Sports Doing Good Newsletter, #26

Sept. 17 – Sept. 23, 2012

Welcome to week twenty-six of the Sports Doing Good newsletter.

We rarely, if ever, have multiple stories from or regarding a particular person, organization, team or event. We are fortunate to be able to pick from a plethora of stories that speak to a wide variety of good being performed all around the world. However, this week we do have a couple of instances where “two for the price of one” comes to mind. The good folks at Peace and Sport and Street Soccer USA take their rightful place in the spotlight. Their programs and events are top notch and set the bar for anyone looking to marry the brilliance of sport with help for their fellow or woman.

We, of course, have stories dealing with a new movie (The Other Dream Team), great current and former athletes (Steve Smith, Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O’Neal, Keith Hernandez),  compelling events (Peace and Sport Forum, Blogs with Balls, Black Tie Soccer Game), media (Peace and Sport Image of the Year contest, Who Am I documentary), organizations (“Beisbol por la Paz”, Street Soccer USA, Kids Foot Locker and the American Heart Association, Marly’s Mission, ANTA Sports), people (Lawrence Cann), and teams (FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Al Sadd Sports Club)

Please continue to send along your stories. You are both our audience and our best source of stories. Our email address is sab@sportsddoinggood.com and our Twitter handle is @sportsdoinggood. Finally, if you think others would like to receive the newsletter, please feel free to forward it on or have them contact us directly at sab@sportsdoinggood.com. (If you do not want to receive the newsletter anymore you can use the Unsubscribe button at the end of the newsletter.)

So enjoy. And have a good week.

Fun Doing Good:

Release of the compelling movie, The Other Dream Team
The Other Dream Team is the amazing story of the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team, a group of trailblazing athletes who won the bronze at the Barcelona Olympics and left an indelible mark on the history books. http://otherdreamteam.thefilmarcade.com/ Trailer at http://youtu.be/e0I2_FZM86M.

Athletes Doing Good

Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver, Washes Homeless People’s Feet, Gives Out Shoes (video)
After spending years getting roughed up on the field, many NFL players look forward to a comfortable retirement that involves relaxing on a beach and maybe dabbling in some high-profile broadcast work. But that kind of lap of luxury isn’t for Steve Smith.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/steve-smith-helps-homeless_n_1888831.html

Muhammad Ali Goes to Mars: The Lost Interview
It was in the summer of 1966 when a star-struck 17-year-old set out to interview his idol: Muhammad Ali. Twenty miles from the South Side of Chicago, in Glencoe, Ill., Michael Aisner was calling repeatedly to the gym where the boxing champ was training.
http://storyboard.tumblr.com/post/31793204931/muhammad-ali-goes-to-mars-the-lost-interview-it . Video interview at http://vimeo.com/49639734

Shaquille O’Neal teaches Capitol Hill about binge drinking
A modern day Renaissance man was on Capitol Hill with The Century Council last week to tackle dangerous binge drinking at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
http://www.centurycouncil.org/blog/2012/shaq-teaches-capitol-hill-about-binge-drinking

Keith Hernandez’s legendary mustache will be shaved off for charity
Former major league first baseman and current New York Mets TV analyst Keith Hernandez will have his legendary mustache shaved off for charity prior to the team’s final home game on Sept. 27, Newsday reports.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-09-20/keith-hernandez-mustache-shave-charity-seinfeld-new-york-mets

Events Doing Good:

Peace and Sport International Forum 2012: Programme
The 6th edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum will take place in the city of Sochi, Russian Federation, from 31 October to 2 November 2012, under the presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. http://www.peace-sport.org/forum-2012/peace-and-sport-international-forum-2012.html

Blogs With Balls 5 (in Toronto)
Blogs with Balls is the leading sports new media event series in the country.  BWB events have included participation and attendance from not only a wide spectrum of sport-specific websites of all sizes, but also representatives from newspapers, television and radio, and several of the most recognized national public relations, marketing and advertising firms.
http://blogswithballs.com/speakers/

4th Annual Black Tie Soccer Game (October 7)
As a tongue-in-cheek protest to the typical formal banquet fundraiser, we host our banquet on the soccer pitch and attire the players in black tie and ball gowns. It’s great fun and different, but more importantly, it raises a lot of money to support kids who deserve a chance to be successful, independent adults someday.  http://www.blacktiesoccergame.com/

Media Doing Good:

Vote for the Peace and Sport Image of the year 2012!
As part of the Peace and Sport Awards, each year, “Peace and Sport, rewards “Image of the year”, a particularly symbolic image illustrating the power of sport to reconcile and unite over and above differences.
http://www.peace-sport.org/awards-2012/vote-for-the-image-of-the-year.html

Who Am I? (Life lessons through sport)
For some it is art, for others music, but regardless of the medium there is empowerment to be found in creative engagement.
http://wcranemu.wix.com/winslowcranemurdoch#!movie/c1lsj
Video at http://vimeo.com/44996100

Organizations Doing Good:

“Beisbol por la Paz” pilot project is a proven success in Colombia
Nearly one year after “Beisbol por la Paz” was launched by the Colombian Baseball Federation in association with GIP (Grupo Internacional de Paz) the IBAF and Peace and Sport, the first results confirm the impact that sport can have on communities in crisis.
http://www.peace-sport.org/images/stories/newsletter/newsletter23_en.html#partners
Video at http://youtu.be/wpkmnPjwRiM

Street Soccer USA’s “Rule the Field” Program Creates Job Opportunities for the Homeless with a Referee Certification Course
‘Rule the Field’ is a 4-week course being provided free of charge to nearly 20 dedicated homeless soccer players and SSUSA staff through the generous support of the Eastern New York Referee Association and Help USA.  http://streetsoccerusa.org/press_and_media/RuletheField

Kids Foot Locker and the American Heart Association “Keep Kids Fit”
Kids Foot Locker is promoting its “Keep Kids Fit” campaign in-stores nationwide and on its e-commerce site, www.kidsfootlocker.com, in support of the American Heart Association, from now through October 2, 2012.
http://s.tt/1nVvZ

Hours from Penn State, children’s charity shows new way to heal
Marley’s Mission now has six therapists, 10 horses and four equine specialists. It serves approximately 80 children, at no cost to their families. On a typical Saturday morning, there are up to a dozen kids at the farm.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf–pennsylvania-charity-shows-penn-state-way-to-heal.html

Fulfilling Its Social Responsibilities with Endorsers; ANTA Sports Again Listed on Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series for the Third Consecutive Year
ANTA Sports Products Limited a leading branded sportswear enterprise in China, recently took part in charity work with its endorsers to play a part in building a better community.
http://www.4-traders.com/ANTA-SPORTS-PRODUCTS-6170948/news/ANTA-Sports-Products-Fulfilling-Its-Social-Responsibilities-with-Endorsers-ANTA-Sports-Again-List-15190805/

People Doing Good:

Goal mender: ‘Teaming’ up to aid homeless
Lawrence Cann played soccer in college and then pursued a new goal: helping the homeless score a chance at jobs and homes through sports.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/goal_mender_BfLLuR9x7aIbZpdkBRiSwL#.UFqAEtxSl7w.email

Teams Doing Good:

Ukranian club FC Shakhtar Donetsk’s social responsibility program recognized as best in Europe
The annual awards ceremony of the European Club Association (ECA) took place late on September 10. The association unites 201 leading football clubs from 53 countries in Europe. Its participants compete every year in four categories: European Club of the Year, Best Sporting Progress, Best Achievement: Football Relations, and Best Community & Social Responsibility Project.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/sport/fc-shakhtar-donetsks-social-responsibility-program-recognized-as-best-in-europe-312824.html

Al Sadd Sports Club kicks off social responsibility drive
Al Sadd Sports Club yesterday confirmed its commitment in marching forth for the betterment of the society with the launch of Qatar Stars League 2012/2013. A number of prominent players were in attendance of the launch event along with the staff of the club and local media. http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/208698-al-sadd-kicks-off-social-responsibility-drive.html