Sports Doing Good Newsletter #347

Welcome to week three hundred and forty-seven of the Sports Doing Good newsletter. This week’s 10 stories include:

  1. London Marathon launches virtual mini event to get children active (Sport Industry Group)
  2. How Did the NBA Overlook One of the Best Shooters in Basketball? (The Ringer)
  3. “My Entire Life Had Been Building Up To The 2020 Olympics”: How Team GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson Rediscovered Her Purpose (Vogue)
  4. Hector Bellerin joins Forest Green Rovers (FGR.co.uk)
  5. 10 Black starting quarterbacks in Week 1 marks the most in NFL history (USA Today)
  6. New IOC guide to make sustainability “business as usual” for the Olympic Movement (Olympic.org)
  7. Andre Iguodala on Activism and the N.B.A. (New Yorker)
  8. At N.Y.U., Explaining an Unraveling World Through Basketball (New York Times)
  9. St. Louis City sets MLS record for season-ticket deposits (SportBusiness)
  10. NASCAR becomes first league partner of AGA’s ‘Have a Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.’ Campaign (NASCAR.com)

10+    Up2Us Sports recognized by President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition as a NYSS Champion to Promote Participation in Youth Sports (Up2Us Sports)https://www.up2us.org/blog/2020/9/17/up2us-sports-recognized-by-presidents-council-on-sports-fitness-amp-nutrition-as-a-nyss-championsm-to-promote-participation-in-youth-sports  We Can’t Just Stick to Football (by Matthew Stafford) (The Players’ Tribune)https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/matthew-stafford-detroit-lions-nfl-racial-injustice
Skateistan: Supporting refugees through skateboarding and education (Sport and Dev) https://www.sportanddev.org/en/article/news/skateistan-supporting-refugees-through-skateboarding-and-education  After school, Burundian children practice peace through sport (Peace and Sport)https://www.peace-sport.org/news/after-school-burundian-children-practice-peace-through-sport/
Comic Relief, Z Zurich Foundation and Chivas Join Sport for Good Response (Beyond Sport)http://www.beyondsport.org/press-releases/sport-for-good-response-fund-supports-organisations-across-18-countries/  We present again our “Featured Video” offering(s). With the explosion of video content out there highlighting the good in sport, we want to showcase such content for your enjoyment and learning. This will be an ongoing effort.  Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Indian ex-street vendor set to make IPL debut (CNN.com) https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2020/09/17/yashasvi-jaiswal-rajasthan-royals-indian-premier-league-cricket-spt-intl.cnn/video/playlists/international-sport-playlist-general-videos/  From Somalia to Wembley: The trailblazing referee told that football ‘is a man’s game’ (CNN.com)https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/02/football/jawahir-roble-referee-uefa-cmd-spt-intl/index.html  Ireland Lacrosse CEO Michael Kennedy on Withdrawing From The World Games (FTFNext.com)https://www.ftfnext.com/videos/lsn-interview-ireland-lacrosse-ceo-michael-kennedy-on-withdrawing-from-the-world-games 

Introduction 

I want to start off by making you aware of two events coming up in October that are certainly worth your attention. The Aspen Institute Project Play Summit 2020, October 13-16https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/summit Sports Philanthropy World 2020, October 26-27https://sportsphilanthropynetwork.org/2020-sports-philanthropy-world/    I am sensing an uncomfortable trend in this very uncomfortable year of 2020, and that is the loss of some great people. It happens all the time, of course, but with the pandemic continuing on, these losses are especially impactful as we as a society are looking for positive things to hold onto in a time of pain and uncertainty. In my recognition of those who passed away in the previous issue, I, not surprisingly, dealt with sports figures. But this week, as I did earlier with Congressman John Lewis, I am moved to acknowledge a non-sports figure who in her own ways, had an impact on many involved in the world of sports. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away last week at the age of 87. Not known as a major sportswoman or fan of sports, Justice Ginsburg nonetheless motivated many in the world of sports. And that was because Justice Ginsburg was a champion of equal rights, especially for women. Her record of efforts before and after her time on the court is legendary and can’t be recounted here in a couple of sentences. But it is safe to say she made a huge difference. The fight for equality for many continues today, again, women being a big part of that fight. Ginsburg’s understated brilliance showed that outlandish words and actions were not going to win the day but rather logical reasoning and discourse and a commitment to a long and ongoing effort, were the best ways to go and get others to join the fight. One of her most popular quotes is, “”Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” We are seeing that today, especially with young people. They show a sense of understanding of and appreciation for Ginsburg, and a John Lewis, by making their voices heard. In the last decade of her life, Justice Ginsburg became somewhat of a pop icon. Scratch that, she was a pop-icon. When you get an impression of you on Saturday Night Live that actually lauds and praises you, versus ridicules you, you are a baller, and yes, Ginsburg was a baller. With perhaps the greatest nickname ever, “The Notorious RBG” brought her brilliance to a wider audience by acknowledging the fun people had with her celebrity. But her iconic status, while lifted by the fun stuff, was grounded by her lifelong fight for justice, equal rights for all, and a respect for the power of respectful discourse. She will be missed. I want to provide links to two excellent articles about Justice Ginsburg and her connection to sports, one by Sarah Spain and the other by Sally Jenkins. Spain –https://www.espn.com/espnw/voices/story/_/id/29959652/thank-justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-inspiring-quests-equality-sports Jenkins –https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/22/ruth-bader-ginsburg-billie-jean-king/ And finally, while we are obviously saddened by the passing of Justice Ginsburg, I want to leave you with a video that I guarantee will leave a smile on your face. It shows Ginsburg being brilliant, funny, and yes, a badass athlete. “Stephen Works Out With Ruth Bader Ginsburg”https://youtu.be/0oBodJHX1Vg   

Please continue to send along your stories. You’re both our audience and best source of stories. Our Twitter handle is @sportsdoinggoodand you can find us at www.facebook.com/sportsdoinggood and on Instagram

Top Stories of the Week

London Marathon launches virtual mini event to get children active (Sport Industry Group)  For full story, please click here.

How Did the NBA Overlook One of the Best Shooters in Basketball? (The Ringer)  For full story, please click here.

“My Entire Life Had Been Building Up To The 2020 Olympics”: How Team GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson Rediscovered Her Purpose (Vogue)   For full story, please click here.

Hector Bellerin joins Forest Green Rovers (www.fgr.co.uk)  For full story, please click here.

10 Black starting quarterbacks in Week 1 marks the most in NFL history (USA Today)   For full story, please click here.

New IOC guide to make sustainability “business as usual” for the Olympic Movement (Olympic.org)   For full story, please click here.

Andre Iguodala on Activism and the N.B.A. (New Yorker)  For full story, please click here.

At N.Y.U., Explaining an Unraveling World Through Basketball (New York Times)  For full story, please click here.

St. Louis City sets MLS record for season-ticket deposits (SportBusiness)  For full story, please click here.

NASCAR becomes first league partner of AGA’s ‘Have a Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.’ Campaign (NASCAR.com)   For full story, please click here.

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Contact Information
Sarbjit “Sab” Singh
sab@sportsdoinggood.com
516-287-7141
Associate Professor/Chairperson
Sport Management Department
Farmingdale State College