Coach allegedly stole $20,000 from team's concession stand

Almost every recreational and school league I know of operates a concession stand during games. Believe it or not, concession stands help offset the rising cost of youth sports. Those pizza slices, candy bars and sodas go a long way. The money is supposed to help the team. Someone has to keep the fields nice and trimmed. Someone has to clean the gutters outside the gym. The light bulbs need to be replaced. The meter doesn't stop running on the electric bill when your facility hosts the league championship all day on Saturday and Sunday. I think you get the picture. Youth sports is about fun, but the adults have to take care of certain responsibilities so the kids can have fun.

Well, it seems a coach in Florida missed the memo. David Saliba abruptly resigned from his position as head baseball coach at Winter Haven (Fla.) High School after he was told that school officials were investigating him for allegedly mishandling some $20,000 in concession stand proceeds. Check out the WTSP-TV story below (email subscribers click here).



If these allegations are true, the kids will suffer most. You can buy tons of baseball equipment and maintain several fields with $20,000. Make sure there are safeguards in place in your league to keep this type of thing from happening. While we should do everything we can to build an atmosphere of trust, we should also remember our ultimate responsibility is to the kids. Join the discussion on The Sportsmanship Network. What can we do to keep everyone honest in our leagues? Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Changes coming for Sportsmanship Blog

May 9, 2012 will mark the third anniversary of the Sportsmanship Blog. That's right, we've been discussing the good, bad and ugly topics in sports for three whole years. I want to keep the discussion going, but I want all of my friends to be able to talk with one another. Change only comes with a free exchange of ideas and right now we have too many places to exchange those ideas. For example, if you wanted to comment on a blog post, you could always do it on this site. This option is no longer available. The Sportsmanship Blog also connects to my personal Facebook page. This option will not be available as of May 9. We need to exchange ideas more freely and there's a way for us all to do that...together.

We have a Facebook page which used to be called Sportsmanship TV. It was a page where anyone could post videos about sportsmanship and discuss them. The thought was good, but all anyone did was watch the videos. We needed more. I've since linked the Sportsmanship Blog to the page and will post Sportsmanship-related content of all kinds to the page. Our Facebook page is now called The Sportsmanship Network. You'll be able to comment on blog postings, post content of your own, participate in contests, etc. The Sportsmanship Network is a social network and you can access it anytime by clicking on the link at the top of this page (email subscribers click here). So, join us on The Sportsmanship Network. Change starts with a single click. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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A great night for baseball at Incarnate Word

Before I get into telling you about the Brigade's Wednesday night visit to a second grade baseball matchup between Incarnate Word and Twin Oaks, I have have to tell you about Carl. Who is Carl? Well, Carl is a cute, fun, energetic and playful two-year-old. We had almost as much fun watching Carl's parents and siblings chase him around the field as we did the game. He ran them ragged, but no one got upset. Whenever he got caught, Carl would just giggle and smile. Who can get mad at a smiling, giggling two-year-old?

Here's where I come in. During one of Carl's all-out sprints, he notices me, stops literally on a dime and says, "Daddy?!" This becomes both a tense and hilarious moment because I am the only African-American adult in the park and Carl is the only African-American child in the park. Carl was recently adopted and his parents are not African-American. His mom sat him next to me and we talked for awhile before he took off again. Adoptive parents are great people. No matter how much love and attention they give, they always have to contend with the natural parents who aren't there for whatever reason. They are special people indeed. Anyway, on with our story.

When I was in second grade, I fielded more ground balls with my face than my glove. That's not the case with Jack and Christopher of Twin Oaks. These two are great with the glove and their defense was a key component of Twin Oaks' victory. However, they are better teammates than they are players. In second grade, the kids change positions every inning and some kids sit out an inning or two based on the number of players. When it was Jack and Christopher's turn to sub, they didn't just sit on the bench and chew sunflower seeds. The two were cheering, rattling the fence and literally jumping up and down for their Twin Oaks teammates.

They really wanted their teammates to do well. It's not unusual for the Brigade to see teammates cheer for one another. On the other hand, it is rather unusual to see that type of attitude from star players on any level. The Twin Oaks coaches and parents are teaching these boys to be a team and it shows. So, the Brigade decided to recognize both Jack and Christopher for their efforts and proving that good sportsmanship does come in pairs.

From L-R: Jack, Big Sol and Christopher

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents and fans 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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Are you undermining your kid's coach?

Now, I know no one who reads the Sportsmanship Blog does this, but it's an interesting question posed by Margie Ellisor of Fox 2 News in St. Louis. She interviewed Dr. Phillip Dembo, author of "The Real Purpose of Parenting," on Monday to ask the very provocative question mentioned in the title. Watch the interview below (email subscribers click here).


Why do parents pull this stuff? I taught for 10 years. Some of the parents thought I was a good teacher and others didn't. However, not one parent EVER tried to take over my math class. Even the kids whose parents were engineers or teachers themselves never attempted such a ridiculous thing. Think about it. How silly would you feel and how silly would it look to your child if you tried to teach the Pythagorean Theorem in their class?

Well, you look just as ridiculous when you try to call plays from the stands and tell your child to do what you taught them while playing on someone else's team. It all goes back to what we've been saying on this blog for three years: Know. Your. Role. Pick one role for yourself and respect the others. It's just that simple. Until next time...

 Be a Good Sport!

 -Sol

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No shortage of sportsmanship in girls lacrosse

One of the great things about the Sportsmanship Brigade is that the experience benefits the volunteers as much as the kids. We get to meet great new kids every week. On Saturday, Brigade members were in attendance for a CYC 7th and 8th grade girls lacrosse match between St. Gerard Majella and St. Michael. The action was fast and furious and both teams scored in bunches early on. Neither defense had an answer for the opposing offense. This back-and-forth lasted until the half when St. Gerard changed its defensive scheme. For those not familiar, girls and women's lacrosse have different rules when it comes to physicality. Girls do not wear helmets and pads like the boys do and are therefore not allowed to body check.

St. Gerard switched to what could be best described as a zone-type defense. While blocking a player's path to the goal may cause a foul, putting two defenders in front of her will make her change directions and take a bad shot. St. Gerard was then able to pull away late for the victory. However, St. Michael is a talented team with young ladies of exceptional character. Never did they allow the scoreboard to dictate their sportsmanship. They showed great energy and had fun throughout. Both teams represented their parishes well. Their parents and coaches should be very proud. Still, Brigade members looked for those players who paid special attention to sportsmanship and took character to heart. They found them in Maya from St. Michael and Katie from St. Gerard.

From L-R: Maya, Big Sol and Katie

The Brigade quickly noticed Katie's energy and passion for her teammates. When she entered the game, she hopped off the bench as if she were shot out of a cannon. Katie tapped all of her teammates sticks yelling, "Let's go!" She played hard and kept an almost permanent smile on her face throughout the game. Easily the heart and soul of her team, even Katie's teammates weren't surprised when she was recognized by the Brigade. Maya's recognition, on the other hand, was based on an act of humility and selflessness. A St. Gerard player made an amazing spin move and scored on Maya. This happened late in the game when St. Gerard was building its lead. Rather than stomp away in frustration or throw some sort of tantrum, Maya jogged over to her opponent and said, "That was a good shot" and rejoined her team on offense.

Maya didn't have to acknowledge what happened, but she humbled herself in the face of adversity. The Brigade was impressed with this show of sportsmanship and saw fit to recognize Maya along with Katie. This was the Brigade's first foray into lacrosse, but it won't be the last. The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents and fans 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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Dwayne Wade bans Gabrielle Union from courtside

Gabrielle Union is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and talented actors in Hollywood. She's also been dating Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwayne Wade for several years. As with many celebrities, Union's reserved seating is usually courtside. Notice I said usually. You see, Union recently lost her prime seating privileges when Wade asked her to move back a few rows. Take a look at her recent appearance on Conan O'Brien's show (email subscribers click here). Union explains why her superstar boyfriend banned her from sitting behind the bench.

Contrary to popular belief, most professional athletes get along with guys on the other team. They hang out, vacation, together, etc. It's not cool to insult your boyfriend and his friends when he's the reason you're in the building. Moreover, it's distracting and takes the players' focus off the game. If an all-world player like Wade is distracted by a loved one and he plays in packed arenas every night, imagine how your kid feels when you yell from the stands.

I've seen more than one kid stop playing on a field or court to turn to the stands so they can hear the nonsense mom or dad is yelling. Yes, I said nonsense. It's nonsense because the kid has to stop helping his team to hear you. It's also nonsense because advice from the stands has never worked on any level I've ever seen. They're not going to score on the play you just called from the stands. More often than not, they get scored on because they stopped paying attention to listen to nonsense.

Don't be a distraction to your kids. Release them to the game. Let the coaches coach. Allow the kids to enjoy the experience. If you feel the need to yell, just stuff your face with more nachos. That's why they have concession stands at these games. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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40 years after Title IX, the insults keep coming...

The best player in women's college basketball, Britney Griner, decided to stay in school and complete her degree at Baylor. The best men's player, Anthony Davis, is not. As a matter of fact, Davis and the other four underclassmen starters from Kentucky are high-tailing it out of Lexington faster than you can say bluegrass. That's right. Kentucky's national champion starting five, made up of three freshmen and two sophomores, have all declared for the NBA Draft. St. Louisan Bradley Beal, another freshman from the University of Florida, has declared as well.

Those six underclassmen combined don't have the college credit hours of Nnmekadi Ogwumike. Oh you don't know who she is? Here you go:

Ogwumike on draft day with WNBA President Laurel Richie

Ogwumike was picked no.1 overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She has already completed her psychology degree from Stanford. The reason you probably haven't heard of her or anything else about the WNBA Draft is because it aired at 2 p.m. Eastern Time last Monday afternoon. You were probably at work, at lunch, in a meeting or at the snack machine. All the little girls who would probably look up to Ogwumike and her fellow draftees were in school.

That won't be the case when the NBA Draft broadcasts live in prime time for all of your kids to see. College dropout after college dropout will parade across the stage sending the subliminal message to your son that school's for fools. On the other hand, the WNBA Draft board is filled with graduates from some of the most prestigious universities in the country. Only in sports can a Kentucky dropout be celebrated more than a Stanford graduate.

Forty years after Title IX, the landmark legislation that made equal opportunities for women in education a matter of law, we're still treating our girls like they don't matter. We tell them they can do anything a man can do. Then, we don't bother to show up to see them do it. Girls play to half-empty gyms and arenas all over this country and it's a shame. We wouldn't dare interrupt the 500th consecutive repeat edition of a highlight show to broadcast the the first round of the WNBA Draft.

We are not doing the right thing by our girls and we should be ashamed. Good day. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Middle school runner and friends find over $1500 worth of baseball tickets...and return them

The following story proves our youth are not lost. As a matter of fact, the future looks pretty bright from where I sit. All of us look at things through the prism of our own life experiences. Just the subject matter of this post threw me for a loop. Three boys found baseball tickets behind home plate worth more than $1,500. Let that sink in for a moment. Now, I'm from St. Louis. Baseball wasn't born here, but it was perfected here. Forget the face value of the ticket. Do you know how much a ticket behind home plate at a Cardinals game is worth? If you saw one lying next to some gold coins, you'd have to really think about which one was more valuable.

Alex Mastro, Eamon Duffy, and Ben Capra are three young men from Denver who found a stack of Colorado Rockies tickets as they walked home. Instead of trying to keep the tickets for themselves or sell them, they launched a full-out search to locate the rightful owner. They even contacted the local NBC affiliate to help them. Watch the 9News story below (email subscribers click here). Kudos to the parents, coaches, teachers and other adults who are in these kids' lives. You are definitely leading them down the right path. Keep up the good work. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Midget division delivers big on sportsmanship

The Sportsmanship Brigade was on-hand for the CYC open midget division boys basketball championship on Sunday afternoon between St. Joseph - Cottleville (Mo.) and Mary Queen of Peace (MQP). In case you were wondering, the midget division consists of 5th graders. Both teams showed early on why they were in the championship game. They possess great skill and the will to win was apparent. MQP, however, caught fire in the second half and pulled away for the victory. I know it's often said as a cliche, but there were no losers here. MQP is as gracious as they are skilled and did not turn to showboating or other demeaning tactics. St. Joseph played every possession as if it were a tie game. Those kids were playing in the championship game and they behaved like champions until the final whistle.

Still, three young men took extra steps to show us all why the experience of youth sports is far more important than the trophy. The first two are MQP teammates - Nicholas Kurz and Andrew Nester. Nicholas played hard and tried to win, but he also realized he was playing against people and treated them as such. Helping players off the floor, hi-fiving teammates and pats on the back were the norm. Andrew's spirit was infectious for the entire crowd. He encouraged his teammates throughout the contest. His "Let's go, guys!" could be heard over the buzzer and whistles. Matthew Hanson wouldn't be outdone. Late in the game, he committed a hard foul that sent an MQP player to the floor. To show it wasn't malicious, he immediately turned and pulled the young man to his feet. You can play hard without having a hard heart. Brigade members rewarded all three young men in what turned out to be a fitting close to the CYC basketball season.

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents and fans 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

Solomon Alexander with Matthew Hanson

From L-R: Nicholas Kurz, Andrew Nester and Solomon Alexander

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Springer show benefits young people

Oh, you thought I was talking about THAT Springer? No, I'm talking about Bob Springer. He coaches the 6th grade boys open division basketball team for Mary Queen of Peace (MQP) in St. Louis. The Sportsmanship Brigade saw Springer's team take on Our Lady of the Pillar for the 6th grade CYC open division boys championship on Saturday afternoon. Each age group in CYC basketball has an open and closed division. Open division teams can play for other teams and their CYC team during the same season. Closed division team only play for their CYC squad.

Pillar is an uber-talented team. They have lightning fast guards and the big guys can handle the ball and shoot the three - in addition to having an imposing presence on the inside. Some teams just seem to have it, whatever it is. Pillar has it. MQP would not be intimidated by their bigger and faster opponents, though. Coach Springer had a plan. His team never got down more than five points and made Pillar work for every basket. MQP also showed tremendous poise and class as the score got closer and the play more physical.

MQP is a direct reflection of Springer. There was no yelling at the referees or slamming the ball or even the less-than-innocent "who me" expression that many players give after being called for a foul. They kept the game close and went on to a 25-22 victory in overtime. The Brigade was proud to recognize Coach Springer as he shows that winners and people of character can be one and the same.

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents and fans 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

Players congratulate coach after championship victory

Players clap for their coach as Brigade presentation is made

From L-R: MQP team, Coach Springer and Solomon Alexander

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Lesson from Ozzie Guillen for youth coaches

Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen made a huge mistake when he expressed "love" for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in a Time magazine article published online last week. Oops! Guillen has a reputation for being outspoken. There's nothing wrong with being outspoken. You just better be right when you start speaking. Guillen often ends up eating his words with an appetizer of crow and a side of foot. This is not going to be another post criticizing Guillen's remarks nor will I defend his right to free speech - which isn't applicable here anyway. His comments landed him a five-game suspension from the Marlins. Remember, your employer is not bound by free speech. As long as the federal, state or local government didn't punish him - the Marlins can do with Guillen what they please.

Guillen's comments are applicable to youth sports. How? Well, in one fell swoop he showed complete disregard for his team's objectives, his players, and the team's fans. Not long ago, the Marlins made a conscious decision to change the team's image and fully embrace the Latin culture of southern Florida. The Florida Marlins became the Miami Marlins. Team officials already had a Latin star in Hanley Ramirez and went hard after free-agents Jose Reyes and Albert Pujols. Even Guillen himself is part of the plan. He is a World Series-winning manager and one of the most popular sports figures in the Latin community. The red carpet had been laid out for Guillen. All he had to do was walk and smile for the cameras.

Nope. He felt it necessary to express the four words no one should ever utter in an official capacity in Miami: "I love Fidel Castro." To a less dramatic degree, many youth coaches do the same thing. They walk right into a locker room full of fourth graders and use words like 'war', 'battle' and 'pain' to describe what they'll do to the other fourth grade team who can't find their cleats. These coaches don't read the league handbook which clearly states: "The Southside Community Baseball League provides a fun environment for kids ages 6-14. Young people will learn the fundamentals of the game and participate in an atmosphere that promotes fitness, friendship, good sportsmanship and fair play." Somebody didn't read that. Somebody won't read that. Instead, the coach storms into practices with four-letter words and put downs. He thinks that faux gold trophy actually matters.

What matters is how you treat those kids. What matters is the experience they'll remember 20 years from now. Know who you're coaching and know why you're coaching. Fun and hard work are not mutually exclusive for kids. They play very hard when they're having fun. Make sure you learn from Ozzie Guillen's mistake. Read the handbook and govern yourselves accordingly. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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6-year-old shows a big heart is better than two hands

Friday will mark an unofficial holiday here in St. Louis. It's the Cardinals home-opener. The day is an unofficial holiday because the Cardinals will magically have a full stadium in the middle of a work day. No one ever get fired, though - as it's entirely possible to see your boss having a hot dog and a beverage just a few rows in front of you. Asking if St. Louis is a baseball town is like asking if the President lives at The White House. You should really know the answer before you ask.

Don't think the youngsters will be left behind. Thousands of little leaguers will take their respective fields as well this spring. The crack of a bat at the majestic Busch Stadium in St. Louis and the ping of a bat on a little league field in Georgia make the same, sweet sound. So, the story of six-year-old Reece Holloway is both inspiring and uplifting. Reece was born with one hand and zero fear. Watch the KVUE story on the young man below (email subscribers click here).

His biggest issue is that he can't tie his shoes. Big deal. Most grown men can't either. That's why our wives buy us cool (slip-on) dress shoes. When we do have to tie our shoes, we use a double knot. Let your kids have a look at Reece's story the next time they say they can't do something or it's too hard. Reece has the will to play baseball and proves the old adage true: Where there's a will, there is indeed a way. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Poll: What is the most violent sport?

This guy has recently become the poster child for all that's wrong in sports - specifically in football.

I'm not going to re-hash stuff we already know. Gregg Williams and the New Orleans Saints are in hot water with the NFL and they'll have the coming season and beyond to figure out how to fix things. Paying players to intentionally hurt other players is wrong - period. Anyone who thinks otherwise should consider being evaluated by a mental health professional. That being said, there is an increasingly vocal crowd of football fans, commentators and players who think football is inherently violent and the Saints' situation is nothing unique. Included in the argument is the thought that football will look less like football without the violence.

Sports with a high degree of physicality have to walk a fine line. They will always have their hardcore followers. However, they must find a way to keep the die-hards happy while appealing to the mainstream. Boxing matches used to go 100 rounds or more. They were cut to 15 - then 12 for championship matches. Why? Because arguably the greatest boxer of all-time, Muhammad Ali, can't get around by himself anymore. He has become a casualty of the "wars" he had in the ring. By today's standards, Ali would have lost The Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. There's no way a modern referee would allow a fighter to get pounded on for seven rounds straight. Ali was being beaten mercilessly by a bigger, stronger opponent.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) have become more popular in recent years. UFC fighters are skilled wrestlers, strikers and martial artists. Bear in mind that what you see now is not where the sport began. Fights included hair-pulling, punching in the back of the head, and groin strikes. Yes, groin strikes were perfectly legal in the old days. Football is no different. Two old football manuevers I know were legal in my dad's day were the 'headslap' and the 'clothesline.' Former L.A. Rams great Deacon Jones would use the headslap on opposing offensive lineman. Imagine a guy like Vince Wilfork headslapping you favorite team's center. Better yet, imagine Ray Lewis delivering a clothesline to your team's running back. "Now introducing....the headless halfback...no. 32...!"  You get the picture. A sport doesn't become less of a sport by protecting the people who play it.

Given the conversation, what do you think is the most violent sport? I've constructed a poll to take the pulse of Sportsmanship Blog readers. Vote early and vote often. You can also use our Facebook comment section below to provide an opinion beyond your vote. Think about why you watch certain sports. Do you really want a guy to get hurt? Brigitte Nielsen's character from Rocky IV had an interesting quote when describing athletes: "Remember, they're sportsmen - not soldiers." Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

What is the most violent sport?
	Ice Hockey
	Soccer
	Judo
	Boxing
	Rugby
	Wrestling
	Football
	Taekwondo
	Mixed Martial Arts
	Karate
pollcode.com free polls

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Sportsmanship Scholarship can change a young life

Through 494 blog posts, you've gotten to know me. You know what I stand for and what I can't stand. You know who I love and who I don't like very much. You know where I work now and where I've worked in the past. I am my mother's baby and my father's son. I am Madelyn's husband and Madison's daddy. Sandra, Radett, Renee, and Solmonya are my sisters. My favorite cousin is Pelly. While my mom and dad didn't have any more male children - Shannon, Willie, Steve, Mike, Ernie, Marlon, Brian and Terrill are all my brothers. Now if you didn't know all of that, I think you knew most of it. What you don't know is the story of the people who made the biggest difference in my life. These people weren't my friends or family. They had no reason to care for me other than the fact that I was a kid they saw something good in. They were my teachers, principals, coaches and counselors.

My mom passed away on January 15, 1994. I was 17 and it hurt. It still hurts. I cried literally for days. I went to school the day of my mom's funeral. Why? Well, school was normal. All of my teachers and friends were there. While I got tons of hugs that day, there wasn't the overwhelming grief of being at home. My guidance counselor, Dr. Richard Eaton and my class principal, Dr. Lane Narvaez accompanied me to the funeral. When my sisters arrived, I learned that my dad had passed away as well. Dad had lived in California for several years and I didn't know he passed away the previous September. The talk had been for me to reunite with him in some way. It was not to be. I was officially an orphan. I was officially no one's child.  After a bit of bouncing around, I moved in with my sister Radett. She lived in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings and I was a Ladue student. That's a no-no. The desegregation program allowed for city to county transfer - not county to county. However, we figured it out through some creative transportation arrangements.

Not long after my mom's funeral, I was called to the college and career office. Brenda Melson was my college counselor. She asked, "Solomon, you graduate in less than six months. What do you plan to do with yourself? Are you going to college? Do you want to go to college?" I told her I did and it's what my mom wanted too. She said, "Well, there are some people who owe me a few favors." She pulled out applications from five different Missouri schools. I filled them out and she told me don't worry about the application fees. She would take care of those. Then came the efforts of the best social studies department ever assembled. Dr. Louise Losos, Lyn Fiscus, Rob Good, Eric Hahn and Jeff Kopolow made sure I stayed on the straight and narrow and kept my grades up. I had class with each of them at Ladue and they didn't abandon me in my time of grief.

Then, there was the greatest teacher of all time - Margie Stelmach. I love that lady. What you're reading today is a direct result of her teaching. She developed me as a writer and I owe every scholarship essay, grant application and blog post to her instruction. I was eventually accepted to Rockhurst University and things were falling into place - except for my finances. The financial aid package from Rockhurst worked fine and I would get into school. The problem was that I'd have no money for books, food or even clothes. Dr. Eaton and Dr. Narvaez came to my rescue again. Now they'll probably never admit it, but on Senior Awards Day, I received the Ladue Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. I never applied for the scholarship and still don't know what the criteria was for receiving it. Dr. Narvaez said something to the effect of it was awarded for pursuing post-secondary education in the face of overwhelming odds or...something. Well, there was my money for books.

I still had the issue of earning money to live on. I'd planned on finding a job once I made it to Kansas City, but job searches can take awhile. Enter Marshall Cohen - the founder of Lift For Life Gym. He was my weightlifting coach and mentor. Marshall found a job for me with a local air conditioning company. They needed strong guys to help install units and they offered full-time employment over the summer. Bingo! My summer job was set. All that was left was graduation. Pat Sanders, who taught my freshman english class and a course in black literature, called me at home one day after school. "Solomon, graduation is coming up and I wanted to know if you own a suit." Her inquiry seemed strange to me. I hadn't given much thought to what I'd wear for graduation. She continued, "My sons wore suits when they graduated and I think a young man should wear a suit on such an important day." Mrs. Sanders picked me up on a Saturday morning and took me to buy a suit. She paid for it out of her own pocket. I didn't understand then how much a suit makes a boy feel like a man. I do now.

You teach or coach a kid right now who needs help. Maybe his or her situation isn't the same as mine was - maybe it's worse. Whatever the case - you are in a position to positively affect the future of a young person. The St. Louis Sports Commission is once again offering its Sportsmanship Scholarship to a deserving St. Louis area high school senior. Scholarship candidates should be nominated for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship: honesty, integrity, civility, selflessness, kindness, compassion and class. This year's award has increased to $5,000. Go to sportsmanship.org and download the application packet. You can also read the profiles of previous winners to help guide the process. The scholarship deadline is June 15, 2012. Call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org  if you have any questions or concerns. As for me, the work of all those teachers, principals and coaches paid off in a big way. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

Rockhurst University Commencement - 1998

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President Obama assumes role as First Coach

Andy Katz of ESPN recently interviewed President Barack Obama about this year's 40th Anniversary of Title IX - the landmark legislation that increased opportunities for women in sports and education as a whole. Title IX reads, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." While Title IX makes no specific reference to sports, its legacy is based upon the impact made on the playing fields of America.

While President Obama does take a 30,000-foot view of Title IX's societal impact, Katz gets him to center on the specific effect the law has had in his household. Yes, the Commander-in-Chief of the world's largest military and the CEO of the world's largest economy is also a volunteer basketball coach for his 10-year-old daughter's team. You see, guys. We all get a turn. Watch the interview below at the 5:15 mark and see what President Obama has to say about how he tempers criticism with praise - and why love and appreciation for the kids you coach is a must (email subscribers click here).


No, I didn't coach the President up. He understands that kids are fine with hard work as long as you're pushing them forward and not pushing them down. It's not lost on him that one day he will have to "retire to the stands" and be his daughter's biggest fan. The leader of the free world knows his role and so should we. Until next time...

 Be a Good Sport!

 -Sol

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Hockey nonsense continues...

I'm sure someone will comment and tell me that I just don't get hockey. "Sol, you don't know the game." You're right. I don't know the game and I don't understand it. There are just a couple of games left in the NHL regular season and Pittsburgh met Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon in a playoff preview. The third period descended into utter madness - even by hockey standards. Check out the chaotic scene in the video below (email subscribers click here).



Hockey is played on the most unforgiving surface in all of sports with arguably the most dangerous equipment - sticks in hands and blades on feet. When you allow fighting in non-combat sports, this is what you get. Forgive my Outsiders movie reference, but the game looked like a bad re-take of a rumble between the Greasers and the Socs. Since it was played on a Sunday afternoon, I'm sure plenty of kids saw the melee. What happens when they emulate pro behavior on the youth level? I know. We'll tell them to do as I say and not as I do. The breakdown of the third period debacle and the number of penalties are listed below. What a mess.

1:12 Pittsburgh	Interference – 2 min.
9:09 Pittsburgh	Slashing – 2 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 2 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Fighting – 5 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Fighting – 5 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 2 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Unsportsmanlike Conduct- 2 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 2 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 2 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Unsportsmanlike Conduct -2 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 2 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Roughing – 2 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Misconduct – 10 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Misconduct – 10 min.
18:57 Philadelphia	Delay of Game – 2 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Delay of Game -2 min.
18:57 Pittsburgh	Unsportsmanlike Conduct  - 2 min.

That's nonsense and we all know better. Hockey is a great game and it doesn't need gimmicks like playground fights to make it interesting. Let the athleticism and skill speak for the sport. There are great lessons for kids to learn from playing hockey - but only if they play hockey. Enough with the fighting already. You don't do it well and you're embarrassing yourselves. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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