather than write something on Monday to chastise you, I'm writing something now to thank you. The 2011 MLB postseason may go down as the greatest of all time. Part of that is because of the classiest fans in all of sports. One team will hoist the trophy, but both cities and the entire game of baseball are the real winners. Be careful. Be safe and enjoy yourselves in St. Louis and Dallas. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Page 2 - Dallas TV station reports Rangers win. Somebody should tell them...

Say what now?!

Page 2 is ready to go. Here this week's rundown:

• Troubled teen leaves past behind to start on the offensive line for playoff team.

• Girls soccer team disqualified from playoffs for playing too many games.

•  Football player charged with 27 counts of assault.

• Sports columnist creates NBA top 25 'ugly' list.

• Fox affiliate in Dallas tweets about a Rangers Series win (uhhh...David Freese on line 1).

Read. Learn. Enjoy. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Coach resigns over profane speech, community supports him

Shawn Abel resigned from his position as varsity football coach at Collierville (Tenn.) High School earlier this week. Controversy erupted when a recording of Abel's pre-game speech prior to a game last Thursday was posted on YouTube. I've listened to the unedited version of Abel's speech. He should be ashamed of himself as a coach, educator, father, and a man. I won't post the speech nor will I provide a link through this blog. You can find it yourself through your favorite search engine. It's beneath the spirit of sportsmanship and beneath the character of this blogger to post such filth. Yes, I said filth. Watch the WPTY-TV story below about Abel's speech and it's aftermath (email subscribers click here).




What sparks outrage in a community often boggles the mind. The Facebook support page for Abel now has over 2,600 members - and they're mad at the kid who posted the rant on YouTube. Have a look for yourself with the link I've provided.  Moreover, most of the members aren't kids themselves. When is it ever OK to curse out a kid? I'll wait...maybe you have a reason I haven't thought of. Maybe there's a good reason to talk to kids that way. The WPTY story also mentions Abel teaches pre-calculus and other advanced math courses at Collierville. You would think a man that smart could come up with a more intelligent way to motivate his team.

I know what you're going to say. This is football. Coaches have always used profanity. These kids need to "man up" and stop being a bunch of babies. Let's examine those points for a moment. First, they're kids and not men. Besides, no grown man I know would allow anyone to say to him what Abel said to those kids - not his boss, not his best friend, no one. We also know that many coaches have used and still use profanity toward players. Stop it! Negative actions do not yield positive results. Coaching is about putting your players in the best position to be successful. Point out what they're doing wrong. Then, show them how to fix it. In nearly three minutes of profanity-laced garbage, Abel never did that.

Coach Abel never told his players what they should do to improve their blocking, tackling, etc. He just yelled four-letter words and empty threats. Abel knew it, too. His own words showed he was aware of what he was doing. Yet, he kept on cursing. Abel said, "I'm sorry to yell, but apparently you don't understand me when I talk to you like a human." On the first page of the booklet A Standard Higher Than Victory, author Bruce Brown makes a very clear statement about the role of coaches. He writes, "Coaches need to make their expectations and values clear." Tell your kids what you're about and what you expect them to do. Be firm without being foul. Make them do push-ups to get stronger and run laps to get faster. Make everything you do as a coach have a purpose.

Your team has the opportunity to get free copies of the booklets A Standard Higher Than Victory and Through a Child's Eyes: A Parents' Guide to Improving Youth Sports by joining the Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative. There's no cost involved. Just click on the following link for our Team Players Program and sign-up to receive your free Cardinals Care Package - a sportsmanship kit filled with the aforementioned booklets and other materials to help you promote character and sportsmanship in your organization. Our children can be great people. They really wish to be. They only need us to show them the way. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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The Adventures of Frank and Big Sol - Frank's sick

Check out the latest episode of The Adventures of Frank and Big Sol (email subscribers click here). Frank's not feeling well. Let's see if Big Sol can help. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Fans and students maced by police for postgame dance

Roosevelt (Utah) Union high school had just lost a close game to rival Uintah High last Thursday, 17-14. Several fans of Tongan descent began performing an ancient war dance called a Haka to lift the spirits of the Roosevelt players. It should be noted that many sports teams on all levels use some version of the Haka as a rallying cry. The Haka is not meant to incite violence nor intimidate. Roosevelt police didn't get the memo. Several students and fans gathered near the field exit where the young men were going to perform. What happened next was nothing short of shameful. Have a look at the video below (email subscribers click here).

This is really disturbing. It took the officers less than ten seconds to decide to spray mace into a crowd of kids who weren't attacking each other or them. Most Hakas take less than 30 seconds to perform and the young men probably would have moved on without incident. Simply asking one of the other kids what was going on would have provided a quick answer to the situation. Officers acted irresponsibly by not only spraying the five or so dancers - but spraying the other students as well.

The incident brings up a question that's long overdue. Why are we afraid of kids? Yes, we are terrified of them. This is why half of us let them do anything they want and the other half would just as soon mace them as look at them. We fear what we do not understand and I submit to you that we do not understand our kids. We don't know the difference between kids dancing to support their team and kids preparing to fight. A few moments talking to a kid would have prevented this. Matter of fact, talking to a kid for a few moments would prevent most things. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Mathews-Dickey player runs hard, cares harder

Brigade volunteer Guan Hollins shakes hands with Mr. Davis while Mrs. Davis applauds Tommy (center).

There's an old proverb which reads: "To whom much is given, much is required." Tommy Davis of Mathews-Dickey has been blessed with great athleticism. It appears he possesses the character to match. Even in the midst of his team's 31-0 victory this afternoon over University City, the 8-year-old didn't forget to show compassion toward his opponents. At the end of a tough run which required gang-tackling to bring him down, Davis took the time to help several University City players up at the end of the play. One has to understand the intricacies of football to know how special this is. Football players usually don't help opponents off the turf after a play. It's not because the athletes are necessarily mean. Football demands a level toughness that's sometimes misguided.

Players think it shows weakness to give help and others think it shows weakness to accept help. Davis understands the ability which allows to run through five kids can also be used to help pick each of them up. The Sportsmanship Brigade is proud to recognize Tommy Davis as this week's award winner. If your organization is interested in being added to the Brigade schedule, please call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org. The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who visit St. Louis area youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents and fans who display good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more information on the Brigade and all of the other programs within the Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative, please visit sportsmanship.org. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Page 2 - Shaq says he didn't need to work out

I don't know about Shaq, but #TheRealBigSol definitely needs a work out.

The new Page 2 is up for your reading pleasure. You're welcome in advance. Here's this weeks rundown.

• Football coach allegedly punishes a player using other players.

• Shaq says he didn't need to work out when he played.

• Bryant Gumbel compares NBA Commissioner David Stern to a 'plantation overseer'.

• Football player with Down syndrome makes the most of his opportunity.

• The St. Louis Youth Sports Summit is coming.

Read. Learn. Enjoy. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Coach suffers crushed face after "ambush" by opposing team, fans

Warren County (Ga.) High School football coach David Daniel had reconstructive facial surgery over the weekend. Daniel was struck in the face with a football helmet while trying to break up a brawl between his players and players and fans from Hancock (Ga.) Central High School. WRDW-TV provides a more detailed account of last Friday's melee in the video below (email subscribers click here).


Coaching football should not be a dangerous profession. David Daniel should not have had a tear duct removed or metal plates inserted into his face. No one should be investigated by the authorities for anything that happens at a football game. Some of us have completely lost it. As someone who earns his living in sports, let me tell you something. Sports are not life or death. Sports exist to help develop our kids, our communities and bring us together. The kids and fans who perpetrated this horrific act accomplished nothing positive. They only prompted the Warren County Superintendent to completely wipe Hancock Central off the sports schedule.

The basketball, tennis, and volleyball teams will lose the opportunity to play because of the football team. Thanks, guys. This is what happens when we are selfish, disrespectful, and uncivil. Our poor decisions adversely affect others. We must do better - for our own sakes and especially for the sake of our children. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Herbert Hoover proves winners can have winning attitudes

Coach Mac Cody with Brigade volunteer Evelyn Austin

Derrick Rivers with Evelyn

Alphonzo Andrews with Evelyn

The Sportsmanship Brigade visited the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club on Saturday where the home team Eagles took on the St. Louis Outlaws in a matchup of 11-year-old Junior Football League rivals. Some stories need to be told backwards for proper effect. Mac Cody serves on the Herbert Hoover coaching staff and gave the type of post-game speech I wish I could bottle and sell. The Eagles won the game, but Cody's speech had very little to do with winning.

He told the players, "We did some good things. We made some mistakes. But you did what we asked you to do. You played hard and had fun. That's what you do no matter what. Play hard and have fun!" Cody hit on the very essence of youth sports. He wants his players to give their very best and have fun in the process. The Sportsmanship Brigade had no choice but to recognize Cody for his leadership and his attitude toward such impressionable young men.

Alphonzo Andrews and Derrick Rivers are the same age, on the same Eagles team, and they have the same character to boot. During the game, an Outlaws player sustained a wrist injury and was on the ground in pain. Andrews and Rivers helped the young man to his feet, patted him on the back and walked with him until his coaches took charge. They embody what Coach Cody talked about in his post-game speech and were rewarded for their selfless act. Andrews and Rivers also conveyed a very important point with their actions. The guys on the other team are your opponents and not your enemies. It's good these young men are learning that lesson and the Sportsmanship Brigade is proud to recognize them.

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who visit local youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, parents, coaches, and fans who display good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card from a local business. To have your league added to the Brigade schedule, call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org. If you would like to serve as a Brigade volunteer, please click here and complete the form provided. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Why is there fighting in hockey?

Warning: The video contained in this post contains unnecessary, pointless, and gratuitous violence. I usually would not show such a video, but it helps make a point. Parents, please take this into consideration before allowing any young person to read this post or view the video within.

I need help understanding a certain sports concept. Why is there fighting in professional hockey? Jay Beagle of the Washington Capitals and Arron Asham of the Pittsburgh Penguins fought during the third period of last night's game between the two teams. As you can see in the video, Asham got the better of Beagle (email subscribers click here). Hockey analysts have said that Asham was sending a message because of something Beagle did earlier. What?! So, revenge is OK in sports. I'm trying hard to understand this.

None of the other team sports tolerate this level of violence as being part of the game. Baseball and football players would be suspended on sight. Basketball openly dares its players to throw a punch. Why does hockey treat fighting as if it's a scoring play? Other players get out of the way. The refs move and let the fight happen. Then, the winning fighter takes his seat in the penalty box and the trainers come and clean up the mess. Hello, McFly! Kids are watching this sport - on TV and in the arena. They saw Beagle get his teeth knocked out and leave a bloody trail on the ice.

We spin ourselves into butter worrying about the messages professional athletes send to our kids. Punching someone in the face until their teeth fall out sends a pretty clear message. When the next rash of youth hockey fight video finds its way onto YouTube, we'll ask the same questions. What's wrong with kids today? Why are they acting like this? In this case, we have no one to blame but ourselves. By the way, the Capitals won the game. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Page 2 - Philly fans boo anti-cancer ad

I pity the fool who doesn't practice good sportsmanship!

This week's Page 2 is ready to roll. Check out the rundown.

• Fan throws a hot dog at Tiger Woods and claimed he was inspired by a movie.

• Philly sports fans reach new low by booing an anti-cancer ad.

• Marathon runner catches a bus to finish his race - comes in third.

• Youth football team threatens to forfeit if girl on opposing team is allowed to play.

• Check out all the great (and free) Sportsmanship Stuff from the Sports Commission.

Enjoy! Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol 

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Hue Jackson gives stirring tribute to Al Davis

Raiders owner Al Davis passed away last Saturday. He had a tremendous effect on those who played for him and those who played against him. However, no one has provided a more heartfelt tribute than current Raiders coach Hue Jackson. I really don't need to say anymore, but it's worth mentioning this. If any of us are remembered this way by our kids, friends, and families - then our living is certainly not in vain. Watch Coach Jackson's speech below (email subscribers click here). And yes, the Oakland Raiders did win on Sunday. They defeated the Houston Texans, 25-20. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Mathews-Dickey player shows class in tough loss

Lance Porter with Brigade volunteer Evelyn Austin

The 11-12 year-old football game last night between Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club and University City was a spirited contest for the first half. University City only held a 2-0 lead at intermission. What had been a close game started to get out of hand in the third quarter as University City changed personnel groupings and adopted a power running game. Mathews-Dickey could do very little to stop it. Their opponents were much bigger and the physicality took its toll. With each University City touchdown, the faces of the Mathews-Dickey players began to show defeat  - except one.

Lance Porter never stopped encouraging his teammates. He never stopped playing hard himself. His attitude was completely different than what you'd expect. Mathews-Dickey found itself on the wrong end of a 35-0 score, but you wouldn't know it by watching Porter. He respects the game of football by continuing to compete regardless of the score. It is for this reason that the Sportsmanship Brigade chose him as this week's award winner. The Sportsmanship Brigade will be out again this Saturday as Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club will host the St. Louis Outlaws in another 11-year-old match-up beginning at 3:30 p.m.

If your organization would like to be added to the Sportsmanship Brigade schedule or you would like to join the Brigade as a volunteer, please call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org. For more information on the Sportsmanship Brigade and all Sportsmanship Initiative programming, please visit www.stlsportsmanship.org. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Touchdown U-City. 8-0 with 5:34 left in the 3rd.

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End of the 1st half. U-City 2, Mathews-Dickey 0. While we're waiting for the 2nd half - go to stlsports.org for the latest in STL events.

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The Sportsmanship Brigade is out for Monday Night Football. Mathews-Dickey v. U-City. Score is 2-0 U-City at the start of quarter 2.

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Sportsmanship Brigade seeks volunteers

Thanks to the Sportsmanship Brigade, this Kobe won't be locked out.

Sportsmanship is hard work and building it in the community takes help from everyone. As many of you know, the Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Brigade has been operational for several months now. For those who are not aware, the Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of volunteers who visit St. Louis area youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans found "guilty" of committing acts of good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business on the spot. Someone always seems to have a camera when something bad happens. The Sportsmanship Brigade wants to be present for and help promote the good things that happen in youth sports.

We need your help to accomplish this objective. The Sportsmanship Brigade needs you (yes, you), your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to volunteer and serve with us. You'll be part of team having a tremendous impact on the lives of kids. Just have a look at previous posts about Brigade award winners - Kobe shares spotlight with teammates...huh?, Sportsmanship Brigade recognizes city high schoolers, and one of my personal favorites - Coach Mark Roshell - In His Own Words. And when you're done with those, go to our website by clicking here and sign-up to volunteer with the Sportsmanship Brigade. Remember, sportsmanship is an action word. Take action and join the Sportsmanship Brigade today. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Hank Williams' comments too rowdy for ESPN

Are you ready for some football? Good, because football will still be with us on Monday nights. The song that introduces Monday Night Football, however, will change. ESPN severed its ties with country legend Hank Williams, Jr. this week after comments he made on the Fox & Friends morning show. Williams compared a golf outing between President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner to Adolf Hitler meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He identified President Obama as Hitler and Speaker Boehner as Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is wrong on so many levels, but I'll only address two here. Both are relative to us as adults and our kids.

My mom had a seven-word sentence for me whenever I said something mean or disrespectful. It served as a stern warning and sound advice. She said, "Sol, you need to watch your mouth!" Now Ms. Ruth didn't invent that statement. I'm sure many of you heard your parents say the same thing or something similar. In this situation, Williams resorted to name calling to describe the President of the United States. Whenever you call someone something other than their given name, trouble almost always ensues. Let's look at the name 'Hitler' for a moment. Adolf Hitler was a murderer of the highest order (or lowest). He placed all of his efforts toward destroying an entire race of people and killed six million of them in the process.

We are far too cavalier in calling someone 'Hitler.' Just in my little world, I've heard it used to describe teachers, parents, coaches, supervisors, politicians, cab drivers, police officers, video store clerks...you get the idea. No one you or I know personally or see on TV is Hitler. Name calling wasn't nice when I was 12 and it's still not now that I'm 35. The second point has to do with free speech. Many people have complained that ESPN violated Williams' free speech rights by removing his song from Monday Night Football. Alright, let's go to school. The free speech provision made by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..."

This means that the government cannot place limits on speech. It says nothing about a private business. If Hank Williams had been arrested for what he said, that would be a violation of free speech. ESPN not wanting to pay him anymore is not. Let me make it plain. You can tell your boss where to go and how to get there. The police will not come and arrest you, but you will get fired. We teach our kids similar lessons all the time. They can't disrespect their teachers and coaches and not expect a suspension from school or the team.  Nobody goes to jail, but there are consequences for irresponsible speech. Watch the ESPN story concerning the flap below (email subscribers click here). Maybe Williams will learn a valuable lesson about responsibility from this situation - or not. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Page 2 - Football player pricks the hands of 27 opposing players in handshake line

Here's how a team handshake is done.

It's Thursday. So, you know what that means. Yes, it's time for another scintillating edition of  Page 2. Here this week's rundown:

• Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers apologizes to the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best of the Detroit Lions make a special delivery.
• Marcellus (N.Y.) High School JV football coach is disciplined for making kids lie on graves.
• A high school football player used a glove studded with a thumbtack in a handshake line.
• The Sportsmanship Blog joins the STL Blogger Network at stltoday.com.

Enjoy this week's Page 2. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Madre Hill rule shows why football is a team game

Demias Jimerson is a sixth-grade football player with amazing ability. He plays the running back position for his team and scores almost at-will. In a game earlier this season, Jimerson scored seven touchdowns. That's not a typo. The young man possesses remarkable athleticism. However, his scoring prowess prompted his league to implement the Madre Hill Rule - named after the former University of Arkansas standout running back. Hill played for the same school as Jimerson in Arkansas. The rule was originally developed because Hill himself scored touchdowns at a prolific rate. Under the Madre Hill Rule, a designated player cannot score more than three touchdowns per game when his team is ahead by 14 points.

This story has stirred significant controversy in the last week. Some think that the rule is punishing Jimerson's excellence. Others think this is yet another case of the "softening of America." Still others believe that Jimerson's opponents should just learn to play better and stop whining. None of these perspectives hold water. Let me be clear. Youth sports is about fun. I know we want it to be about competition and learning life lessons and overcoming adversity and yada, yada, yada. But if your kids are not having fun playing sports, then you're missing the mark. According to a Michigan State University study, fun is the number one reason kids participate in sports. Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad.  It's not about winning the church league championship or scoring the most points in community center history. Kids just want to have fun.

How does this relate to the Demias Jimerson situation? Well, many people think opposing teams complained to the league and enforcement of the Madre Hill Rule was the result. That's a little short-sighted. We must realize football is a team game and Jimerson has 10 other kids out there with him. What do you think Jimerson's teammates were doing while he was scoring seven touchdowns? Where's their fun? Please don't think I'm anti-Jimerson. The rule is a good one and the kid will be fine. He's limited to scoring three touchdowns a game. That's no punishment at all. Imagine your favorite running back on your favorite NFL team. If he was 'limited' to three touchdowns a game, he would almost double the NFL single-season record. Besides, have a look at the Arkansas Fox affiliate Fox 16 story below (email subscribers click here). Listen to what Demias Jimerson and Madre Hill have to say and hopefully you'll come understand why the word 'fun' is in fundamentals. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Homecoming Queen kicks game-winning field goal

Please make sure a young lady in your life sees this post. When I coached weightlifting, it was hard to get girls to participate. I think this is true in many sports where girls who play aren't really looked as girls. Far too many talented girls sit on the sidelines because they don't want to be viewed as less 'girlie.' Enter Briana Amat. She's a senior at Pinckney High School (Pinckney, Mich.). Amat plays for the girls varsity soccer team and the football team. Yes, I said football. Now, I'm not going to give away the story. The video from WJBX-TV featured below tells it in full detail (email subscribers click here). Use Amat's story to encourage girls you know. There's nothing wrong at all with being pretty and powerful. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

P.S. - Don't forget to vote 100 times today for the St. Louis Sportsmanship Initiative.

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Drop Everything and Vote!

I didn't forget. Did you? The Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative has entered Monsanto's Grow St. Louis Contest and we need your help. You can help us earn up to $15,000 to continue and develop programs that will promote good sportsmanship and character. The contest is simple. Organizations that receive the most votes will win. Everyone can vote up to 100 times per day. I'll be on the site at 2 p.m. CDT everyday until voting concludes on October 16. Please join me by clicking on the following link for The St. Louis Sportsmanship Initiative. Gotta run now. I have more voting to do. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Mid-Rivers coach teaches winning football, character

Sportsmanship Brigade Mid-Rivers 008, a photo by TheRealBigSol on Flickr.

It's appropriate that I'm in the shadows in this picture. The light should definitely shine on Mid-Rivers 8th grade football coach Damon Clark. His team defeated the Jefferson County Youth Association last Saturday 40-14 in what we thought was a pretty uneventful game in terms of sportsmanship. Looks can be deceiving, though. It sort of hit us with about five minutes to go. In scoring 40 points, no footballs were spiked. There were no sack dances. Nobody posed. When Mid-Rivers scored, the player handed the ball to the ref and lined up for the next play. When there was a sack or a tackle for a loss, the players lined right back up for the next play.

Even on an interception that was called back for a late hit, the linebacker calmly gave the ball back to the ref and - you guessed it - lined up for the next play. Please don't misunderstand. This is not a soft team. They are a big and physical group of middle school kids who gave Jefferson County all they wanted. They just did it within the rules. That's why the Sportsmanship Brigade chose to recognize Coach Clark - a man who gets the best out of his kids without demeaning them or the other team. Besides, does Coach Clark look like the kind of guy that tolerates nonsense? Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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