June 2 – 8, 2013

Welcome to week sixty-two of the Sports Doing Good newsletter.

I was asked recently how Sports Doing Good fits into the world of sport and development. In other words, “Why do it?” and “What is the ultimate purpose?” While I was able to give an answer, I believe I heard it given even more passionately by two other individuals, Up2Us founder Paul Caccamo and basketball legend and author, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

At Up2Us’s inaugural gala in New York City this week, Paul spoke to the sold-out room about launching a movement, about being part of the solution for many ills that impact our young people, and by extension, all of our society. “That’s it” I thought, Sports Doing Good wants to be part, an important part, of a movement. Shortly after, Kareem, who was being honored by the organization, spoke about people he looked up to, referring to jazz legend Louis Armstrong, specifically his stance in opposition to President Eisenhower with regard to the integration of Central High School. Kareem talked about the courage it takes to fight for a cause, especially in the face of major opposition. It got me thinking about so many others, in and out of sports, who took such positions. Their story needed to be told. “That’s also it” I thought. We want to help give a voice to those fighting to make a difference in the lives of others, especially through sports.

Whatever the reason or reasons, we are happy that each week there are more individuals to feature (Eddie Nogay), more events to publicize (Next Step Fitness’s 5th Annual Gala in New York City), and more obstacles being overcome (Saudi Arabia inaugurates first sports complex for women).

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.

Inspiring one-armed volleyball player passes away, but not until after one final fight and promise
Nogay gained national attention in April, when he began competing on the Fort Hamilton boys volleyball team with only his left arm. His right arm had been amputated below the shoulder after a sarcoma was found in his right elbow in fall 2012, but he refused to stop competing in volleyball, and persisted through the entire 2013 season despite two collapsed lungs, even returning from a forced medical respite to score the first point of Fort Hamilton’s city playoff opener and eventually lead the team to the city quarterfinals.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/inspiring-one-armed-volleyball-player-passes-away-not-214743624.html
Video – http://youtu.be/Q1dbe-L_lXg

Carnegie Exclusive Interview: Dorell Wright of the NBA
“The D. Wright Way foundation was founded by myself, my girlfriend Mia Lee, and my mother Stacy Wright.  Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, the heart of LA’s inner city, I know what struggle looks like. Without the continuing guidance of my parents Stacy and Ray Wright, I could have easily ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. I feel like it’s my duty as someone who “made it out,” to be a source of hope and help.”
http://carnegiese.tumblr.com/post/52183176313/carnegie-exclusive-interview-dorell-wright

NextStep’s 5th Annual “Help Make a Difference” Benefit, June 19, New York, NY
Founded in June of 2008, NextStep is celebrating its five year anniversary and the organization’s expansion to N.Y. NextStep and Stony Brook University announced a partnership that will bring the only fitness and wellness facility whose primary focus is on people with paralysis in N.Y. State.
http://fanfueled.com/Event/Details/5448-nextsteps-5th-annual-help-make-a-difference-benefit-new-york-ny/?created=1

Iba Awards honor Adrian Peterson, Swin Cash for charitable work
The Iba Awards (named in honor of a former Oklahoma State and three-time U.S. Olympic basketball coach) were created to shine a spotlight on athletes who excel in their sport and who show, by their actions, a desire to help others. Peterson and Cash each received $15,000 donations to their charitable foundations because they joined the list of Iba Award recipients.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/printerfriendlystory.aspx?articleid=20130604_223_B1_CUTLIN122906

Draft prospects Smith, Crawford hoping to go from Urban Youth Academy (UYA) to MLB
While Southern California is obviously not a new hotbed of talent, one important commonality between these two prospects is that they spent summers training at Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in Compton, which provides baseball and softball training and educational programs year-round and free of charge. Smith also played extensively in MLB’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130603/dominic-smith-jp-crawford-jeremy-affeldt/#ixzz2VC60YASC

TriplePlayNewMedia/ZumaPress.com

In Georgia Town, Hints of More Diverse Future for Major Leagues
But the hint of hope for a more diverse future can be seen here in a high school in east metropolitan Atlanta with an enrollment that is 98 percent black. Baseball is one of its best sports. A week ago, the Raiders were acclaimed as the first all-black team from the Atlanta area to win a state championship since schools here were integrated.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/sports/baseball/roots-in-the-game-grow-strong-in-georgia.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

(Raymond McCrea Jones for The New York Times); James Phillips, right, whose son Brandon plays for the Reds, instructed Thomas Parker at Phillips’s equipment-filled training center.

San Antonio Spur Kawhi Leonard’s quiet drive
Maybe that’s what keeps Leonard focused like a microscope: the fear of where else his mind could go. In high school, you could find him shooting jumpers at 11 at night in the school gym. At San Diego State, he was relentless about improving, leaving home at 5 every morning to work out before class. Says his agent, Brian Elfus: “In 14 years in the business, he’s the most dedicated guy I’ve ever been around.”
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/9341509/kawhi-leonard

Saudi Arabia inaugurates first sports complex for women
Before the centre opened, women’s sport in the kingdom had been virtually non-existent, although some young girls do take part in sporting activities at private schools under certain conditions. Last year, Riyadh came under international pressure to allow two female athletes to compete in the Olympic Games in London.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=59206

Stacy Lewis: Scoliosis hasn’t stopped top female golfer
I was an 11-year-old girl with my heart set on playing golf when my scoliosis was diagnosed by my orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gary Brock. My biggest challenge was wearing a brace for the next seven years. I wore that brace for 18 hours a day, only taking it off when I played golf. Golf became my escape.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/06/health/human-factor-lewis/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13

UN chief urges teamwork, power of sports, to help build peaceful, prosperous future
Mr. Ban highlighted various initiatives throughout the UN system, which have embraced sports as a way to reach their goals. For example, UN peacekeeping operations use sport as a tool for peacebuilding and reconciliation and the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have sports and education programmes that promote tolerance and understanding among displaced children and youth.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45085&Cr=sports&Cr1#.UbC4V9j4JgF

THE NEXT 10 STORIES

Green Sports Alliance Experiences Continued Growth in Second Year
The Alliance continues to attract interest from a wide range of sports organizations. With the past year’s growth, the Alliance’s membership now includes nearly two thirds of MLB, half of NHL, and one third of NFL teams and venues, in addition to dozens of other members from the NBA, NCAA and several minor leagues. Alliance members come from 15 different leagues in total.
http://greensportsalliance.org/green-sports-alliance-experiences-continued-growth-in-second-year-2/

Soccer Without Limits (SWOL’s) Fight Against Racism – Miami Beach 2013
This summer, we are hosting an event in Miami, Florida that will see some of the world’s biggest stars come together to help raise awareness for the Fight Against Racism. A 2 v 2 Brazilian Footvolley tournament will take place on the beach pitting some of football’s most talented personalities against one another. Our goal is not only to bring awareness to the issue, but also to help eliminate it completely.
http://soccerwithoutlimits.com/far/

South Africa: Black Aces Strike ‘School of Football Partnership’ With Manchester City
The hope is that through shared learning, Black Aces coaches will be empowered to transfer their newly obtained skills and knowledge back into their local communities, thus leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. The football programmes will offer children the chance to improve and develop their football and educational skills in a fun and challenging environment.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201306040142.html

Celebrating Lombardi’s 100th: Top NFL coaches by the decade
It’s extremely rare that the football world celebrates the 100th birthday of a dead man but that’s how important, remarkable, vital, historic and downright gorgeous the life and legacy of Vince Lombardi was. He was born June 11, 1913 and his 100th birthday is being celebrated even now — with Lombardi, the party starts early.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/22327888/celebrating-lombardis-100th-top-nfl-coaches-by-the-decade

Vince Lombardi won championships and came to embody the virtues of the sport. (USATSI)

Muhammad Ali by Adidas apparel line to debut in 2014
Initially focusing sales in the U.S., European and Australasian markets, the collection will be made available to the public in the months following IPSO via boxing and sport specialty stores, Adidas own brand stores and a dedicated e-commerce website. The products will consist of high performance technical apparel, footwear and boxing equipment, with the footwear bearing a redesign of the famed white & red color combination worn by Ali in 1974.
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/img-worldwide-inc/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=146851

Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation Donates $50,000 to Playworks Washington D.C.
Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that transforms schools by providing play and physical activity at recess and throughout the school day. Its mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Playworks currently partners with 13 public and public charter schools in Washington, D.C., serving 3,650 students each day. To launch the partnership MSE Foundation hosted the Playworks Washington D.C. Junior Coach Leadership Conference at Verizon Center on May 31, for 130 Junior Coaches from 13 Playworks Washington D.C. partner schools.
http://www.nba.com/wizards/monumental-sports-entertainment-foundation-donates-50000-playworks-washington-dc

Coach Chip Kelly of the Philadelphia Eagles enjoys giving back to community
The Eagles held the 17th annual Playground Build and Play 60 Challenge Field Day Wednesday at the WD Kelley School in North Philadelphia. The entire organization, including some 300 employees and owner Jeffrey Lurie, showed up to help paint and build. Players happily interacted with students and signed autographs.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nfl/2013/05/30/chip-kelly-enjoys-giving-back-to-community/

NFL Play 60 Character Camps to be held in Twelve Cities This Summer
The mission of the camps is to make a positive impact on youth through teaching football skills, emphasizing exercise, and reinforcing the importance of character in athletics and life. The program will work in collaboration with USA Football and its FUNdamentals curriculum, which introduces children to football by teaching basic skills in a non-contact setting.
http://nflcommunications.com/2013/06/05/nfl-play-60-character-camps-to-be-held-in-twelve-cities-this-summer/

New helmet-mounted sensor aims to combat the dangers of concussions in football
To combat SIS cases, researchers are turning to a helmet-mounted brain sensor. The device, which alerts medical personnel that a player needs prompt evaluation for concussion symptoms, was used in an AFL scrimmage between Jacksonville and Orlando earlier this spring.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865581123/New-helmet-mounted-sensor-aims-to-combat-the-dangers-of-concussions-in-football.html

Cartoon Network Launches 4th Annual ‘Move It Movement Tour’
Presented in a themed, exciting and fun outdoor environment, the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR will feature multiple activity and learning stations, incorporating such additional core partner organizations as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), NBA/WNBA FIT & NBA Hoop Troop, NFL PLAY 60 and The PGA of America.
http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/Cartoon-Network-Launches-4th-Annual-Move-It-Movement-Tour-20130530