National Sportsmanship Award winner inspires LeBron

'Tis better to give than to receive. This has long been an underlying theme of the holiday season and generosity overall. Giving is better than receiving? Really? How is this nonsense supposed to work?

To the immature person, namely me as a child, it did not. The concept of giving somehow being an improvement over receiving seemed foolish. I wasn't a greedy kid. It just felt as if someone was trying to pull a fast one on me.

I was born at night, but not last night.

Such is the mind of the immature person. Sure, it's better to receive money or stuff than to give it away. If I have $100 and give you all of it, then that's not better for me. If I gave you my new pair of Nike LeBron 10s, then I would be barefoot.

What about love, though? What about respect, compassion, courtesy and concern for our fellow man? If we give those away, are they really gone? You see, giving away things or money is linear. When you give them, don't expect them to come back.

Giving the others, however, is cyclical. The more love, compassion and courtesy you give - the more you get back. Rashawn King, now a freshman at North Carolina Central University, understands this. King was diagnosed with leukemia while a student at Middle Creek (Apex, N.C.) High School.

King played basketball and football at Middle Creek and decided to complete his senior season on the gridiron as he underwent intense chemotherapy. His story of determination caught the attention of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to kids facing life-threatening illnesses. Many young people choose to meet their favorite celebrity and King originally wanted to meet LeBron James. No one would have blamed King if he had taken his wish and gone about his business.

After all, King was fighting for his life. Spending a few hours with his favorite athlete would be a welcomed respite from what he was up against. On the other hand, King began having second thoughts. Yes, he was fighting for his life, but he wasn't fighting alone.

His classmates at Middle Creek had rallied around him. Cards, letters and stuffed animals filled his hospital room. They started a "Pray for Ray" campaign which included fundraisers that helped pay King's medical bills. Teachers and staff had to tell students to stay away from the hospital during his treatment as the facility was overwhelmed by visitors.

Meeting LeBron would have been awesome, but King's heart was with Middle Creek. So, King contacted Make-A-Wish and asked them if he could change his wish. Instead of meeting LeBron James, King asked to buy lunch for the 1,900 faculty, students and staff at Middle Creek.

Chick-fil-A was the restaurant of choice. Before you laugh, understand a few things. First, Chick-fil-A is huge in the South - nearing iconic status. Second, Chick-fil-A is probably a tastier alternative to just about any high school lunch menu.

And one more item to consider - Chick-fil-A isn't the cheapest fast food around. Depending on what the exact meal was, you and I would pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 if we had to buy lunch for 1,900 of our closest friends.

Rashawn King was an honoree at the 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards held in St. Louis last month. His selflessness in the face of life-threatening adversity was worth national recognition. Earlier this fall, King got the opportunity to meet LeBron anyway when the Miami Heat played the Charlotte Bobcats.

In an interesting turn of events, LeBron told King how he's an inspiration to him. Wait a minute. Wasn't this supposed to be the other way around? Not really when you think about it. LeBron, like all of us, has to find perspective from something other than his bank account or the car he drives.

Unselfish behavior makes you a winner in sports and in life.

ABC ran a feature on King and LeBron during halftime of the Christmas Day game between the Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Links to the ABC story as well as the National Sportsmanship Awards segment featuring Rashawn King are provided below.

Remember the first line of this article? 'Tis better to give than to receive. Rashawn King is living proof of that now. His classmates and community gave him immeasurable support. He gave them his wish. His gift also provided inspiration for LeBron James who, in turn, gave King the time he always wanted.

On top of all this, King received an even greater gift. His leukemia is in remission.

Happy Holidays to you and yours from the St. Louis Sports Commission!

2012 National Sportsmanship Awards: Rashawn King

ABC Christmas Day halftime feature

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The National Sportsmanship Awards: Stan Musial

As you just heard, the National Sportsmanship Awards will now be known as the Musial Awards. Stan's statue at Busch Stadium in St. Louis reads, "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Thanks for watching the 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards presented by the Maryville University. For more on the National Sportsmanship Awards and the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative, please visit sportsmanship.org.

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National Sportsmanship Awards: Rashawn King

Rashawn King was diagnosed with leukemia and the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted his wish to meet LeBron James. King had second thoughts and decided it would be better to do something for others.

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National Sportsmanship Awards: Rams vs Bucs

The St. Louis Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in about 20 minutes, but even the most die hard Rams fan can't help giving Bucs coach Greg Schiano a round of applause for this award-winning act of sportsmanship.

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National Sportsmanship Awards: John Mohrmann

John Mohrmann, head coach of the St. Louis Priory soccer team said, "Sportsmanship can be contagious, too." We couldn't agree more, coach. We couldn't agree more.

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St. Louis Youth Sports Summit

We hope you're enjoying the 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards. The honorees show us all that sportsmanship is an action word. You can take action by joining us for an equally meaningful event - the 2013 St. Louis Youth Sports Summit which will be held January 12 at Maryville University. It's free for all parents and coaches. US Olympian Mia Hamm will be this year's keynote speaker. Don't wait! Click here and register now.

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National Sportsmanship Awards: Vogel and DeMoors

In case you missed it, the first two stories from the 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards featured Meghan Vogel and Demetrious DeMoors. You can read about their remarkable acts of sportsmanship by clicking on the honoree's name. Now, back to the show.

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Sportsmanship Sunday on KSDK

The 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards is airing now on KSDK Newschannel 5 in St. Louis. Live blogging will take place throughout the broadcast. Tune in and log on right now. The most meaningful night in sports is now the most meaningful hour in sports. Let's go...

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The 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards are on KSDK Newschannel 5 in St. Louis. Tune in now!

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Football player dismissed from team after racist Obama epithet

Bradley Patterson's parents must have been proud when they learned their son had made the University of North Alabama's football team as a walk-on. Patterson joined the team as a long snapper four weeks into last season.

His parents must have been equally humiliated when their son was kicked off said team on Sunday night - via Twitter of all things.

All of the major broadcast networks pre-empted regular programming on Sunday night to air remarks from President Barack Obama at an interfaith service held in honor of the victims of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

NBC would usually air Sunday Night Football, but a national tragedy involving so many lost children took precedent over touchdowns and playoff positioning. Patterson expressed his frustration through social media and sent out the following tweet:

 (Warning: This post implies the statement of a racial slur. The quote appears for informational purposes only and is not intended to condone or glorify any such behavior).

"Take that n***** off tv, we wanna watch football!"

Patterson must not have known that University of North Alabama athletic director Mark Linder was on Twitter Sunday night as well. Several re-tweets alerted Linder to Patterson's message. The athletic director responded with a tweet of his own:

"Thx 2 everyone who brought the inappropriate tweet to our attention. @UNAAthletics does not condone. He is no longer a member of the team."

Just like that, Patterson's football career at North Alabama was over. Some people will probably say Patterson should have never expressed his feelings over Twitter. True, but Patterson and the thousands like him who send out similar tweets have a bigger problem.

They don't respect their teams, universities, parents, communities or their country. Many of the principles of sportsmanship - respect, civility, integrity, and fair play - can be applied to life in general.

When Patterson sent out that tweet, he thought he was thumbing his nose at the president. In reality, he thumbed his nose at the parents who taught him right from wrong, the coaches who believed in him enough to let him play, and the teammates who competed with him.

President Obama wasn't on talking about the fiscal cliff or who he's going to nominate for Secretary of State. He was trying to comfort a room full of hurting parents and reassure a nation of frightened ones. There were bigger priorities than football.

Respect is neither earned nor given. It is a requisite quality of humanity. We cannot choose who to respect and who to disrespect. In doing so, we diminish their humanity and our own.

When our children are disrespectful, it reflects poorly on all of us. How many times have we seen a kid act out and wondered what's wrong with his parents, coaches or teachers?

We must do better as parents. Failure happens when your child becomes something others can do without. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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President Obama responds to coach's whiteboard message

In the wake of the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., an emphasis has been placed on helping the community heal and recover. Condolences have poured in from all over the world. The incident prompted a visit from President Obama as well. Newtown High's head football coach and another teacher wrote the Commander-in-Chief a note on a the whiteboard in a room they thought he may pass through during his visit.

There was no way to know for sure if President Obama would come through that room. Even if he did, there's no way he would have time to stop and read the note much less respond to it. Would he? Leadership is synonymous with service. To lead people, you must be willing to serve them. Their concerns must become your concerns - no matter how big or small. In the midst of a grieving community and a nation hanging on his every word, the President of the United States stopped to answer a note from a football coach and a teacher. You can find the note below.

In case you can't totally make out the note, it reads:

"Dear President Obama,

The Newtown community is so thankful that you are coming to help us heal. In times of adversity it is reassuring to know we have a strong leader to help us recover."

-Steve George, Teacher / Football Coach

-Bobby Pattinson, Teacher

"You're in our thoughts and prayers."

Barack Obama

Friday's events shook us all to the core. Upon hearing the news, I called my daughter's school immediately to make sure everything was OK. I had no reason to worry. It was just instinct. My wife went to the school promptly at dismissal - no afterschool today. We both hugged our little one a little tighter. I'm sure you did as well. Those of us who work with and for the good of children must remain focused on our cause.

Even the young man responsible for the tragedy was still very much a kid himself. Someone taught him. Someone coached him. Someone thought more of his life than this. I say this not to make any excuses nor to diminish what was done. Let's just say I have read about more former students and athletes committing heinous acts than I care to admit to. I'm writing these lines to express the point that all children need us and we should never give up on any of them.

The little ones need our protection and the older ones need our counsel. Maybe a child you teach or coach has written you a note or dropped you subtle hints. Help them. And if you can't, find someone who can. Take a lesson from our Commander-in-Chief. His response showed those two educators that even the busiest man in the world can take a few moments to listen if he really wants to. How many moments will you give to listen to a child? Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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High school team wins by 105 points

Twitter was abuzz Tuesday night when the score came in from a girls basketball game between Bloomington (Ind.) South High School and Indianapolis Arlington High School. The final score was 107-2 in favor of Bloomington South. At first glance, this looks like another case of one team piling on its seemingly overmatched opponent. These types of scores happen all over the country and are not unique to Indiana by any means. However, it is important to note that Indiana does not have any form of a mercy rule relative to basketball.

Mercy rules are implemented in various youth and high school sports when one team gains a decided scoring advantage. Leagues may run a continuous clock in sports such as basketball and football. In Missouri, if a high school basketball team is up 30 or more points at the end of three quarters, the clock runs nonstop except in the case of a charged timeout, injury or some other emergency. Otherwise, out-of-bounds plays, scoring and other usual clock stoppages do not apply. This is different from baseball or soccer where a certain run or goal differential will result in the game being called.

Chris Kaufman, associate commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, hopes the Arlington-Bloomington South game will motivate his state to institute a mercy rule. "We don't have a mercy rule in Indiana. We've tried different proposals in the past that didn't get very far. Sportsmanship is a very high priority for us and maybe this game will help us put a rule in place to prevent this type of thing from happening." Conversely, Kaufman was quick to point out that he did not think there was any malice on the part of Bloomington South.

It turns out that Bloomington South and Arlington are old rivals and both schools were state championship contenders in past years. Bloomington South has maintained its stature while Arlington has fallen on hard times mostly unrelated to sports. Arlington is in the first year of a state takeover due to poor academic performance. When schools lose accreditation, they also lose enrollment as parents look for more viable alternatives for their kids.

Bloomington South and Arlington once had approximately 900 students each. According to Kaufman, Arlington's student body hovers around 200 now. This gives them a much smaller group of kids to pull from and when matched against Bloomington South - makes them a potential casualty of a one-sided basketball game. In this case, it's not fair to demonize Bloomington South nor the Indiana High School Athletic Association. This is an opportunity to promote change where an obvious flaw exists. A 107-2 game isn't good for either group of kids. Let's stand with them to make sure the next game is a better game for all. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Mia Hamm to headline St. Louis Youth Sports Summit

Mia Hamm as team mom

Mia Hamm, widely regarded as the greatest women's soccer player in history, will deliver the keynote address at the 2013 St. Louis Youth Sports Summit. The event will take place on Saturday, January 12 beginning at 8:30 a.m. inside the Maryville University Auditorium. Hamm will discuss overcoming  the challenges of competing as an elite-level athlete while showing respect for her teammates, coaches opponents, fans and the game she loves. As a mother of three, Hamm will also deliver a special message to the sports parent - how to temper expectations with healthy youth development and fun.

In addition to the keynote address, the Youth Sports Summit features two large group sessions and four breakout sessions. Our first large group topic is Coaching Leadership - a session where you will learn the importance of intentionally teaching character in sports and how to use teachable moments to develop character in your athletes. You can attend two of three breakout sessions available after the first large group. Sports Parenting is an engaging 30-minute presentation in which parents learn how to best support their student-athletes on and off the field of play. We are also proud to present a session on the signs and symptoms of concussions and other head injuries presented by Washington University Orthopedics.

Our third breakout session will feature a presentation on a growing issue - gambling in youth sports.  Law enforcement officials from the St. Louis area will inform youth sports coaches, parents and administrators about the consequences of betting on youth sports and how to protect our organizations and our kids. The Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative contains several programs for youth sports leagues and organizations, but how do you go about implementing them? Our fourth and final breakout session is geared toward those interested in fully integrating Sportsmanship Initiative programs into their organizations.

The Sportsmanship Brigade, Sportsmanship Pledge, Team Players and our new partnership with Coaching Coaches, LLC will all be presented in an easy-to-follow manner that will allow sportsmanship to become a second language for everyone you serve. Our second large group session is called The Best of the Worst: Poor Sportsmanship's Positive Lessons. We'll review video of some less-than-desirable sportsmanship moments and discuss methods to prevent them from happening in your organization.

Remember, the St. Louis Youth Sports Summit will be held January 12, 2013 beginning at 8:30 a.m. inside the Maryville University Auditorium. Admission is FREE and open to all parents, coaches and other adults who care about creating positive sports experiences for our kids. Of course, a free continental breakfast will be provided as well. To register, click here or call 314-345-5130. Now is the best time to make a positive change for your organization and your kids. Sign up to attend the St. Louis Youth Sports Summit Today! Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Be careful when you talk about PEDs

Browse your favorite sports section or website and you are almost guaranteed to read an article about a professional athlete being accused, investigated, or punished in relation to performance-enhancing drugs or PEDs. Baseball players bear the brunt of the criticism with football, cycling and boxing not far behind. The conversation usually goes something like this:

"Blah, blah, blah...Cheater! Blah, blah, blah...Give back the awards! Blah, blah, blah...Give back the money! Blah, blah, blah...No Hall of Fame for you!" PEDs are the focus of several current articles related to the newest crop of Hall of Fame eligible baseball greats, a couple of NFL guys and both of the combatants in this weekend's mega fight.

As sports fans, we feel cheated when the athletes we cheer for aren't who we thought they were. We want the tape-measured home runs to be real. We like cheering for the player that nobody can catch other than the cameraman. Athletes are our heroes and we want our heroes to be invincible.

When we find out they're a lot like us - men and women who are just trying to make it - we get hurt. That hurt becomes anger and the anger becomes the outrageous disconnect we have between what's happening on the field and what happens in real-life. In our discontent, we forget the messages we are sending to the youngest among us. When an athlete breaks a seemingly unbreakable record or achieves some other enormous feat, we must be careful not to throw a bucket of cold water on an important principle - hard work.

Elite athletes work very hard. They have to lift, run, practice, watch hours of film and somehow find time to eat right. Many of us have a treadmill at home that doubles as a clothes hanger. More importantly, when we say this athlete or that athlete got to a certain point because of PEDs, we're telling our kids that hard work doesn't matter. We're telling them the only way to make it is to cheat.

Let's tell them about the real dangers of PEDs and the damage they can do to the human heart, liver, brain and reproductive system. I took weight training as a sophomore at Ladue High School and Phil Bruska was my teacher as well as our track and field coach. Coach Bruska had silver hair and had to be in his 50s then, but the man was stronger than all of us - by a mile. He could lift the stack on every machine, benched more and could do more pull-ups than any puberty-driven teenager in the class.

We asked him if steroids would make us strong. He said, "Boys, that stuff will mess you up. Let me put it this way. If you ever want to have kids of your own someday, you won't touch the garbage." We read him loud and clear. We as adults also have to be careful about who we accuse. There are athletes who have been labeled as cheaters who have never failed a test or even been investigated by their league. Saying whatever you want about anyone you want does everyone a disservice and sends a poor message to young people.

In the pursuit of righteousness, be careful not to become self-righteous. Performance-enhancing drugs can shorten careers and lives. Millions of dollars won't bring back a person's health or their reputation. Those are the lessons we need to teach the next generation. Remember, records are made to be broken. People are not. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Teens charged with killing referee after soccer game

Richard Nieuwenhuizen and family.

Richard Nieuwenhuizen, a referee, was shaking hands with youth soccer players after a match on Sunday in the Netherlands. He was then attacked from behind by three players from the Nieuw Sloten team. Two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old knocked Nieuwenhuizen to the ground and proceeded to kick and punch him repeatedly in the head, neck and torso. After the incident was broken up, Nieuwenhuizen appeared to be alright. He went home and came back to the field later in the day to watch another match. According to witnesses, Nieuwenhuizen collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. He died Monday - prompting Dutch police to charge the three teens who attacked him the day before with manslaughter.

I know what you're thinking. The Netherlands are halfway around the world. What does this have to do with anything going on in America? Granted, this case is the ultimate in referee disrespect and complete disregard for human life. However, I submit to you that referee disrespect is not thousands of miles way. It shows up every day on our ball fields, on our courts and in our homes. We would ground our kids until they retire if they repeated some of the things we say to and about game officials on a daily basis. Think about what you may have said or heard someone else say to or about a referee. Were there kids in earshot? I'll let you in on a little secret. Even if you don't think so, kids are always within earshot.

Kids are like DVRs - recording everything we say and do. Unfortunately, playback comes at the most inopportune time. Your favorite four-letter word is your kid's favorite, too. Don't believe me? Just ask his friends when he's not around. Our kids believe us when we say the refs are cheating for the other team. They hear and believe the refs are blind, stupid, and other words that will not appear in this blog. We tell our kids they must respect other adults, but that only means adult family members, teachers and coaches. Referees are fair game or at least that's how we act. Some 23 states have laws which specifically address "assault on a sports official."

Officials are attacked so often that nearly half the country had to enact laws to deal with the problem. Think about it. Every state has laws pertaining to assault and battery. You can't just go around beating people up without consequence. Yet, the attacks on sports officials have become so bad that lawmakers felt the need to write special sets of statutes. Referees deserve our respect. Mr. Nieuwenhuizen was a volunteer as many officials are. Even if your league pays its refs, please keep their role and yours in perspective.

Imagine a referee going to a football sideline and yelling to the coach, "Well, I wouldn't call holding so much if you would teach your player to block." Outrage would ensue from the coaching community. Maybe an official goes over to a group of fans and says, " I don't why you all are cheering so loudly. These guys are terrible. I've officiated several of their games and they're gonna lose by 50. As a matter of fact, you should probably ask for your money back." Outrage would reach a fever pitch among fans.

In general, we hold officials to a higher standard. We should hold ourselves to the same high standard. Respect is a two-way street and you have to give it to get it. Our language and behavior toward referees must be tempered. Disagree without being disagreeable. Challenge the play without being confrontational. Be the example we want our kids to emulate. Let's keep the family of Richard Nieuwenhuizen in our thoughts and be mindful that our kids are watching us. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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A great coach is gone...

Several news and sports outlets are reporting that former Saint Louis University men's basketball coach Rick Majerus passed away on Saturday. He was 64. The Sportsmanship Initiative offers our most sincere condolences to the Majerus family, the St. Louis University family and everyone who was blessed to know, work with, learn from and be a friend to Rick Majerus. He will be missed.

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Classless act may get airport workers fired

NFL teams travel by chartered jets and team buses pick them up on the tarmac before heading to the hotel. Pro athletes draw big crowds, media and other distractions. Having them move privately and quietly is probably the best situation for everyone involved. So, how did the New Orleans Saints team bus get pelted with eggs on the tarmac of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on Wednesday? Did some rabid Atlanta Falcons fans sneak past security in a misguided show of team loyalty? Would you believe the airport workers themselves were responsible for this nonsense? Check out the ESPN.com video below (email subscribers click here).


It appears this is what happened. Saints players used Twitter to describe what was happening to their bus. Backup quarterback Chase Daniel wrote, "Wow, as we're boarding buses on the tarmac @ Atlanta airport, we start getting eggs thrown @ us by airport workers! Guess they do hate us!" Tight end Jimmy Graham chimed in as well, " Bus just got egged after landing in ATL by the ramp workers. Classy!" Hartsfield-Jackson officials released the following statement on Thursday:

"It has been confirmed that eggs were thrown at the New Orleans Saints' charter bus as they departed the ramp at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport last night. Airline workers were in the ramp area. Airport and airline officials are investigating the incident and further information will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, Atlanta police will augment airline security presence during the team's departure." The Saints and Falcons will play in prime time on Thursday night in what is sure to be a hotly contested game. However, overzealous fan behavior has reared its ugly head once again.

'Know Your Role' is a consistent theme on this blog and throughout the programs of the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative. Knowing your role lets you enjoy the game in a chosen capacity while respecting the others. If you're an athlete, play the game and let the coaches coach. If you're a coach, give your team the best strategies for success and let the officials call the penalties. Choose a role for yourself and respect the others. This applies to real life as well. If you're serving in an official capacity, it's not the time to be a fan.

Several people will probably lose their jobs over what amounts to a juvenile prank. On the other hand, the alleged behavior of certain airpport workers has embarrassed the city of Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and the Atlanta Falcons. This is also a teachable moment for our kids. Adults get into big trouble when we behave poorly, too. Kids get grounded. Adults get fired. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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'Fireman Ed' quits Jets because of poor sportsmanship

It doesn't matter which NFL team you root for, some things are just iconic and deserve a tip of the cap whether you like the actual team or not. The Dog Pound in Cleveland, the Cheeseheads in Green Bay, and the Black Hole in Oakland are all examples of rabid fans showing team spirit to the nth degree. In New York, you had this guy (email subscribers click here):



Notice I said had. 'Fireman Ed', aka former New York City firefighter Ed Anzalone stepped down as his favorite team's unofficial mascot on Sunday. The Jets lost badly to the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving night and looked bad doing it, but that's not the reason Anzalone is stepping aside. By all accounts, his health is fine and the team's 4-7 record is not an issue. So, why did Gang Green's number one fan retire his fireman's helmet for good? As a guest columnist for New York's Metro newspaper, Anzalone wrote the following:

"On Thanksgiving night, I left the Jets game before halftime. This was the second time in a row I left before there were four zeroes on the clock. We have had much worse teams than this and I never left before. I pride myself in that, because I am not a quitter. I decided to leave Thursday because the confrontations with other Jets fans have become more common, even though most Jets fans are fantastic. This is an indication of how society has lost and is continuing to lose respect for one another.The stadium has become divided because of the quarterback controversy as well. Whether it’s in the stands, the bathroom or the parking lot, these confrontations are happening on a consistent basis."

For perspective's sake, Anzalone has been a Jets fan since 1975. The team won Super Bowl III in 1969 - meaning Anzalone has never seen his beloved squad win a championship. It's not frustration over losing, though. As Anzalone lamented, the team has gone through much worse. Rich Kotite yielded a 4-28 record as head coach. Bill Belichick scribbled "I resign as HC of the NYJ" on a piece of paper the day after being introduced as Bill Parcells' hand-picked successor in 2000. It's fan behavior. It's poor sportsmanship that has driven him away.

Sports are supposed to be fun for everyone. When they stop being fun, people quit. This goes for little people as well as not-so-little people. If poor fan behavior can chase away a man who used to run into burning buildings for a living, what do you think it does to your 6th grader? One win can erase 50 years of losing. However, one incident of poor sportsmanship can ruin someone for a lifetime. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol  

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Suh's character also hits below the belt

If your Thanksgiving was anything like mine, it included a lot of family, food and football. The NFL trifecta was a nice side dish that went well with all the turkey. However, a certain part of the Texans - Lions game left most of us with a feeling slightly worse than indigestion. Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is the reigning "dirtiest player" in the game as voted on by his fellow players. Suh has been suspended and fined multiple times for his behavior on the field. Yesterday's game just added to his less-than-desirable reputation. In case you missed it, check out the video below (email subscribers click here). Warning: The following video contains a violent act directed toward a sensitive part of the human body. This content may not be suitable for all viewers. Parental discretion is advised.



Please understand the point of this post. It's not to highlight the poor and dangerous behavior of a professional athlete. The bigger issue is for those of us who work with kids. Ndamukong Suh has immense talent. He's big, strong and fast. Many experts called him the best defensive lineman to come out of college in 30 years and he could have easily been the number one overall pick in 2010. Suh comes from a family that believes strongly in education. Knowing Suh would make millions in the NFL, his parents still required him to stay in school and finish his degree in construction management from the University of Nebraska.

Suh overwhelms most NFL offensive linemen. He's not a guy who needs to take cheap shots to gain an edge. Teach your kids to display character above their talent. Do the right thing for no apparent reason instead of the opposite. Knocking people down when they're not looking is easy. It takes much more to help them up. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Taylor's 138 takes selfishness to a new low

The sports world is going ga-ga over Grinnell College guard Jack Taylor's 138-point scoring frenzy. That's not a misprint. Taylor scored 138 points in his team's 179-104 victory over Faith Baptist College on Tuesday night. What you won't hear very much on the highlight shows is that Taylor took 108 shots - including 71 three-point attempts. That's not a misprint, either. If a guard takes 71 three-pointers, it means the ball never really got past the top of the key. None of Taylor's teammates took more than six shots. Alright, hold on a minute. Maybe there's a silver lining. Maybe one of Taylor's teammates recorded a ton of assists. Nope. The assist leader for Grinnell had a grand total of five. Basically, the only time Taylor's teammates touched the ball was when they passed it to him on the inbound. For the record, Taylor posted a new NCAA record 138 points, 3 rebounds and NO assists. Shocking!

This style of play is the fastest way to get your kids to quit. Jack Taylor was the only one playing basketball Tuesday night. The other kids were just working out. It's understandable in basketball to stay with a shooter who's on a hot streak, but a streak doesn't last the whole game - even for Taylor. In the midst of a gaudy scoring spree, it's important to note that Taylor hit less than 50 percent of his shots. Sometimes the ball didn't go in and he still wouldn't pass it. Please don't treat the non-stars on your team like backup singers. Let them all play and let them all contribute. If you wish to view it, Taylor did an interview with ESPN about his record -setting performance which you can see below (email subscribers click here). As for me, I'm going in the kitchen to help my wife with the green beans. Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Sol

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Concerns about sportsmanship in high school blowout unfounded

Little Rock (Ark.) high schools Hall and Fair met in a season-opening girls basketball game last week. The game remained competitive until just after the National Anthem. Hall sprinted out to a 28-0 lead in the first four minutes. Sensing the game was getting out of hand, Hall coach Selita Farr pulled her starters and decided against using pressure defenses the rest of the way. The strategy didn't help. Hall defeated Fair by a score of 88-0. Basketball games aren't supposed to end in shut-outs. Watch the THV story below to find out how this game got so far out-of-hand (email subscribers click here).

Basketball is intentionally fast-paced and teams have too many opportunities to score. Someone will almost always hit a lucky shot. What happened to Fair High is the result of poor preparation. When your team is on the wrong end of an 88-0 score after the other team has essentially given up, then your kids weren't prepared. That responsibility falls squarely on the coaches. While it's important for every kid to get the chance to participate in sports, it's also important for them to be prepared. The situation is similar to playing a game for the first time as a little kid. Everyone else may know how to play, but the new kid doesn't - and it's not much fun for him. We owe it to our kids to make the game as competitive as possible.

Think about the girls on the Hall and Fair teams. Hall's starters got to play all of four minutes and had to sit the remainder of the game as if they got into trouble. Fair's girls could clearly see their opponents were just going through the motions and they still couldn't stop them or score on them. What kind of experience was this? Every team has a bad game and someone will always be last in the standings, but every team should be ready to play. Fair's coaching staff really needs to examine what they're doing and make sure their girls are in the best position to succeed in the future. Success occurs when preparation meets opportunity. Seizing opportunities without being prepared is like...well... my 9-year-old seizing the opportunity to drive my car. Yeah, it's going to end badly. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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In case you missed it...

Last night, St. Louis Priory boys soccer coach John Mohrmann was profiled on KSDK Newschannel 5 here in St. Louis. Mohrmann will be honored tomorrow night at the 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards. In case you missed, have a look at the story below (email subscribers click here). For more on the National Sportsmanship Awards, please visit nationalsportsmanshipawards.com. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol
 

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National Sportsmanship Awards story on KSDK tonight

Be sure to tune in to tonight's broadcast on KSDK Newschannel 5 in St. Louis at 10 p.m. CST for a special look at coach John Mohrmann and his St. Louis Priory soccer team. Coach Mohrmann will be honored at the 2012 National Sportsmanship Awards this Saturday November 17. After watching the following preview (email subscribers click here), please visit www.nationalsportsmanshipawards.com for more on the night where we celebrate all that's right in sports. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Are we a nation of poor sports?

Ladies and gentlemen of the Sportsmanship blogosphere. We have a major problem with fan behavior brewing in this country. I submit to you that if we do not stem the tide of violent, disrespectful and classless behavior among fans, sports as we know them may be irreparably damaged. The title of this post is meant to provoke thought, discussion and solutions. Without further delay, I will present my case in three parts.

Exhibit A

The New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers met last Sunday in a regular season rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game. New York defeated  San Francisco at home, 26-3. Apparently, Giants and 49ers fans didn't get enough action watching the two teams. Several men and women engaged in reality-show style fisticuffs in the parking lot after the game (email subscribers click here).

Exhibit B

On Sunday, October 7, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel took a vicious hit on a pass play and laid nearly motionless on the field. As trainers and medical personnel rushed to Cassel's aid, fans cheered. That's right. Chiefs fans cheered their starting quarterback suffering an injury and having to be helped off the field. Kansas City offensive lineman Eric Winston had a few choice words for his own fans (email subscribers click here).

Exhibit C

In the first ever National League Wild Card Game, the St. Louis Cardinals took on the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in Atlanta. A Braves rally all but ended in the 8th inning after an umpire controversially invoked the infield fly rule on a ball hit to shallow left field. Atlanta fans showed their displeasure by showering the field with seemingly endless amounts of garbage (email subscribers click here).

And there you have it. Are fans out of control? Are we a nation of spoiled brats that throw temper tantrums when we don't get our way? Do we deserve a better football team when we cheer our own guys getting hurt? If we don't think our team put up enough of a fight, should we start another one on the parking lot? Your thoughts are certainly welcome. The prosecution rests. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Football coach knocks out opposing player during game

Nathan Harris, a Salt Lake City area youth football coach, was charged with child abuse after knocking out a 13-year-old player on the opposing team. The video below shows the incident in its entirety. Watch closely as to how the play ends (email subscribers click here).



Simply put, this kind of behavior is wholly unacceptable. If the allegations prove true, this coach should never be allowed to work with kids again. Our first responsibility to kids is their safety. When a coach chooses to compromise safety, the whole program is compromised. When the authorities get involved, it's obviously gone beyond league control. Don't let things get that far. Make sure your coaches and parents are aware of your league's expectations.

The St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative has several tools to help you communicate expectations and help coaches and parents keep youth sports in the proper perspective. Please visit sportsmanship.org for more information on how to get involved and improve the sports experience for your kids. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Braves fans throw trash as young people show class

"They're throwing stuff on the field in Atlanta," said one parent during a timeout at the 7th grade volleyball game between St. Angela Merici and St. Norbert on Friday evening. The St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves were playing in the National League Wild Card Game. Breaks in the action on the court provided opportunities for parents to check the Cardinals score on their phones. There was talk that officials could stop the game because of fan behavior. A controversial call based on MLB's Infield Fly Rule effectively ended a Braves rally and fans responded by throwing large amounts of trash on the field. The game was delayed for nearly 20 minutes as officials tried to restore order. When the game ended, a victorious Cardinals team had to sprint off the field as fans once again began showering the field with litter.

Poor sportsmanship leaves a real mess.

Meanwhile, the 7th grade volleyball teams from St. Angela and St. Norbert played a spirited contest featuring some great serves, long rallies, and most of all...respect. Sportsmanship Brigade members tried mightily to find that one kid or two that stood out from the others, but to no avail. Every kid stood out. St. Norbert's seven girls and St. Angela's nine showed us what good play, determination and sportsmanship were all about. We asked both coaches if they would take their respective teams out for pizza - on us. Words just don't do the moment justice. So, here's a visual:

16 girls showing good sportsmanship is greater than 40,000 not. 

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. With just a $10 or greater donation, you can enhance the Brigade's efforts. Your gift supports the prizes we provide our weekly winners. Please click here to donate. The Sportsmanship Brigade is a program of the St. Louis Sports Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. So, your gift is tax deductible. For more on the Brigade, including scheduling and volunteering information, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Possibly the dirtiest player in youth football

I know the title of this post is not nice, but it may very well be true. The video below depicts highlights - check that - lowlights of a youth football game in Oregon (email subscribers click here). This video was submitted to Oregon City youth football officials after the play of mostly one child. Keep your eyes on no. 11 for the first three minutes or so. Blocks in the back, kicking other kids on the ground and face mask penalties just scratch the surface with this kid. If you are appalled by the young man's behavior, you should be outraged by his coach.

Kids are copycats and for the most part do what they're told or otherwise taught. The boy is no older than nine. His coaches taught him to play like this and he's following orders. How do I know? Well, the evidence is pretty clear. The kid was never pulled from the game. Any one of those dirty plays would cause most coaches to sit a kid for the remainder of the contest. This youngster was allowed to pummel everyone in his path.

To its credit, the league suspended the player and coach for one game. That may seem lenient to some, but most youth leagues only play 8-10 games anyway. The larger issue is not the punishment but the poor coaching and instruction that took place beforehand. Make sure this doesn't happen in your league. The Sports Commission is teaming with Coaching Coaches, LLC to provide low-cost training for youth coaches in all sports with the goal of making the youth sports experience as enjoyable as possible for your kids.

If you want to learn more about Coaching Coaches, which has programs for coaches and parents, call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org.  For information on our entire Sportsmanship Initiative, including many programs you can take advantage of right now, please visit our website at sportsmanship.org. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Kids still dig pizza parties

You hear it all the time. Kids have changed! Times are different now. Young people are into video games and social media. You have to find different ways to get through to them. I reject that. Kids are not different. The adults raising, teaching and coaching them are different. But that's another blog for another time. This post is about the Immacolata 4th grade girls volleyball team. We met these outstanding young ladies when the Brigade stopped by one of their games last week. In case you don't recall the story, click here to get all the details.

As a way to reward the girls for their tremendous sportsmanship, the Brigade gave them a pizza party. Their coach promised me she would take them and she followed through on her promise. The girls insisted she take a picture and send it to me with a thank-you note. Before sharing the coach's note, I want you to know that together we are making a difference. Sportsmanship is not dead. Our mission is to improve the sports experience for young people. While the mission is not yet accomplished, we are well on our way. Please enjoy the message from Coach Debbie Tonn and her Immacolata girls. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

 Solomon,

I just wanted to thank you on behalf of my 4th grade Immacolata volleyball team that you visited last Friday. The girls were so excited after you came and talked to them and then gave us the gift cards. Of course, we had to have the pizza party right away and I have attached a picture ( which was their idea!) It was so nice to have such positive and encouraging remarks for our team. The girls have always been very energetic and supportive of each other. In practice yesterday, I noticed that they were even complimenting each other a little more than usual. I think it was because of your visit last week! It really made an impact on the girls and one that I hope will continue throughout all of their "sports years". 

Thanks again,

Debbie Tonn

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Mike Matheny's letter to parents

Mike Matheny is the manager of the defending World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. He played 13 Major League seasons, including five for the team he now manages. Matheny made St. Louis home several years ago and has been very involved in the community  - especially on the youth baseball side of things. Earlier this year, a letter Matheny wrote went viral. It details the expectations he had for the parents of his youth baseball team. While the letter is about a baseball team, the sport name could easily be interchanged for the one your kids play.

There are some very valuable items to pay attention to when reading the letter. First, this is not Short Attention Span Theater. Matheny is detail-oriented and the letter is quite lengthy. He leaves no room for ambiguity or misinterpretation. Second, he is direct and clear about what he expects from his players, parents and himself. Finally, I have not edited the content of this letter whatsoever. I did take the liberty of putting certain points Matheny makes in bold type. That being said, I give you the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals - Mike Matheny. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

I always said that the only team that I would coach would be a team of orphans, and now here we are. The reason for me saying this is that I have found the biggest problem with youth sports has been the parents. I think that it is best to nip this in the bud right off the bat. I think the concept that I am asking all of you to grab is that this experience is ALL about the boys. If there is anything about it that includes you, we need to make a change of plans. My main goals are as follows:

(1) to teach these young men how to play the game of baseball the right way,

(2) to be a positive impact on them as young men, and

(3) do all of this with class.

We may not win every game, but we will be the classiest coaches, players, and parents in every game we play. The boys are going to play with a respect for their teammates, opposition, and the umpires no matter what.

With that being said, I need to let you know where I stand. I have no hidden agenda. I have no ulterior motive other than what I said about my goals. I also need all of you to know that my priorities in life will most likely be a part of how I coach, and the expectations I have for the boys. My Christian faith is the guide for my life and I have never been one for forcing my faith down someone's throat, but I also believe it to be cowardly, and hypocritical to shy away from what I believe. You as parents need to know for yourselves and for your boys, that when the opportunity presents itself, I will be honest with what I believe. That may make some people uncomfortable, but I did that as a player, and I hope to continue it in any endeavor that I get into. I am just trying to get as many potential issues out in the open from the beginning. I believe that the biggest role of the parent is to be a silent source of encouragement. I think if you ask most boys what they would want their parents to do during the game; they would say "NOTHING". Once again, this is ALL about the boys. I believe that a little league parent feels that they must participate with loud cheering and "Come on, let's go, you can do it", which just adds more pressure to the kids. I will be putting plenty of pressure on these boys to play the game the right way with class, and respect, and they will put too much pressure on themselves and each other already. You as parents need to be the silent, constant, source of support.

Let the record stand right now that we will not have good umpiring. This is a fact, and the sooner we all understand that, the better off we will be. We will have balls that bounce in the dirt that will be called strikes, and we will have balls over our heads that will be called strikes. Likewise, the opposite will happen with the strike zone while we are pitching. The boys will not be allowed at any time to show any emotion against the umpire. They will not shake their head, or pout, or say anything to the umpire. This is my job, and I will do it well. I once got paid to handle those guys, and I will let them know when they need to hear something. I am really doing all of you parents a favor that you probably don't realize at this point. I have taken out any work at all for you except to get them there on time, and enjoy. The thing that these boys need to hear is that you enjoyed watching them and you hope that they had fun. I know that it is going to be very hard not to coach from the stands and yell encouraging things to your son, but I am confident that this works in a negative way for their development and their enjoyment. Trust me on this. I am not saying that you cannot clap for your kids when they do well. I am saying that if you hand your child over to me to coach them, then let me do that job.

A large part of how your child improves is your responsibility. The difference for kids at this level is the amount of repetition that they get. This goes with pitching, hitting and fielding. As a parent, you can help out tremendously by playing catch, throwing batting practice, hitting ground balls, or finding an instructor who will do this in your place. The more of this your kids can get, the better. This is the one constant that I have found with players that reached the major leagues....someone spent time with them away from the field.

I am completely fine with your son getting lessons from whomever you see fit. The only problem I will have is if your instructor is telling your son not to follow the plan of the team. I will not teach a great deal of mechanics at the beginning, but I will teach mental approach, and expect the boys to comply. If I see something that your son is doing mechanically that is drastically wrong, I will talk with the instructor and clear things up. The same will hold true with pitching coaches. We will have a pitching philosophy and will teach the pitchers and catchers how to call a game, and why we choose the pitches we choose. There is no guessing. We will have a reason for the pitches that we throw. A pitching coach will be helpful for the boys to get their arms in shape and be ready to throw when spring arrives. Every boy on this team will be worked as a pitcher. We will not over use these young arms and will keep close watch on the number of innings that the boys are throwing.

I will be throwing so much info at these boys that they are going to suffer from overload for a while, but eventually they are going to get it. I am a stickler about the thought process of the game. I will be talking non-stop about situational hitting, situational pitching, and defensive preparation. The question that they are going to hear the most is "What were you thinking?" What were you thinking when you threw that pitch? What were you thinking during that at bat? What were you thinking before the pitch was thrown, were you anticipating anything? I am a firm believer that this game is more mental than physical, and the mental may be more difficult, but can be taught and can be learned by a 10 and 11 year old. If it sounds like I am going to be demanding of these boys, you are exactly right. I am definitely demanding their attention, and the other thing that I am going to require is effort. Their attitude, their concentration, and their effort are the things that they can control. If they give me these things every time they show up, they will have a great experience.

The best situation for all of us is for you to plan on handing these kids over to me and the assistant coaches when you drop them off, and plan on them being mine for the 2 or so hours that we have scheduled for a game, or the time that we have scheduled for the practice. I would like for these boys to have some responsibility for having their own water, not needing you to keep running to the concession stand, or having parents behind the dugout asking their son if they are thirsty, or hungry, or too hot, and I would appreciate if you would share this information with other invited guests...like grandparents. If there is an injury, obviously we will get you to help, but besides that, let's pretend that they are at work for a short amount of time and that you have been granted the pleasure of watching. I will have them at games early so we can get stretched and loosened up, and I will have a meeting with just the boys after the game. After the meeting, they are all yours again. As I am writing this, I sound like the little league Nazi, but I believe that this will make things easier for everyone involved.

I truly believe that the family is the most important institution in the lives of these guys. With that being said, l think that the family events are much more important than the sports events. I just ask that you are considerate of the rest of the team and let the team manager, and myself know when you will miss, and to let us know as soon as possible. I know that there will be times when I am going to miss either for family reasons, for other commitments. If your son misses a game or a practice, it is not the end of the world, but there may be some sort of repercussion, just out of respect for the kids that put the effort into making it. The kind of repercussions could possibly be running, altered playing time, or position in the batting order.

Speaking of batting order, I would like to address that right from the top as well seeing that next to playing time this is the second most complained about issue, or actually tied for second with position on the defensive field. Once again, I need you to know that I am trying to develop each boy individually, and I will give them a chance to learn and play any position that they are interested in. I also believe that this team will be competitive and when we get into situations where we are focusing on winning; like a tournament for example; we are going to put the boys in the position that will give the team the best opportunity. I will talk with the boys individually and have them tell me what their favorite position is and what other position they would like to learn about. As this season progresses, there is a chance that your son may be playing a position that they don't necessarily like, but I will need your support about their role on the team. I know that times have changed, but one of the greatest lessons that my father taught me was that my coach was always right...even when he was wrong. The principle is a great life lesson about how things really work. I hope that I will have enough humility to come to your son if I treated him wrong and apologize. Our culture has lost this respect for authority mostly because the kids hear the parents constantly complaining about the teachers and coaches of the child.

I need all of you to know that we are most likely going to lose many games this year. The main reason is that we need to find out how we measure up with the local talent pool. The only way to do this is to play against some of the best teams. I am convinced that if the boys put their work in at home, and give me their best effort, that we will be able to play with just about any team. Time will tell. l also believe that there is enough local talent that we will not have to do a large amount of travel, if any. This may be disappointing for those of you who only play baseball and look forward to the out of town experiences, but I also know that this is a relief for the parents that have traveled throughout the US and Canada for hockey and soccer looking for better competition. In my experiences, we have traveled all over the Midwest and have found just as good competition right in our back yard. If this season goes well, we will entertain the idea of travel in the future.

The boys will be required to show up ready to play every time they come to the field. Shirts tucked in, hats on straight, and pants not drooping down to their knees. There is not an excuse for lack of hustle on a baseball field. From the first step outside the dugout they will hustle. They will have a fast jog to their position, to the plate, and back to the bench when they make an out. We will run out every hit harder than any team we will play, and will learn how to always back up a play to help our teammates. Every single play, every player will be required to move to a spot. Players that do not hustle and run out balls will not play. The boys will catch on to this quickly. The game of baseball becomes very boring when players are not thinking about the next play and what they possibly could do to help the team. Players on the bench will not be messing around. I will constantly be talking with them about situations and what they would be doing if they were in a specific position, or if they were the batter. There is as much to learn on the bench as there is on the field if the boys want to learn. All of this will take some time for the boys to conform to. They are boys and I am not trying to take away from that, but I do believe that they can bear down and concentrate hard for just a little while during the games and practices.

I know this works because this was how I was taught the game and how our parents acted in the stands. We started our little league team when I was 10 years old in a little suburb of Columbus, Ohio. We had a very disciplined coach that expected the same from us. We committed 8 summers to this man and we were rewarded for our efforts. I went to Michigan, one went to Duke, one to Miami of Florida, two went to North Carolina, one went to Central Florida, one went to Kent State, and most of the others played smaller division one or division two baseball. Four of us went on to play professionally. This was coming from a town where no one had ever been recruited by any colleges. I am not saying that this is what is going to happen to our boys, but what I do want you to see is that this system works. I know that right now you are asking yourself if this is what you want to get yourself into and I understand that for some of you it may not be the right fit. I also think that there is a great opportunity for these boys to grow together and learn some lessons that will go beyond their baseball experience. Let me know as soon as possible whether or not this is a commitment that you and your son want to make.

Thanks,

Mike Matheny

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Waterproof Character

The Sportsmanship Brigade got into the Immacolata gym on Friday night just before the skies over St. Louis opened up for a torrential and much needed downpour. We were on-hand to see the home team 4th grade girls volleyball squad take on their counterparts from Holy Redeemer. Immacolata had a tough time matching Holy Redeemer's serving and digging skills. The visitors took control and easily won all three sets. Strange thing is you wouldn't know it by looking at the Immacolata girls on the floor or on the bench. They were completely oblivious to the score. These girls lost, but they would not be defeated. They cheered each other when they did score. They cheered each other on returned serves. Heck, they cheered for each other when one of their serves made it over the net.

Neither the score nor the weather would dampen their spirits. Then, there was Libby of Immacolata. Libby was racing toward the sideline trying to return a serve when she noticed it may go out of bounds. She tried to pull her hand back at the last second. Did she touch it or did it just go out? No one was sure. The officials were uncertain of the call and both coaches shrugged their shoulders. There wasn't any indication from the crowd either. No one knew but Libby and the young lady didn't leave us in suspense very long. She raised her hand and acknowledged she touched the ball before it went out. Possession would go to Holy Redeemer. Integrity went to Libby. The Brigade came up with an interesting way to present the evening's award. Libby had clearly shown an act of selflessness. Her selection was easy, but we chose not to leave out her teammates.

Immacolata has a team that embodies the very essence of youth sports. They have fun and lots of it. Their positive attitude was infectious and everyone in the building caught it. We all wanted them to do well regardless of the outcome. With that in mind, the Brigade decided to treat the Immacolata team to a pizza party for its efforts. Here's how the girls reacted:

Smiles are wanted. Thank yous are appreciated. Hugs are welcome. Have a great season, girls! The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more on the Brigade, including scheduling and volunteering information, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Two baseballs given are better than one stolen

Some sportsmanship stories tell themselves. Watch the video below and enjoy (email subscribers click here).



Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Deion Sanders' students not ready for Prime Time

Pro football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders has chosen a most noble path in his life after football. While he still can be seen breaking down the Xs and Os on the NFL Network, Sanders can also be found coaching kids at the newly-founded Prime Prep Academy. The Dallas-area charter school has two campuses which serve children Kindergarten through 12th grade. For those not familiar, charter schools are tuition-free public schools. They are subject to most of the same rules and regulations as other public schools. A notable exception lies in student recruiting. Charter schools are not bound by neighborhood restrictions. They can recruit students from the entire district.

Charter schools often meet with fierce opposition from local districts. Traditional public school officials sometimes accuse charters of cherry-picking the best and brightest students thereby weakening the larger district. You might think Deion Sanders would have met this type of opposition. Given Sanders' celebrity, I'm sure he didn't have great difficulty recruiting students. Funny thing, though - the push back he got from the larger district and eventually the state wasn't over academics - it was over athletics. Let's be real. The controversy is over football. High school football is a BIG deal in Texas and more than one eyebrow raised when Deion Sanders opened a school with a varsity football team.

For their part, Prime Prep Academy has vowed to continue with its academic and athletic programs. The situation is rather messy and messy situations tend to make people act accordingly. Prime Prep probably hurt its case a little with an incident involving a local TV reporter. Kids got involved and everything went south from there. Watch the video below for more details (email subscribers click here). 

I blame the coaches on this one - including Sanders. The kids needed to be focused on practice and not walking into traffic to confront a reporter. This was as disrespectful as it was dangerous. Don't let kids fight your battles. My mom always said a child should stay in a child's place. It sort of lends itself to the "Know Your Role" concept. I've read about that somewhere before. Anyway, this whole controversy may be much ado about nothing. Prime Prep lost it opening game Friday night, 50-6. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Do you know your role?

All this can be yours, if...the sportsmanship is right!

In over three years and 500+ posts, I have often referred to the "Know Your Role" concept. Most negative issues in youth sports would be avoided if we would all learn and remain in our respective roles. Coaches coach. Athletes play. Refs keep order. Fans cheer. The idea of knowing your role is simple and seems easy to follow. On the other hand, simple concepts are seldom easy to execute. For example, to win the gold medal in the Olympic 100 meters, all you have to do is run faster than Usain Bolt. Pretty simple task, huh? Well, good luck with that.

There's a similar difficulty in maintaining our roles in youth sports. As fans (parents especially), we can't help but yell instructions to our kids at the same time the coaches are tyring to talk to them. We don't see it as disrespecting the coach or embarrassing our kids. We're just trying to help. Besides, we tell our kids what to do most of the time anyway. The coach should know how to deal with it. Balderdash! We relinquish control of our kids everyday to trusted adults. When you have an issue with your child's teacher, you don't walk into their classroom and yell, "Mr. Alexander doesn't know what he's doing! Here's the correct way to write an equation in Slope-Intercept form."

You arrange to meet with the teacher privately. The two of you may talk one-on-one or you may include the principal or other school administrator. You would never dream of undermining the teacher's authority in front of the kids. So, why do we do it on the athletic field? If your kid isn't on the school's Honor Roll, do you storm into the Principal's office and accuse him or her of favoritism? Nope, you go home and encourage your child to do better. Again, why not do that on the athletic field? Don't worry. There is a path to knowing your role and improving the sports experience for your kids. Take the self-test below and see how you stack up.

Do you know your role?

• I realize there are only four roles in sport - player, coach, official or fan - and I pick one and respect the others.
• I understand that my child is the participant, not me, and my expectations are based on my child's needs, not mine.
• I avoid "coaching" from the stands and I also avoid criticizing officials, coaches and opposing players.
• I seek to be a positive and encouraging fan - applauding good plays for both teams.
• If I coach my child's team, I seek to model appropriate behavior and sportsmanship.

This is a a self-assessment, but the real test will come at your child's game. If all five statements describe you, then congratulations! You are contributing to a more enriching sports eperience for kids. Conversely, if some of these statements describe behaviors you need to aspire to, then you know what has to be done. The self-test appears in the booklet Through a Child's Eyes...A Parents' Guide to Improving Youth Sports. It's available to your organization for free through the Sportsmanship Initiative's Team Players Program. Just click here to sign up. Your kids, your league and your community will thank you for it. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Cowboys agree to babysit Dez Bryant

Character and talent do not have an inverse relationship. Good players don't always have "questionable" backgrounds. As a matter of fact, most good players are upstanding young people. They come from good homes and are raised by good parents. However, professional sports sometimes lead us to believe otherwise. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was charged with domestic assault earlier this summer stemming from and incident with his mom. Consequently, Dallas has agreed to terms with Bryant on an individual conduct policy. It covers Bryant's conduct away from the field. According to ESPN.com, here are some of the rules Bryant must abide by this season:

• A midnight curfew. If he's going to miss curfew, team officials must know beforehand.
• No alcohol.
• He cannot attend any strip clubs and can only attend nightclubs that are approved by the team and must have a security team accompany him to the club. 
• He must attend counseling sessions twice a week.
• A rotating three-man security team will have one man with Bryant at all times.
• Members of the security team will drive Bryant to practices, games and team functions.

A team should never create a special set of rules for an individual athlete. Team rules should be clear, fair and easy to follow for everyone. By agreeing to these terms with Bryant, the Cowboys have placed one man above the rest of the team. This will likely spell trouble as the team tries to win games in the ultra-competitive NFL and look after a star player at the same time. Please don't let a similar situation occur on your youth team. Sure, some kids need more help with certain things than others. We just can't allow gifted athletes to get away with behaviors we wouldn't tolerate from anyone else.

Personally, I think every coach should have a line. There has to be a point of no return - a point where you tell the kid that in order to play, he has to play somewhere else. For me, parents are the line. Dez Brant is charged with domestic assault against his mother. I don't know if he really did it or if the case will go anywhere legally. I do know the Cowboys think his behavior warrants a separate set of rules. That would do it for me. I refuse and have refused to coach athletes who disrespect their parents. If a kid won't listen to his mom or dad, there's nothing I can do for him. He'll probably disrespect me the first chance he gets. Teach and develop young people as best you can. Have rules. Have standards. Have integrity. You are a coach - not a babysitter. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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