Join #TeamBigSol

This is what happened last time I ran. They told me there was food in that bag.

If you're reading this blog, you're already on #TeamBigSol. You're already connected to the best in youth sports programming and sportsmanship. Haha! Gotcha! Seriously, it's time to put our words into action. The Sports Commission is hosting the Freedom 4 Miler & Family Fun Run on Wednesday, July 4 at Soldiers' Memorial in downtown St. Louis. The four-mile race starts at 7 a.m. and the one-mile family fun run starts at 8:30 a.m.

Here's where you come in. I need #TeamBigSol to show up in great numbers. I figured it won't look so bad if I have 100 or so kids in the race with me. The kids will hide the fact that there's a fat guy in the race and one of them can call my wife when I become short of breath. I need a team of soldiers with me. This is a great fitness opportunity for you and your kids. Everyone on #TeamBigSol will receive a Freedom 4 Miler t-shirt and a free Popsicle so they can look cool and beat the heat.

As an added bonus, every kid on #TeamBigSol is eligible to sign up for the WWE Be a S.T.A.R. Anti-Bullying Rally at Kiener Plaza on July 23.  Don't waste anymore time reading this post. Call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org to register your family. I told you all bigger is better #TeamBigSol. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Where there's a Will...

St. Louis is heating up to up to record levels this summer and so is good sportsmanship. The Sportsmanship Brigade found its way to Assumption parish in South St. Louis County on Wednesday night. Green Park Lutheran and St. Simon met in a 6th grade baseball matchup. Both teams played hard and showed the utmost respect for one another on the field. However, the shining light of this game was the guy behind the plate. Will Groeller, 22, is a young umpire who shows maturity well beyond his years. Coaches and parents often view young umpires and referees as easy targets - people they can manipulate fairly easily. The coaches of both teams could have easily been the same age as Groeller's dad, but the young umpire had complete control of the strike zone and the game overall.

Maintaining order is one way to ensure kids have a positive sports experience. Parents and coaches yelling at officials and vice versa often mar youth sports. The athletes of Green Park Lutheran and St. Simon were in no such danger. Their game started and ended on-time and without incident. While some may see this as a ho-hum occurrence, the Brigade saw this as the mark of an expert game official. For that reason, the Brigade recognized Groeller for his efforts. He is an asset to the St. Louis CYC program and any parents or coaches who see him on the field should know their children are in very capable hands.

Brigade member Erica Clark with Will Groeller

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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@WWE wants #1000Strong against bullying

The 1,000th Episode of Monday Night Raw is coming to St. Louis on Monday, July 23. WWE also runs a program called Be a S.T.A.R. (Show Tolerance and Respect) which provides anti-bullying messages and programs nationwide. To coincide with the 1,000th Episode of Raw, WWE and the St. Louis Sports Commission are hosting an anti-bullying rally at Kiener Plaza in St. Louis on July 23 at 10:00 a.m. We want 1,000 kids to join us for the event and proclaim with one, loud voice that we will end bullying in our communities once and for all. WWE Superstars will be on-hand and a ticket raffle for the show will be held as well. Have a look at the WWE video below to see what the program is all about (email subscribers click here). Call 314-345-5130 or email salexander@stlsports.org for more info. #1000Strong. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Lessons from Sandusky case

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky  was convicted last week of 45 criminal counts related to child sexual abuse. Most of us know that part. What we don't know are the things we can do in our leagues and organizations that can help protect kids. A primary issue of the Sandusky case centered on reporting. Whose responsibility is it to report child abuse? The short answer is you. Yes, you - the reader of this blog. You teach and coach children. It's your responsibility. A longer answer entails a term called "mandated reporter." A mandated reporter is a person required by law to report instances of child abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. Today, we'll focus on the state of Missouri. Here is the exact language from the Missouri Department of Social Services on mandated reporting:

“When any physician, medical examiner, coroner, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, resident, intern, nurse, hospital or clinic personnel that are engaged in the examination, care, treatment or research of persons, and any other health practitioner, psychologist, mental health professional, social worker, day care center worker or other child-care worker, juvenile officer, probation or parole officer, jail or detention center personnel, teacher, principal or other school official, minister as provided by section 352.400, RSMo, peace officer or law enforcement official, or other person with the responsibility for the care of children has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, that person shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the division in accordance with the provisions of sections 210.109 to 210.183."

Two items apply to most readers of this blog and are highlighted in the text above. The language relative to teachers, principals and school officials is pretty cut and dry. However, we should pay close attention to the part which reads "other person with the responsibility for the care of children." This means you, Coach! You have the responsibility of advocating for an abused child. You have the responsibility to tell. Now, another issue with the Sandusky case had to do with who a coach or other mandated reporter should tell. Should you just tell another adult? Should you tell your boss? Maybe you should cut out the middle man and go straight to the police yourself. Again, let's see what Missouri law says:

"When a person is required to report in an official capacity as a staff member of a school facility, the person in charge shall be notified. That person in charge becomes responsible for immediately making or causing a report to be made. This is not meant to relieve anyone of their responsibility from making a report. A report may also be made to any law enforcement agency or juvenile office, although this does not take the place of making a report to CD (Children's Division)." Missouri law is clear. If you are a teacher or staff member at a school, you should first make the report to your boss. This person may be your athletic director, principal or other administrator as outlined by your district. Please do not play the Lone Ranger and have S.W.A.T. show up at your school without telling anyone. If you're a volunteer coach, you should make the report yourself. It would still be a good idea to notify league officials as well. 

Now that we know what the law says, what can we do on a more practical level? First, every coach, administrator and league official should submit to a background check. It's irresponsible and inexcusable not to have them done. There are several reputable companies that perform national background checks for around $10. If nothing else, you can require coaches to go to the local police precinct and have them run a background check. It takes all of five minutes and if your coach doesn't come back with the report, then you have your answer. Your league should also have guidelines in place for potentially questionable situations. Transporting kids to and from practices and games needs to be addressed. Is touching of any kind allowed? I don't mean the inappropriate variety. I'm talking about hugs, putting your arm around a kid or even a hi-five.

When many of us played football as kids, it would be nothing for the coach to slap us on the backside after a great play. Those forms of touching - formerly innocent and thought to be part of the game - are looked upon much differently now. Your league has to decide how best to protect its kids. Lastly, the best defense for kids is for us as parents to know who their coaches are. Get to know these men and women. Far too many parents use sports as a pseudo-babysitting service. They drop the kids off and pick them up from practices and games. Some never even bother to get out of the car nor do they even know the coach's name. Abused kids are often ones who appear alone or isolated. Your presence and positive involvement can deter a would-be abuser.

To recap, make sure your league or organization runs background checks. Have policies in place that cover situations that may place children at-risk. Get to know the people who coach your kids. And by all means, if you know or suspect a child is being abused, you need to alert the authorities. Save the following number in your phone: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Yes, save the number in your phone. We all have the numbers to our favorite pizza place saved. In saving this number, you may save a child. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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The Sportsmanship Brigade wants YOU!

The Sportsmanship Brigade is one of the most successful programs we've ever had here at the St. Louis Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Initiative. We have traveled all over the St. Louis area looking for those athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship. I'm proud to report that the rumors of the death of sportsmanship have been greatly exaggerated. It doesn't matter whether we were in Florissant, Affton, Chesterfield or Collinsville - sportsmanship is alive and well in the Gateway City.

That being said, the Brigade itself needs to grow. More and more organizations want us to come see the good things their kids are doing. This is proof our program is having an impact, but we can have a greater one. We need you and your friends to join the Sportsmanship Brigade. It's not a huge time commitment. Most youth games we attend last no more than an hour. Baseball and softball games have a 90-minute time limit. You're invited to join us for what I'm calling Brigade Basic Training. The event will take place on Thursday, July 12 at "The J" in Creve Coeur (2 Millstone Campus Dr.) beginning at 6 p.m. It will be a training sessiion for new volunteers like and a way to show appreciation for the volunteers who've been in the trenches since the beginning.

Did I mention food? Sorry, dinner will be served by Metabolic Meals - the premiere diet delivery company in the St. Louis area. Don't worry, this is real food. Big Sol doesn't do fru-fru. If you've attended our baseball or soccer clinics in the past, you are very familiar with Metabolic Meals. They're the ones who came up with the Cuban-style red beans and rice for soccer and they made all of the muffins and pastries for baseball. The best part is they use ingredients that are all-natural, all-organic and low in carbohydrates. So, cancel your dinner plans and be prepared to spend a nice evening with us.

You'll learn the purpose of the Sportsmanship Brigade and the Sportsmanship Initiative in general. We'll also tell you what to expect during a visit and provide you with the materials necessary for you to be successful. All you need to bring is a good attitude and a desire to improve the St. Louis region. Our program is needed and appreciated. Let's continue to do the right thing for young people. To register, just click here. It's the volunteer registration page for the Brigade. For the sake of clarity, this is not a recruiting event. We are not trying to persuade anyone to join. We are thanking veteran Brigade members and welcoming new Brigade members. Sportsmanship is an action word and there is much to be done. In the words of a legendary St. Louis football coach, "It's time to go to work!"

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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Olympic Day 2012

Olympic Day 2012, a set on Flickr.

On Wednesday, the Sports Commission and the Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA) celebrated Worldwide Olympic Day in St. Louis. This year, the kids took on archery, tennis and fencing. Have a look at the pictures shown here. The kids' smiles do the occasion more justice than my words ever could. A special thanks goes out to 2004 Olympian and fellow St. Louisan Shawn Bulohery for joining us in all the fun. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Twice is nice under the lights

The Sportsmanship Brigade took in its first night game on Wednesday and the 7th grade baseball teams from St. Rose and St. Sabina did not disappoint. No lead was safe as both teams traded stellar defensive plays and timely hitting. Parents were standing the entire game. Passers-by even stopped walking their dogs to see these kids. Both head coaches could be seen whispering strategy to pitchers and catchers between innings. This was youth baseball at its best. However, the Brigade couldn't help but notice an assistant coach for St. Rose. Courtney Terry wasn't concerned with the score. When asked about it by one of his players he said, "It doesn't matter what the score is. They're playing hard and we're playing hard. We need to score some runs when its our turn and play good defense in the field."

Coach Terry taught as much as he cheered. Before a St. Rose hitter went to the plate, he told each young man to "find his strike zone." Meaning, he wanted them to swing in areas where they would be most successful. Coach Terry also had words of encouragement for the St. Sabina kids as well. There was a play where a St. Sabina player hit a ground ball to third. It seemed to be an easy out, but the player hustled hard and slid into first base, beating the throw. Coach Terry used the play to teach his own team as well as congratulate the other team's player. He yelled, "Good hustle, No.3! That's how you run on EVERY play!" Courtney Terry is an excellent coach and his selection by the Brigade was an easy one.

St. Rose also had a leader on the field. He's a tremendous player and an even better teammate. From the catcher position, Blake Terry is the unquestioned leader of the St. Rose team on defense. He signaled the defensive shifts for right-handed and left-handed batters. Blake made trips to the mound to settle his pitcher - even before his coach asked him too. Between innings, Blake kept his catching gear on when he wasn't due up. Instead of sitting down and resting his legs, he was up clapping for his teammates as they went up to bat. The guy who grounded out to second got the same pat on the back as the one who scored on a double.

If the name Blake Terry sounds familiar, it should. The Brigade recognized him earlier this season in a game against St. Norbert. Check out that post here. Blake made history on Wednesday as the Brigade's first two-time winner. We figured if you catch a kid doing the same thing twice, he must be the real deal. Then, we made a startling yet obvious discovery. When Brigade members approached Coach Terry about his recognition, they asked about Blake. He said, "Well. Blake's my son." Sure, he is. A coach and father who puts team first has a player and son who puts team first. It's certainly an idea whose time has come.

Courtney and Blake Terry

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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Roger Clemens belongs in the Hall of Fame

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens was acquitted on Monday of all charges stemming from a federal case which accused him obstruction of justice and lying to Congress about using performance-enhancing drugs. Clemens is eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year. His election to the hall of baseball's greatest players should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, that's exactly what it will be...a no-brainer. The Baseball Writers Association of America decides who gets in and who doesn't and many of its members will not be swayed one iota by the Clemens verdict. See the ESPN video below (email subscribers click here).


Many writers have publicly stated that they will never vote for a guy from baseball's so-called "steroid era." This means the best players of my generation will not be recognized. I grew up in the 80s and 90s. If the players I idolized during this time are tainted, then it must mean my childhood as a baseball fan was tainted. And if you believe that, you probably also believe that Abraham Lincoln was a vampire hunter. But I digress. Clemens, Greg Maddux, and Doc Gooden were the dominant pitchers of my day. Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman and Rock Raines were the resident kleptomaniacs of baseball - they ripped off bases at-will.

At 12-years-old, I saw Jose Canseco blast a home run 482 feet into the nether regions of Toronto's Skydome. He was asked how he generated so much power. Canseco said he lifted weights. I immediately hit the floor and started doing push-ups and later begged my mom to buy my first weight set. That was 1988 and 24 years later, I still lift four times a week. I know some of you are wondering how I can support guys who allegedly cheated the game. My blog is about sportsmanship and using performance-enhancing drugs is clearly cheating. What message am I sending to kids?

First, forget all you think you know about performance-enhancing drugs. Most of the public (including media) is painfully ignorant when it comes to steroids and other PEDs. Forget the after-school specials we saw as kids with the 300lb. guy in a skull cap trying to sell steroids to the10th grader at the gym. I've lifted in hardcore dungeons and upscale wellness centers and in over two decades no one has EVER offered me drugs. The message to kids is that people don't usually offer you what you're not looking for. Moreover, the argument against certain guys getting into the Hall of Fame has very little to do with kids. It's mostly about the self-righteousness of the public and the romanticizing of numbers.

No one cares if Clemens, Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa may have done damage to their kidneys, livers or hearts. No one cares if they live shorter lives or have a lesser quality of life. They care about numbers...stupid numbers. Yes, a former math teacher said stupid numbers. They care about home run numbers and strikeout numbers and junk like that. Numbers can be manipulated to make them say anything you want. For example, 67% of the people in my immediate family have an undergraduate or advanced degree. Sounds impressive, huh? Those Alexanders are smart cookies. When you look inside the numbers, you realize that there are only three people in my immediate family and one of them doesn't start fourth grade until August.

Baseball numbers are far and away the most manipulated of all numbers. The parks are all different sizes and the wall dimensions vary tremendously. Fenway Park's Green Monster is a 37-foot high left field wall. The left field wall at Dodger Stadium is about waist-high for most grown men. The pitching mound has been raised and lowered. Pitchers have used nail files, sandpaper, pocket knives and spit to change the movement of the baseball. Some hitters have used excess pine tar and corked their bats to gain a hitting advantage. Hall of Fame pitchers Phil Niekro and Gaylord Perry have admitted to cheating much of their careers. If a pitcher has 300 wins, let him in. I say if a hitter has 500 homers or 3,000 hits, let him in. Since we care about numbers more than people, let's just close our eyes and not count them as they walk into the hall. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Today is DEADLINE DAY

That's right. June 15 has arrived.  The Sportsmanship Scholarship deadline is TODAY. If you graduated from a St. Louis area high school in 2012 and you have exhibited good sportsmanship on the field of play, then you are eligible. However your completed application must be in my hand by the end of today.  You can email your application to salexander@stlsports.org. You can fax it to 314-621-1391 or bring it by 308 N. 21st Street, St. Louis, MO. Click on the tab at the top of this page or go to sportsmanship.org to download the application if you've been a severe procrastinator. Get to work. Time is running out. Good luck to all of you. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Keep your 'Socks' on

Laurel Park in St. Peters, Mo. was the setting for a 7th grade softball game between St. Joachim & Ann (SJA) and the visiting Holy Spirit parish on Wednesday night. The trip across the historic Blanchette Bridge proved to be worthwhile for the Sportsmanship Brigade. Skill levels increase with age along with the competitive juices. Both teams really wanted to win this game. Pitching, defense and timely hitting were staples for both squads. That being said, two players for SJA didn't miss an opportunity to have a little fun.

Kammi and Emily played shortstop and second base for SJA respectively. Emily's nickname is 'Socks' because of the loud and colorful socks she wears during games. Only Kammi and Socks' cheers for their teammates were louder. The two also skipped...yes, skipped to their positions in the field at the bottom of each inning. Now, the Brigade has seen players sprint, jog, walk and even flip to their defensive positions, but skipping? We'll take it as long as the kids are having fun.

Attitudes like these don't exist in a vacuum. It was evident that the SJA coaching staff creates an atmosphere that promotes hard work, learning and fun. Coach Mike gave sound instruction from the bench and highlighted the good things his girls did on the field. There were hi-fives and supportive words after every inning. On one particular play, the SJA third baseman missed a chance at a double play. She fielded the ball cleanly, but forgot to step on the base before throwing over to first.

Rather than yell at her for not getting the double play, Coach Mike applauded her for getting the sure out at first. She nodded to her coach in acknowledgement and got back in her stance for the next play. This was an example of excellent coaching. By recognizing what she did right instead of what she did wrong, Coach Mike helped his player maintain her focus and she remained in position to help the team. Wednesday's awards were an easy SJA trifecta for the Brigade.

From L-R: Big Sol, Socks, Kammi and Coach Mike

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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Protest against special needs baseball league ends in assault

As Americans, we have the right to assemble as we wish. This allows us to attend our chosen house of worship, go to a ballgame, or stage a peaceful protest. Notice I said peaceful - which wasn't the case over Memorial Day weekend when a group of Cary, N.C. residents stood in protest against a league looking to build a new baseball field for special needs kids. Yes, you read that right. However, the madness didn't stop there. One protester assaulted the league's executive director during the gathering. Watch the WRAL-TV story below on this bizarre and disturbing situation (email subscribers click here).



My mom taught me years ago that just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should. Protesting a league benefiting special needs kids is something you can do, but it's probably not something you should do. Add the assault of the league's executive director on top of that and whatever legitimate concerns you may have had become little more than white noise. All anyone sees you as now is the group that doesn't like special needs kids and beats up those who try to help them. We should be advocates for those who create positive opportunities for children. Any issues we have should be worked out peacefully and reasonably for their sakes and ours. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Popeye is strong to the finish

You remember the old cartoon. "I'm strong to the finish, 'cause I eats me spinach. I'm Popeye the Sailor Man." I don't know if Dick 'Popeye' Drury was ever a sailor or if he even likes spinach. I do know that he is an excellent softball coach and the parents and kids at Mary, Mother of the Church (MMOC) in South St. Louis County are fortunate to have him. The Sportsmanship Brigade was on-hand Friday evening for a 6th grade game between the aforementioned MMOC and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. We found seats next to an older couple who were very quick to let us know we had arrived in the right place for sportsmanship. They are the grandparents of one of the MMOC players.

Grandma said, "You have to look at our Popeye. He's an outstanding coach." When we asked who Popeye was, she told us to look for the guy wearing the Popeye t-shirt. Of course...why didn't we think of that? Popeye had on a green t-shirt with his namesake cartoon character on the front, jean shorts and socks with sandals. His gruff exterior is a mere facade. Popeye's a softy for his team. He taught, corrected and cheered on every play for seven innings. Some coaches say they're with you, but Popeye was with his girls every step of the way. During a particularly rough inning in which St. Margaret Mary scored quite a bit, Popeye made an interesting offer to his team. He yelled, "I've got a Tootsie Roll for whoever gets the third out."

Sure enough, MMOC recorded the third out on the very next play. The player who made the catch ran over to Popeye who greeted her with a hug and a Tootsie Roll. A simple nod between Brigade members confirmed that no matter what else we saw, one award had Popeye's name on it. Our attention then turned to Coach Doug Mohesky of St. Margaret Mary. His team is very well coached and his attitude sets a great example for any coach or parent. You would've thought St. Margaret Mary had won the league championship after every inning. Mohesky met his players at the edge of the dugout every time they came off the field and gave them hi-fives and words of encouragement. He is a tremendous coach and certainly worthy of recognition from the Brigade.

Just when we thought our night was done, an 'Ally Cat' ran across our path. No, not a real alley cat, but Alyssa from MMOC. Her batting helmet reads 'Ally Cat' across the front. It's often said that players take on the personality of their coaches. There's no doubt this young lady is a Popeye disciple. When she wasn't clapping and cheering from her post at first base, she lead group cheers for her teammates from the bench. You definitely want to run into this 'Ally Cat' on the field. The Brigade decided to go into the prize vault for the third time and give that award to Alyssa. Incidentally, Alyssa's grandparents are the people who directed our attention toward Popeye in the first place. Funny how things come full-circle...even on a diamond.

From L-R: Popeye, Ally Cat and Coach Mohesky

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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Sportsmanship Scholarship Interview

I'll be on with Good-Looking, World-Famous Al McDonald on Hallelujah 1600 AM and http://www.hallelujah1600.com/main.html today at 10:15 a.m. Tune in and find out how you can get $5,000 for your graduating high school senior. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Meghan Vogel is not Harriet Tubman

Good sportsmanship stories carry a lot of emotion with them. Someone usually does something that goes beyond their set of responsibilities. The act involves great sacrifice for the person committing the act and provides great benefit for the person being helped. Good sportsmanship stories make us cry. There's a great story gaining momentum out of Ohio that will almost certainly make you cry. Arlington (Ohio) High sophomore Arden McMath was nearing the finish line of the 3,200-meter final in the Ohio Division III Track and Field State Championships last Saturday. She found herself 20 meters from the finish when her body couldn't take another step.

McMath fell to the ground completely exhausted. However, the story didn't end there. West Liberty-Salem (Ohio) High junior Meghan Vogel would not let her stay down. Vogel picked McMath up and carried her to the finish. Fox and Friends had Vogel and McMath on for an interview earlier this week. Watch the video below (email subscribers click here).



Host Steve Doocy called what happened between Vogel and McMath a "teachable moment." He's right, but did anyone teach anyone else anything? Did we tell a kid or anyone within earshot why this is a great thing...or did we just sit there and cry? You see, these moments become nothing more than a Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias, Philadelphia, or insert tear-jerker movie here if no one learns anything. If no one learns and consequently changes the way they treat others on the field, then the only one who was helped last week was McMath. The rest of us are just left on the ground in need of help.

There are several lessons here, but I want to submit three for your approval. First, winners show good sportsmanship. Meghan Vogel is a winner. She won the 1,600-meter race about an hour before running the 3,200-meter event where she encountered McMath. The prevailing wisdom used to be that good sportsmanship is about losing with dignity or being a good loser. As a result, people didn't want to be recognized for good sportsmanship because that usually means you lost. Meghan Vogel is a state champion. Winners do practice good sportsmanship.

Second, what Vogel did was not the 'extreme,' 'rare,' and 'special' act you've seen plastered all over the place. It was great and that's it. Here's why. Helping a fallen opponent is commonplace among distance runners. Three distance runners were honored at the National Sportsmanship Awards last year. The very first recipient of the Sports Commission's Sportsmanship Scholarship was a distance runner. Google 'distance runners' and 'sportsmanship 2011' and you'll come across the story of Josh Ripley. Who is Josh Ripley? Well, he's just a high school junior distance runner who carried an opponent a half-mile to get help after an injury.

Sportsmanship is part of the culture for distance runners. Vogel said if the roles were reversed, she was confident McMath would have helped her. That wasn't lip-service. It's what they do and that's the only way we're going to change the poor behavior and poor attitudes we see in sports at all levels. There has to be a culture change. The most important thing to any distance runner is finishing the race. They want to place well, but finishing is the real accomplishment. Moreover, they know their sport is so tough mentally and physically that they want everyone else to finish too. How can we instill that attitude in our respective sports?

The final lesson speaks to the title of this post and references a quote made by Vogel herself. She told the Associated Press, "It's strange to have people telling me that this was such a powerful act of kindness and using words like 'humanity.' When I hear words like that, I think of Harriet Tubman and saving people's lives. I don't consider myself a hero. I just did what I knew was right and what I was supposed to do." Tubman was one of the leaders of The Underground Railroad - a 19th-century abolitionist network designed to help slaves escape captivity and flee to free states or Canada. Vogel has the right perspective. Far too often, we place sports on too high of a pedestal.

Sports has an important place in society, but it's not life or death. We compete in games. They're not battles or wars. The people we compete against are opponents and not foes or enemies. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and sheltering the homeless are great acts of humanity. Helping someone finish the last 60 or so feet of a race is just good sportsmanship. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Cool Summer Nights

Christ Light of the Nations ballpark looked more like the old Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Friday night. Blankets, jackets and long-sleeved shirts adorned the stands as St. Norbert took on St. Rose in a 7th grade softball matchup. The temperature struggled to stay in the sixties at game time, but the Sportsmanship Brigade had no struggle at all finding good sportsmanship between these two teams. Jordan, Claire and Abby of St. Norbert were inseparable in their play and in their attitudes. Jordan is the team's catcher and a clear leader on the field. St. Norbert had a tough time with pitching during the game, but Jordan would not let her pitcher get down on herself nor would she allow her to stop competing.

Jordan was seen putting her arm around her pitcher and calming her with words of support. Claire followed Jordan's lead by working with the pitcher on her form between innings. Her attitude is as colorful as her headband. She kept her team's spirits up by yelling encouragement from her outfield position. Abby patrols the hot corner for St. Norbert. It turned into Amen Corner on Friday as every word she spoke motivated and uplifted her teammates. These three young ladies represent their parish with distinction and selecting them was a no-brainer for the Brigade.

Dave Loomis of St. Rose is a coach's coach. We really should have recorded him coaching third base. He gave firm instructions, but didn't yell at the girls. He was serious without being mean. Everyone knew he wanted to win, but he didn't display an obsession. In other words, Dave Loomis coaches kids and he acted like it. One particular play in the late innings caught the Brigade's attention. A high, fly-ball was hit to left field by St. Rose and the St. Norbert outfielder seemed poised to make the play. The ball popped in and out of her glove. She immediately threw the ball back into the infield. Coach Loomis said to her, "Way to get the ball back in. That was a tough one. It was so high up there, I'm not sure I would've caught it. Way to stay with it."

From L-R: Coach Loomis, Big Sol, Jordan, Claire and Abby

Remember, Loomis coaches for St. Rose. He said all that to a St. Norbert player. Coach Loomis gets it. Youth coaches are in place to help develop all kids. The uniform doesn't matter. When you have the opportunity to help a kid, you should. The Brigade was indeed humbled to honor Dave Loomis. 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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