Sports Doing Good Newsletter #357

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

  1. What’s Soccer Pro Crystal Dunn’s Next Chapter? Fighting For The Recognition She Deserves (Forbes)
  2. Gotta watch her: Paige Bueckers is an athlete like few others (Star Tribune)
  3. Joe Joyce: ‘The aim is to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world’ (The Guardian)
  4. Eight on eight: A collection of stories of Kobe Bryant’s impact on everyday people (The Undefeated)
  5. Major League Lacrosse agrees to PLL merger to help the sport maintain growth (SportBusiness)
  6. COVID-19 ended her track career. Now this NJ athlete is an Olympic hopeful in the bobsled (NorthJersey.com)
  7. Ali Marpet and His Unique Super Bowl Origin Story (SI)
  8. How The Professor Built a Holistic Social Revenue Strategy (Facebook)
  9. My Horse World Club: A brand for the youth, by the youth (SportBusiness)
  10. This NFL coach made diversity a priority. Now his team is headed to the Super Bowl (CNN)

10+   ESPN Launches Year Long “Black History Always” Initiative (Beyond Sport)https://www.beyondsport.org/articles/espn-launches-year-long-black-history-always-initiative/Rugby in Rio helps young Brazilians play their way out of poverty (Laureus)https://www.laureus.com/news/rugby-in-rio-helps-young-brazilians-play-their-way-out-of-povertyNHL Launches New Social Justice Education Program (Beyond Sport)https://www.beyondsport.org/articles/nhl-launches-a-new-social-justice-education-program/Peace and Sport, institutional partner of the Global Sports Week (Peace and Sport)https://www.peace-sport.org/news/peace-and-sport-institutional-partner-of-the-global-sports-week/Nike Highlight Hijab Product Playbook on World Hijab Day (Beyond Sport)https://www.beyondsport.org/articles/nike-highlight-hijab-made-to-play-playbook-on-world-hijab-day/

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.
Kobe Bryant left a lasting legacy on Los Angeles (ESPN)http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=30589026Dame Lillard Unboxing Ric Flair Collab with Adidas | UNBOXED (YouTube)https://youtu.be/VVM4iOpJj4I

Introduction

Diversity is a topic with a regular presence in Sports Doing Good newsletters. The need for diversity, efforts to bring about more diversity, the problems with no diversity, etc. And, of course, diversity can land in a variety places, on the field, in the front office, on TV, in the classroom, and in government. While we now have some diversity in all of these places, it has been a long journey, and our work is certainly not done. But one thing that is definitely helping are the successes that individuals have earned by dealing with discrimination and fighting hard to make a name for themselves, all the while creating a more welcoming environment for those who come after them. As Vice President Kamala Harris said, ““I may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won’t be the last.” There are three stories this week that speak to the challenges to stand out, to get a chance, and successes that are sure to make a difference. The first two articles deal with two exceptional female athletes, U.S. soccer player Crystal Dunn Soubrier and basketball phenom Paige Bueckers. Each, in her own way, has made women’s sports “must see TV.” It is not that women’s sports in the past did not deserve the attention. It was just it was not getting it, much of that because of narrow-minded thinking. But with the growth of women’s sports at the collegiate and pro levels, we are finally being given regular chances to see such exceptional talent, to the point that we are checking TV schedules for UConn women’s basketball and the USWNT. Will there by more Crystal’s and Paige’s? Sure there will, the same way we questioned whether there would be another Mia Hamm and Diana Taurasi, and the advances they are making for the next generations of female athletes will be seen on all of the platforms on which you get your sports. The other article that highlights diversity is our last one, involving Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians. As we all know now, the Buccaneers did not just make it to the Super Bowl, they won, and won big. At points leading up to the game, during and afterwards, there was much discussion about the makeup of the coaching staff under Arians and the front office of the Buccaneers. No other team had such a diverse workforce, with women and African-Americans in positions of real power. Why was this significant? Because in ways similar to not showcasing women’s sports, these groups have been underrepresented across the major leagues, with an appalling record in the NFL. As one of Arians’ colleagues said, “It’s not done because of an initiative. It’s who BA is and has always been. I think that’s why it works so well here is that he’s gathered individuals that he knows will benefit the organization. He has talent. He has people he can trust around him. And it doesn’t matter what we look like. He’s put together that staff because it’s people that he feels will help the team win.”Here’s to changes in thinking that lead to changes in actions. Please continue to send along your stories. You’re both our audience and best source of stories.

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So enjoy. And have a good week.

Top Stories of the Week
What’s Soccer Pro Crystal Dunn’s Next Chapter? Fighting For The Recognition She Deserves (Forbes)For full story, please click here.

Gotta watch her: Paige Bueckers is an athlete like few others (Star Tribune)For full story, please click here.

Joe Joyce: ‘The aim is to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world’ (The Guardian)For full story, please click here.

Eight on eight: A collection of stories of Kobe Bryant’s impact on everyday people (The Undefeated)For full story, please click here.

Major League Lacrosse agrees to PLL merger to help the sport maintain growth (SportBusiness)For full story, please click here.

COVID-19 ended her track career. Now this NJ athlete is an Olympic hopeful in the bobsled (NorthJersey.com)For full story, please click here.

Ali Marpet and His Unique Super Bowl Origin Story (SI)For full story, please click here.

How The Professor Built a Holistic Social Revenue Strategy (Facebook)For full story, please click here.

My Horse World Club: A brand for the youth, by the youth (SportBusiness)For full story, please click here.

This NFL coach made diversity a priority. Now his team is headed to the Super Bowl (CNN)For full story, please click here.

More About Us
Our mission is to have Sport Doing Good be a consistent, and significant, contributor to the areas of sports, social responsibility and development. We look forward to partnering with other stakeholders in producing content, in creating and/or sponsoring athletic and service events, knowledge sharing, and conferences/seminars, and even having a commercial arm that could be the source of innovative social businesses.
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Contact Information
Sarbjit “Sab” Singh
sab@sportsdoinggood.com
516-287-7141
Associate Professor/ChairpersonSport Management DepartmentFarmingdale State College