John Rodgers makes a living broadcasting baseball games for the Cedar Rapids (IA) Kernels, a Class A farm team of the Los Angeles Angels. Plenty of people benefit from his time away from the mike too.
Rodgers has spearheaded the team's community reading program for the last nine years and also gets the players to perform entertaining skits for the participants. He's also made a more direct connection with a young man named Logan as part of the city's Big Brother Big Sister program.
Rodgers doesn't just talk, he walks the walk and stands tall.
Click here to read more about the difference John Rodgers is making in his community from the official Minor League Baseball website.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Student-Athletes Rolling for Autism
The phrase "student-athlete" is grossly overused by pr flacks for the NCAA, but when I use it on this blog I mean it. An example of that is these students from Union College in Schenectady, NY.
Dan Tartar, a recent graduate from Union College, was inspired by his brother, who has behaviors in the autism spectrum, to do something to help him and others dealing with that condition. He recruited a few of his buddies, and they have set out on a 2,000 mile rollerblade journey that will cover the east coast from Florida to Maine. The funds they raise from this venture will benefit "Rolling for Autism," a non-profit organization Tartar created.
The group had lots of help planning the journey, but they still needed to train for the physically grueling excursion.
“We worked with the Union athletic staff when we started training in the fall, and tried to get an idea of what our days would be like skating and what kind of toll it would take on the body,” said Tatar. “Over the last three months we started training with low mileage. Two weeks ago, we were creeping up to 30-mile skates to really get used what we’ll be doing on the road.”
Tatar and the other main skaters expect to rollerblade approximately 30 to 50 miles per day, stopping in cities along the way to meet with various groups about programs for autism. He also expects about 100 others to join the group along their route for a little as a couple miles to as long as four weeks.
“The route we constructed is one that we could work with the most organizations throughout different cities and see what we’re they are doing for autism,” said Tatar.
Click here to read the entire story on the NCAA's official website.
Dan Tartar, a recent graduate from Union College, was inspired by his brother, who has behaviors in the autism spectrum, to do something to help him and others dealing with that condition. He recruited a few of his buddies, and they have set out on a 2,000 mile rollerblade journey that will cover the east coast from Florida to Maine. The funds they raise from this venture will benefit "Rolling for Autism," a non-profit organization Tartar created.
The group had lots of help planning the journey, but they still needed to train for the physically grueling excursion.
“We worked with the Union athletic staff when we started training in the fall, and tried to get an idea of what our days would be like skating and what kind of toll it would take on the body,” said Tatar. “Over the last three months we started training with low mileage. Two weeks ago, we were creeping up to 30-mile skates to really get used what we’ll be doing on the road.”
Tatar and the other main skaters expect to rollerblade approximately 30 to 50 miles per day, stopping in cities along the way to meet with various groups about programs for autism. He also expects about 100 others to join the group along their route for a little as a couple miles to as long as four weeks.
“The route we constructed is one that we could work with the most organizations throughout different cities and see what we’re they are doing for autism,” said Tatar.
Click here to read the entire story on the NCAA's official website.
Red Sox' Jon Lester Regaining Control
His pitches aren't always finding the strike zone as often as he would like, but things could be a lot worse for Jon Lester. He was a 22-year old rookie with the Boston Red Sox last year when he received some chilling news. Lester was diagnosed with cancer cells in his groin, lung, and collarbone along with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"After about five minutes, I figured it was time to start fighting," Lester says. "It has always been a pet peeve of mine when people feel sorry for themselves. I took the same approach as if I don't pitch good. I'm not going to go through all that B.S. of trying to analyze things. I'm just going to go out in five days and do better." Or, in this case, get better.
Lester went through six chemotherapy treatments and was declared cancer free in December. Click here to read the Sporting News story about his comeback efforts.
"After about five minutes, I figured it was time to start fighting," Lester says. "It has always been a pet peeve of mine when people feel sorry for themselves. I took the same approach as if I don't pitch good. I'm not going to go through all that B.S. of trying to analyze things. I'm just going to go out in five days and do better." Or, in this case, get better.
Lester went through six chemotherapy treatments and was declared cancer free in December. Click here to read the Sporting News story about his comeback efforts.
The Faith of a Winner
Tamika Catchings has an overflowing trophy case. She has won the 2000 ESPY award for the College Player of the Year, the 2000 Naismith National Player of the Year award, the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year trophy, a 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medal and the 2005 and 2006 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards.
It has not been an easy path for her, however. She was born with a hearing loss (she still wears a hearing aid) which caused her to develop a speech impediment. After being severely introverted during her youth, she matured into one of the international stars of women's basketball.
Sharing the Victory posted an interview with Catchings where she discussed her faith and how that was the foundation for her growth as an athlete and, more importantly, as a person.
Click here to read the interview.
It has not been an easy path for her, however. She was born with a hearing loss (she still wears a hearing aid) which caused her to develop a speech impediment. After being severely introverted during her youth, she matured into one of the international stars of women's basketball.
Sharing the Victory posted an interview with Catchings where she discussed her faith and how that was the foundation for her growth as an athlete and, more importantly, as a person.
Click here to read the interview.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
