April 21-27, 2013

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

We are happy to present another great batch of stories this week. It is more than encouraging that each week we are seeing such positive activity in so many parts of the sports world.

One of the stories that really captured our attention was that of the Gale sisters. These young scholar-athletes are excelling on and off the track. Though competitors in the same track event – pole vault – the two girls express support for each other that belies any sense of jealousy or spite. Each is the other’s biggest fan.

I know the feeling that the sisters share as I share that with my sibling as well, my older brother. A star athlete, wonderful doctor and overall great guy, he has always been my biggest supporter, including when I have done anything sports related. His support has always been appreciated because it has always been genuine, kind of what I envision is the situation with the Gale sisters. They sincerely want the other one to do well. That type of support is priceless.

So as we acknowledge the Gale sisters and the others in this week’s newsletter, I take this opportunity to acknowledge my brother on his birthday and hope that his daughters continue to support each other the way that the Gales and Singhs have over the years.

Please continue to send along your stories. You are both our audience and our best source of stories. Our Twitter handle is @sportsdoinggood, and you can find us at www.facebook.com/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@sportsddoinggood.com. (If you do not want to receive the newsletter anymore you can use the Unsubscribe button at the end of the email)

So enjoy. And have a good week.

All I Could Ask For. ESPN’s Mike Greenberg recounts the inspirational experiences from his book tour
I live most of my life in the world of sports, where we can tell which team someone plays for by the uniform. What I learned on my book tour is that the breast cancer community has uniforms, too. They’re pink, they’re usually T-shirts, and they’re all a little different from each other. But the one thing they have in common is they are all strong.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/shows/mikeandmike/story/_/id/9201456/all-ask-for

On tour with his new book, Mike Greenberg discovered the breast cancer community has uniforms.

College Track Athlete Ends Career to Donate Bone Marrow to Leukemia Patient
Lyle would love, as any athlete would, to extend his playing days. It’s rare that someone who has competed for much of his life walks away completely fulfilled. However, these extraordinary circumstances make this finale easy to embrace. Lyle even mentioned that he never really gave it a second thought, saying, “I knew right away I was definitely going to donate.”
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1614801-college-track-athlete-ends-career-to-donate-bone-marrow-to-leukemia-patient

Stricken boy’s dream comes true, thanks to clever photographer; Luka,12, has muscular dystrophy, but photos show him enjoying various activities
Luka, 12, can’t ride a skateboard, go diving, shoot a basketball, stand on one hand while breakdancing, or even climb a set of stairs, but he can certainly picture himself doing these things, thanks to a clever photographer in Slovenia who made a dream come true.
http://www.grindtv.com/lifestyle/in-style/post/stricken-boys-dream-comes-true-thanks-to-clever-photographer/

Identical Gale twins’ only pole vault rivals in Florida are each other
As reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, both sisters suffer from a disease called Common Variable Immune Deficiency, a very rare condition marked by low levels of serum immunoglobulins. In other words, the sisters have a rare case of antibody deficiency. The condition led to serious health concerns for both sisters, with Emily requiring surgery for a hole in her heart following her sophomore year and Amanda requiring advanced treatment that included antibody infusions and antibiotic therapy three times per week.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/identical-gale-twins-only-pole-vault-rivals-florida-102924784.html

Major League Baseball taking kids out to see “42?
Major League Baseball and its 30 teams plan to take thousands of teenagers to see the Jackie Robinson film “42.” … Teams will chose students from the eighth grade to the 12th grade in the United States and Canada for private screenings in their cities.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/22/major-league-baseball-taking-kids-out-to-see-42/

John Tavares: A Lacrosse Star Who Is a Math Teacher First
Uncle John is named John Tavares, too. He is a 44-year-old math teacher at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, where he has taught algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus to students in Grades 9 through 12 since 1998. He is also the highest-scoring player in the history of indoor lacrosse.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/sports/john-tavares-uncle-of-islanders-star-also-knows-how-to-find-the-net.html?emc=eta1&_r=0

Brendan Bannon for The New York Times

USA, Iran wrestling teams to compete in historic event in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 19 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Sponsoring the “United 4 Wrestling” event in Los Angeles is the Semnani Family Foundation, an international humanitarian organization based in Salt Lake City and founded by Khosrow Semnani, a prominent Iranian-American philanthropist. “For hundreds of thousands of Iranian-Americans – in L.A. and beyond – the `United 4 Wrestling’ event offers a chance to celebrate and defend wrestling as an Olympic sport and tradition.”
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=26389

Joe Frazier statue funding goal reached
“Joe Frazier was a blue-collar fighter in a blue-collar town,” Hopkins said. “He was born in South Carolina, but he represented Philadelphia. He fought with courage, he fought with heart.  “He won an Olympic gold medal, he won the heavyweight championship, he’s a Hall of Famer.
http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-25/sports/38793253_1_joe-frazier-oldest-fighter-hopkins

Joe Frazier, connecting against Muhammad Ali with his famous left hook that Bernard Hopkins believes should be bronzed.

Scott Fujita signs with Saints from Andes, retires
Fujita signed his contract in Machu Picchu, which is located in the Andes Mountains in Peru. He’s there with former Saints teammate Steve Gleason, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9200018/scott-fujita-signs-new-orleans-saints-andes-mountains-retires

Scott Fujita signed his one-day contract to retire as a Saint from Machu Picchu, which is located in the Andes Mountains in Peru.

Timbers, MLS WORKS, Continental Tire Launch Earth Day Service Project at Hosford Middle School April 22
MLS WORKS, Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, and the Portland Timbers today announced the awarding of a solar panel installation and environmental beautification to Hosford Middle School in Southeast Portland as part of the MLS WORKS/Continental Tire “How Green Are Your Goals?” contest.
http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2013/04/timbers-mls-works-continental-tire-launch-earth-day-service-project-hosford-middle-scho

THE NEXT 10 STORIES

10 IPHONE APPS TO HELP YOU TRAIN FOR YOUR FIRST MARATHON
iPhone’s ever resourceful app developers have created some amazing software that delivers professional training right to your handset. These 10 apps will put you through your paces in preparation for your first marathon, so that when you get to the starting line you’re prepared to go the distance.
http://www.kenneymyers.com/blog/10-iphone-apps-to-help-you-train-for-your-first-marathon/

Cats show sportsmanship to help rivals field a team
Coach Lionel Lee said North Shore was short of numbers and instead of claiming the win, Gympie helped out and had a great game of footy. “Our priority is to ensure that as many players as possible can enjoy the game of AFL,” he said. “Our players helped form a side with the Jets and played a full match under normal rules.”
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/cats-extend-helping-hand/1839083/#.UXbRjoqGc3o.email

Gympie Cats players scream their war cry at the end of the game.

Total Football : Connect The Dots “My Angels Academy”
In this episode of Connect The Dots we take a look at one of the best footballing programs in Delhi, My Angel Academy, where football is more than just a game but a way of life. We at Total Football over the past year have tried to make an inquiry into the current state and development of football in India in this process we have come across various stories which prove there is a bright future for football in this country.
Video – http://youtu.be/ahC8TiJ4BR0

Tampa General and USF Health open new Bariatric Center
The HOPE Program is a comprehensive obesity research initiative designed to promote healthy lifestyles and weight-management among former professional football players. These former players, when compared to smaller-sized men, are more likely to have cardiovascular problems and other health issues associated with being overweight. The HOPE Program was launched in October 2012 at Temple University Hospital.
http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/blog/2013/04/22/tampa-general-and-usf-health-open-new-bariatric-center/

Dr Joseph Diaco, Tampa Bay Bucs team doctor for 33 years; Hiram Green, director of USF Health Community Engagement; USF President Judy Genshaft; Jerry Bell, former NFL player and president of the Tampa Chapter of the NFL Players Association; Tyrone Keys, former NFL player; and Dr. Arthur (Archie) Roberts, former NFL player, retired cardiothoracic surgeon and founder of Living Heart Foundation/HOPE (Heart Obesity Prevention Education).

Philadelphia Flyers set record with 50/50 drawing to benefit Boston bomb victims
The Flyers announced that Tuesday night’s 50/50 will benefit The One Fund Boston, which helps people affected by the Boston bombings. In addition to the 50/50 jackpot, jerseys worn by the Flyers for the game are being auctioned off. The proceeds earned will also benefit The One Fund Boston.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/Philadelphia_Flyers_set_record_with_highest_5050_drawing_to_benefit_victims_of_Boston_bombings.html

The Flyers set a record for highest 50/50 jackpot during a game Tuesday against the Bruins to benefit victims of the Boston bombings. (Matt Slocum/AP)

NHL Green, Sterling Planet to reduce environmental impact associated with the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs
“The NHL’s commitment to environmental stewardship is extraordinary,” said NRDC Senior Scientist Allen Hershkowitz. “The League is financing watershed restoration, recovering food for donations and promoting measurements of energy, water, and waste at all NHL arenas.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=667043

Italian Soccer Legends Bring 2013 Summer Youth Camps to United States with Red Card Cancer
Italian soccer legends Alessandro “Billy” Costacurta and Paolo Taveggia will join Red Card Cancer to announce the formation of a new national partnership to bring awareness of cancer research and promote a series of summer youth soccer camps hosted by Champions International Camps. Mini soccer clinic for pediatric patients and families to be hosted directly following the remarks.
http://www.redcardcancer.org/pages/soccer-summer-camps-2013-miami-seattle-baltimore-los-angeles-CIC.html

WE ARE GOLF Returns to Capitol Hill for National Golf Day; Coalition Meets with Congress to Share Game’s Economic, Environmental, Health and Charitable Benefits to Millions of Americans
In November 2012, the golf industry announced the game’s charitable impact is approximately $3.9 billion per year. As a fundraising vehicle, the game includes an estimated 12,000 golf facilities, 143,000 events, 12 million participants and raises $26,300 average per function. Golf’s annual philanthropic contributions are more than the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB combined.
http://wearegolf.org/national-golf-day-2013

American Red Cross Recognizes Its Blood Donors and Supporters at Richmond International Raceway
The vintage blue paint scheme asks racing fans to give blood and thanks its loyal supporters and donors who help keep the nation’s blood supply stable with regular blood donations. The Red Cross provides about 40 percent of America’s blood supply and the recent events in Boston and Texas show the importance of our nation’s blood supply.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/dc-american-red-cross-idUSnPNCG02167+1e0+PRN20130425

NBA to help in earthquake relief efforts in China
NBA announced Thursday that NBA teams and players will donate one million yuan to support earthquake relief efforts in Southwest China. The contributions will be delivered to the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) through the league’s global social responsibility program, NBA Cares, to aid victims and their families of Lushan, Sichuan province in disaster relief and rebuilding efforts.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-04/25/c_132339650.htm