Chicago
Sports & Travel, Inc./AllsportsAmerica
Sports Quote of the Day:
"Sports do not build character. They reveal it." ~ John Wooden, UCLA Basketball Coach
Wednesday, March 27, 2013, CS&T/AA's basketball storyline read: Heat-Bulls Preview, Do the Bulls have a chance to end the streak? We'll know tonight!!!
Today's storyline: Well, we found out Wednesday night, the streaked was snapped!!!! The Bulls' win over the Heat wasn't just another regular-season game, And now, you know how today's Sports Quote of the Day ties in with the Bulls. It was all about character.
By Ricky O'Donnell
Grant Park was empty Thursday morning in Chicago just as it is most Thursday mornings. Maybe some runners and some pigeons and a few stray walkers, but nothing more. There certainly wasn't a stage and a microphone and 50,000 people wearing red and white singing the words to the Bulls-themed version of "YMCA" -- and yes, that is something that exists.
He wasn't wrong. The United Center has been a dull place this year, and for good reason. It feels like a building missing an essential part of its soul. That's the power of superstars in the NBA, and the Bulls were robbed of the one this city helped raise and nurture when Derrick Rose tore the ACL in his left knee during Game 1 of last season's playoffs. The ghost of Rose has been omnipresent throughout the Bulls' roller coaster season, and the last few days have been no different.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Ducks-Blackhawks Preview.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013, CS&T/AA's basketball storyline read: Heat-Bulls Preview, Do the Bulls have a chance to end the streak? We'll know tonight!!!
Today's storyline: Well, we found out Wednesday night, the streaked was snapped!!!! The Bulls' win over the Heat wasn't just another regular-season game, And now, you know how today's Sports Quote of the Day ties in with the Bulls. It was all about character.
By Ricky O'Donnell
Jimmy Butler dunks over the Heat's Chris Bosh in the 3rd quarter. This was the momentum game changer and where the game was actually won!!!
But you'll have to excuse Bulls fans for a moment if they might have felt compelled to show up at the South Loop park, the site of the '90s championship parades Johnny "Red" Kerr once deemed an "annual" occurrence.
Tom Thibodeau might tell you that what the Bulls did on Wednesday, defeating the Heat, 101-97, and snapping Miami's 27-game winning streak, was just another victory on the schedule, a 'W' that counts the same in the standings as one against the Timberwolves or Warriors. After all, Thibodeau wouldn't even acknowledge Miami's streak before the game. But for 48 minutes inside the United Center on Wednesday, there wasn't a single person willing to buy Thibodeau's spin.
The tension, the electricity, the never-ending desire in this city to protect Michael Jordan's throne and thwart LeBron James' path to greatness -- it all amounted to the type of atmosphere usually reserved for a critical postseason contest.
Taj Gibson said it himself after it was all over: "It felt like it was a playoff, championship game."
He wasn't wrong. The United Center has been a dull place this year, and for good reason. It feels like a building missing an essential part of its soul. That's the power of superstars in the NBA, and the Bulls were robbed of the one this city helped raise and nurture when Derrick Rose tore the ACL in his left knee during Game 1 of last season's playoffs. The ghost of Rose has been omnipresent throughout the Bulls' roller coaster season, and the last few days have been no different.
Rapper Waka Flocka Flame tweeted Rose was coming back vs. Miami on Tuesday night -- of course he did -- only to get everyone's hopes up before Rose delivered his latest batch of quotes that make it seem like a mathematical certainty the star guard is set to willingly sit out this entire season. It's felt like the only thing in Chicago basketball worth talking about for so much of this campaign. Everyone wants to know when Rose is coming back, the on-court action feels secondary.
So maybe it's fitting that just as Chicago seems resigned to a Rose-less season, the Bulls turned in a gritty, downright inspirational effort that acted as a callback to the not-long-ago past when the Bulls and the Heat were slugging it out in the playoffs for Eastern Conference supremacy. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
The Bulls have had their fair share of success against the Heat, at least in the regular season, but it's different this year. Omer Asik was pried away by Daryl Morey's poison pill, Kyle Korver was traded for salary relief, C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer were unceremoniously kicked to the curb. Yes, the Bulls already clawed out one win against Miami earlier this season, but that was before the Heat started rolling.
When news came out just before tipoff that Chicago would be without All-Star center Joakim Noah as well as guard Marco Belinelli, the Bulls' chances of stopping the streak seemed impossibly remote. There wasn't any reason to think a team starting Nazr Mohammed and giving quality minutes to Daequan Cook would have a prayer. But if there's one thing that's been reinforced time and again during Thibodeau's reign as the Bulls coach, it's that you can never count out his team, no matter how unfeasible the circumstances may appear.
What happened last night was "ThibsBall" at its finest. It was Chicago Bears basketball through and through. It started in the first quarter with James barreling down the court, seemingly ready to dunk on Kirk Hinrich's head before the maligned and oft-injured Bulls guard flipped the switch: he tackled James in the open court, setting the tone for an ultra-physical contest and stirring the UC crowd into a frenzy.
It was the dominant theme of the night, one that harkened back to the days when the Detroit Pistons used to do the same thing to Michael Jordan. 'No easy buckets' has always felt like Thibodeau's matra, and it was out in full force on Wednesday. LeBron was hit and hit hard whenever he came into the paint. Jimmy Butler raced down court to stop a Dwyane Wade fast break with a hard foul in the fourth quarter. Hinrich tore the ball out of Chris Bosh's gangly arms in crunch time to help seal the victory.
The Bulls knew they couldn't run and jump with the Heat on Wednesday -- no one can. Hitting them in the mouth was the next best thing.
Chicago's resiliency throughout the night isn't to be discounted. The Heat have found themselves trailing so many times lately during their 27-game winning streak, only to wrestle victory out of the hands of defeat. They overcame the night of Jeff Green's life to get win No. 23 in Boston. They fought back from a 27-point deficit inside of a toxic atmosphere in Cleveland to get win No. 24. Throughout most of Wednesday, everyone sat back waiting for the Heat to make their run. As the game went on and the Bulls continued to incrementally build their lead -- up six with six minutes left, up eight with seven minutes left, up nine with four to go -- much of the talk on Twitter was about how legendary this comeback would be for Miami. The Bulls had other plans.
A 32-point fourth quarter is a tall order for the Bulls regardless of the competition -- they entered the game at No. 24 in average points scored per 100 possessions -- but to see it happen against a Miami squad defending a streak it embraced and tried to protect with all its might is truly a ridiculous proposition.
Luol Deng was amazing, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to spark the offense. Butler was huge and continued to reinforce that he'll be a very good player in this league for a long time, hitting a corner three, defending Wade as tough as anyone ever does and using those young legs and that boundless athleticism to wreak havoc on the boards. Even Carlos Boozer was making plays; his line of 21 points and 17 rebounds didn't feel as hollow as it sometimes does. This was a true team effort.
And that's the only way you're going to beat the Heat, isn't it? Their individual defenders are able to lock down just about any scorer in the half court. Miami will murder you if you turn the ball over and let them get in transition. The only way to beat them is by swinging the ball, spacing the floor and hitting open jump shots. The Bulls are not a good three-point shooting team, but the shots fell on Wednesday. They finished with 27 assists to the Heat's 15. And even without Noah, the Bulls still held a 43-31 advantage in rebounding, same as it ever was.
It's a testament to power of Thibodeau and the roster creation of John Paxson and Gar Forman. It's easy to mock management's dedication to drafting and developing players whose top ability appears to be 'effort', but this team unquestionably responds to Thibodeau's strident demands so impressively. A previous edition of the Bulls used to tune out the fiery Scott Skiles. Now when Thibodeau yells, the Bulls take it as a challenge.
It's been such a hard season for Bulls fans, but Wednesday night was an oasis that felt like it made all of it worth it. It's a strong reminder that this team won the most games in the NBA each of the last two seasons. Without its starting backcourt and starting center, the Bulls ended Miami's streak. It wasn't a playoff game, but it sure felt like one.
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Ducks-Blackhawks Preview.
By
Jeff Fisher: Kickoffs will not get the boot.
Sporting News
St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, a member of the NFL competition committee, no longer thinks the committee will examine the possibility of eliminating kickoffs.
After commissioner Roger Goodell brought up that controversial possibility last fall, Fisher said then that he expected discussion about possible elimination this offseason, but apparently it's no longer on the agenda.
In an interview on Mike and Mike in the Morning, Fisher indicated the competition committee is satisfied with the decrease in injuries resulting from moving the kickoff back five yards, to the 35, in 2011.
"The kickoff thing comes up, but you know what? The numbers are way down," Fisher said in the interview, via ProFootballTalk.com. "We moved the kickoff up, we increased the number of touchbacks. It's still an exciting game. Look at the Super Bowl — the ball is still coming out. But the injury numbers are way, way down after the change of two years ago."
The league gets high marks for tweaking rules in reaction to trends, but dropping the game's most exciting play was a radical idea that never had merit.
Sporting News
St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, a member of the NFL competition committee, no longer thinks the committee will examine the possibility of eliminating kickoffs.
After commissioner Roger Goodell brought up that controversial possibility last fall, Fisher said then that he expected discussion about possible elimination this offseason, but apparently it's no longer on the agenda.
In an interview on Mike and Mike in the Morning, Fisher indicated the competition committee is satisfied with the decrease in injuries resulting from moving the kickoff back five yards, to the 35, in 2011.
"The kickoff thing comes up, but you know what? The numbers are way down," Fisher said in the interview, via ProFootballTalk.com. "We moved the kickoff up, we increased the number of touchbacks. It's still an exciting game. Look at the Super Bowl — the ball is still coming out. But the injury numbers are way, way down after the change of two years ago."
The league gets high marks for tweaking rules in reaction to trends, but dropping the game's most exciting play was a radical idea that never had merit.
Kane, Sharp and the tale of meeting LeBron James.
By Nina Falcone
Patrick Kane walked into the United Center on Wednesday night just as he always does. But this time, he wasn't lacing up his skates, putting on his gear or scoring any goals.
Instead, he was sitting anxiously on the sidelines in a plaid shirt and Cubs hat, moments away from meeting one of his favorite athletes.
"I've just been a big LeBron [James] fan ever since he came into the league," Kane said after the Blackhawks' shootaround on Thursday. "I don't want to say I seemed like a super fan, but you're excited to meet him... Definitely something you won't forget for a long time."
Kane played the meeting off casually, but teammate Patrick Sharp -- who joined him at the game as the Bulls went on to defeat the Heat and end their 27-game win streak -- had a bit of a different story to tell.
"He was nervous, he wasn't talking very much court side there, he knew he was gonna meet LeBron and get his picture taken, so he was a little antsy," Sharp said, poking some fun at No. 88.
But first and foremost, despite any personal feelings towards James, both Blackhawks were there to cheer on their United Center neighbors. For the first time this year, Kane and Sharp were excited to see a streak come to an end as the Bulls put a stop to the second-longest run in NBA history.
And as hockey players, how could Kirk Hinrich's take-down not be a favorite moment from the night? It sounds like Sharp was ready to give some scouts a call:
"I told him after the game I think we should get some hockey pads on him and put him on the penalty kill."
Patrick Kane walked into the United Center on Wednesday night just as he always does. But this time, he wasn't lacing up his skates, putting on his gear or scoring any goals.
Instead, he was sitting anxiously on the sidelines in a plaid shirt and Cubs hat, moments away from meeting one of his favorite athletes.
"I've just been a big LeBron [James] fan ever since he came into the league," Kane said after the Blackhawks' shootaround on Thursday. "I don't want to say I seemed like a super fan, but you're excited to meet him... Definitely something you won't forget for a long time."
Kane played the meeting off casually, but teammate Patrick Sharp -- who joined him at the game as the Bulls went on to defeat the Heat and end their 27-game win streak -- had a bit of a different story to tell.
"He was nervous, he wasn't talking very much court side there, he knew he was gonna meet LeBron and get his picture taken, so he was a little antsy," Sharp said, poking some fun at No. 88.
But first and foremost, despite any personal feelings towards James, both Blackhawks were there to cheer on their United Center neighbors. For the first time this year, Kane and Sharp were excited to see a streak come to an end as the Bulls put a stop to the second-longest run in NBA history.
And as hockey players, how could Kirk Hinrich's take-down not be a favorite moment from the night? It sounds like Sharp was ready to give some scouts a call:
"I told him after the game I think we should get some hockey pads on him and put him on the penalty kill."
NASCAR races after Latino market with TV series.
By
Sound like a soap opera? Maybe some particularly ambitious Formula One fan fiction?
It's an actual novela - the wildly popular short-run series that flood the Latino television market in North America and beyond - co-produced by Univision and NASCAR to put the down-home American sport of stock car racing in front of millions of Spanish-speaking viewers who might have never watched a NASCAR race.
This remarkable blend of speed and cheese will debut on Univision's website in a series of five- to seven-minute episodes starting in April before appearing on Univision on May 5. Called ''Arranque de Pasion, La Historia de Ela,'' it's an audacious attempt to expand the NASCAR brand into the growing Latino population through a particular form of storytelling.
''Nobody knows a lot about NASCAR,'' said Kate Del Castillo, the famed Mexican actress producing and starring in the novela. ''I think we have to get much more exposure for NASCAR. When you think about it, it's all about family, and that's what we like. It's about spending an entire day at the track. It's an experience, a whole day for family, and yet it's very dangerous. It's very dramatic. I think it's perfect for us.''
NASCAR's entertainment arm realizes it's trying something unusual, but NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing Zane Stoddard believes novelas are one way to crack a market that's been targeted for a decade with varying success.
NASCAR already had worked with Univision to put a racing-themed storyline into an existing show 18 months earlier. Last summer, NASCAR decided an original novela was an idea just crazy enough to work - a unique chance to expand the Spanish-speaking world's awareness of its sport.
''It's our opportunity to meet them where they're at, within the genres they're already invested in,'' Stoddard said. ''I feel like our sport is uniquely accessible in terms of relationships, family and all the things that drive television shows.''
Like every pro sports organization in North America, NASCAR has realized the importance of courting Latino fans - and a connection with stock car racing isn't far-fetched at all.
The NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series is in its seventh season under the NASCAR banner, fueling a growing boom in oval track racing in Mexico. NASCAR says its Sprint Cup series ratings among Hispanic viewers are up 27 percent on Fox this season, with year-by-year increases for each of the five races so far.
Gillian Zucker, the president of Fontana's Auto Club Speedway, markets aggressively to Latino racing fans in a state where Latinos will make up a plurality of the population by next year. Roughly 40 percent of her track's customers identify as Latino, and she hired singer Lupillo Rivera to perform for fans at last weekend's NASCAR race in which Del Castillo was the honorary starter.
Del Castillo became fascinated by auto racing when she participated in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, Calif., last year. After crashing out on the last lap - ''which felt good, sorry to say,'' she said with a grin - she decided to find a project that would put her in the racing milieu.
''It was out of nowhere, but I couldn't be happier or luckier,'' she said. ''I never would have thought that NASCAR is so into it. They've been so nice, providing us everything. They've all been amazing.''
After Univision and Del Castillo's production company assembled a crew of creative talent, NASCAR watched over the proceedings for authenticity and content. The unlikely combination apparently worked for both the NASCAR executives and the Latino stars and producers - maybe because fast cars and beautiful people aren't a tough sell in any language.
''Creative people come into this environment, and it's like a kid in a candy store because it's such a visceral overload,'' Stoddard said. ''Because the novela is such a specific kind of story, very dramatic, we didn't want to pretend we understood the kind of storytelling that takes place in novelas. We know what we know, and we know what we don't know. We rely primarily on them to begin with the story and then allow us to be a sounding board, to layer authenticity over it.''
''Arranque de Pasion'' is set in a fictional NASCAR universe, which means nobody should expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer to be polishing their Spanish for a cameo. Much of the filming was done at Homestead Miami Speedway in authentic stock cars, although Del Castillo didn't actually get to drive them while playing Ela.
''I'm grateful for that,'' she said. ''They're very expensive cars.''
Sound like a soap opera? Maybe some particularly ambitious Formula One fan fiction?
It's an actual novela - the wildly popular short-run series that flood the Latino television market in North America and beyond - co-produced by Univision and NASCAR to put the down-home American sport of stock car racing in front of millions of Spanish-speaking viewers who might have never watched a NASCAR race.
This remarkable blend of speed and cheese will debut on Univision's website in a series of five- to seven-minute episodes starting in April before appearing on Univision on May 5. Called ''Arranque de Pasion, La Historia de Ela,'' it's an audacious attempt to expand the NASCAR brand into the growing Latino population through a particular form of storytelling.
''Nobody knows a lot about NASCAR,'' said Kate Del Castillo, the famed Mexican actress producing and starring in the novela. ''I think we have to get much more exposure for NASCAR. When you think about it, it's all about family, and that's what we like. It's about spending an entire day at the track. It's an experience, a whole day for family, and yet it's very dangerous. It's very dramatic. I think it's perfect for us.''
NASCAR's entertainment arm realizes it's trying something unusual, but NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing Zane Stoddard believes novelas are one way to crack a market that's been targeted for a decade with varying success.
NASCAR already had worked with Univision to put a racing-themed storyline into an existing show 18 months earlier. Last summer, NASCAR decided an original novela was an idea just crazy enough to work - a unique chance to expand the Spanish-speaking world's awareness of its sport.
''It's our opportunity to meet them where they're at, within the genres they're already invested in,'' Stoddard said. ''I feel like our sport is uniquely accessible in terms of relationships, family and all the things that drive television shows.''
Like every pro sports organization in North America, NASCAR has realized the importance of courting Latino fans - and a connection with stock car racing isn't far-fetched at all.
The NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series is in its seventh season under the NASCAR banner, fueling a growing boom in oval track racing in Mexico. NASCAR says its Sprint Cup series ratings among Hispanic viewers are up 27 percent on Fox this season, with year-by-year increases for each of the five races so far.
Gillian Zucker, the president of Fontana's Auto Club Speedway, markets aggressively to Latino racing fans in a state where Latinos will make up a plurality of the population by next year. Roughly 40 percent of her track's customers identify as Latino, and she hired singer Lupillo Rivera to perform for fans at last weekend's NASCAR race in which Del Castillo was the honorary starter.
Del Castillo became fascinated by auto racing when she participated in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, Calif., last year. After crashing out on the last lap - ''which felt good, sorry to say,'' she said with a grin - she decided to find a project that would put her in the racing milieu.
''It was out of nowhere, but I couldn't be happier or luckier,'' she said. ''I never would have thought that NASCAR is so into it. They've been so nice, providing us everything. They've all been amazing.''
After Univision and Del Castillo's production company assembled a crew of creative talent, NASCAR watched over the proceedings for authenticity and content. The unlikely combination apparently worked for both the NASCAR executives and the Latino stars and producers - maybe because fast cars and beautiful people aren't a tough sell in any language.
''Creative people come into this environment, and it's like a kid in a candy store because it's such a visceral overload,'' Stoddard said. ''Because the novela is such a specific kind of story, very dramatic, we didn't want to pretend we understood the kind of storytelling that takes place in novelas. We know what we know, and we know what we don't know. We rely primarily on them to begin with the story and then allow us to be a sounding board, to layer authenticity over it.''
''Arranque de Pasion'' is set in a fictional NASCAR universe, which means nobody should expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer to be polishing their Spanish for a cameo. Much of the filming was done at Homestead Miami Speedway in authentic stock cars, although Del Castillo didn't actually get to drive them while playing Ela.
''I'm grateful for that,'' she said. ''They're very expensive cars.''
MLB season predictions: 2013 award winners.
By Yahoo! Sports Staff
2013 PGA Championship Community Relations: Leaving a Major Legacy in the Local
Community.
By PGA.COM
A major component of the 95th PGA Championship is its Community Relations
Program. Designed to support charities within the region of the host club, the
PGA Championship Community Relations Program supports qualifying charities and
organizations that meet 501(c)(3) status and provide community services in the
areas of youth healthcare, youth education, family services, youth sports, and
veterans services.
"The 95th PGA Championship's Community Relations Program will impact many
community organizations in the Finger Lakes region's nine counties," said Ryan
Cannon, championship director of the 95th PGA Championship. "A variety of
initiatives, that impact lives through the game of golf, are offered to a
diverse group of charities in this program. These initiatives including monetary
donations, access to the PGA Championship, youth golf clinics, and volunteer
opportunities to name just a few."
There are 12 specific programs currently under way:
Tickets for Charity Program Over 80 501c3 charities / organizations from the Finger Lakes region that provide community services in the area of youth healthcare, youth education, family services and youth sports have been selected to receive tickets for their own fundraising activities. Over 300 season grounds tickets were made available for this program. It is expected that approximately $150,000 will be raised from this program.
PGA Championship Community Days Approximately 35-40 local charities will be invited to attend the 2013 PGA Championship under this program. Each charity will receive an allotment of tickets for the PGA Hospitality Chalet for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. These tickets will provide access to the PGA Hospitality Chalet. Each charity will receive an invitation for two to attend the PGA Distinguished Service Award. This program was created to help local charities enhance and cultivate donor and other stakeholder relations.
PGA Championship Corporate Community Days PGA Championship corporate hospitality clients are encouraged to allow local charities to utilize their venue during the practice rounds of the Championship. Also, on occasion corporate clients will offer their practice round tickets to PGA Foundation. The PGA has staff and volunteers dedicated to facilitating this program.
PGA Championship Youth Clinic Monday morning of Championship week with the support of the Western NY PGA Section we will conduct a Youth Golf Clinic for approximately 250-300 youth. After the clinic the participants attend the PGA Championship. Youth from the organizations selected to participate in the Community Relations Ticket for Charity Program will attend the Youth Clinic. The clinic is not open to the public.
Levy Cares Program Levy Restaurants, the catering and concessionaire partner of PGA of America, will give local charities an opportunity to provide concession stand volunteers in exchange for a monetary donation. It is expected that approximately $150,000 to $200,000 will be raised by this program. In addition, all non-perishable foods and products will be donated to a local food bank.
Diversity Giving all people an opportunity to participate in the PGA Championship is a key initiative for PGA of America. Inclusion is directly associated with Community Relations and our responsibility as a corporate partner in the Finger Lakes region.
The following are key areas that will create tremendous opportunities as well as help us to fulfill our corporate responsibility to the community by being inclusive of women and minorities:
1. The Championship Committee Chairs
2. The Championship Office
3. The Championship daily attendance
4. Championship Volunteers
5. Selection of charitable organizations
6. Participation of Minority and Women Owned Business
Reach for the GreenReach for the Green was created during the 2008 Senior PGA Championship by a partnership between Oak Hill Country Club, The Community Foundation, and the PGA of America. Since 2008, this program has enabled seven Rochester City School district children to attend college. To date, the PGA of America has committed $75,000 towards this program and many other individuals and local organizations have also committed funds to ensure the sustainability of Reach for the Green well into the future.
Golf Balls on Parade As a result of a partnership between The Big Parade and the 2013 PGA Championship, nearly 40 larger than life golf balls are being designed by local artists, sold to regional companies and individuals, and ultimately will be put on display throughout the region for all to enjoy. This unique community art project adds to the excitement of the PGA Championship. In addition, a portion of the sale of each golf ball will be split equally among four charities: Hillside Work Scholarship Connection, Golisano Children's Hospital, Reach for the Green, and a charity of each sponsor's choice. It is expected that approximately $65,000 will be raised by this program.
PGA of America Spouses and PGA TOUR Wives Association PGA of America spouses and the PGA TOUR Wives Association have developed a philanthropic collaboration and will volunteer approximately 160 hours of their time during the 95th PGA Championship to assist the Flower City Habitat for Humanity chapter build a home for a deserving resident of Rochester.
PGA REACH In partnership with the four PGA Sections in the State of NY, the 2013 PGA Championship will be conducting a PGA REACH Pro-Am at Oak Hill Country Club in June of 2013. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase a unique opportunity to play Oak Hill Country Club only weeks before the 95th PGA Championship is contested. All proceeds generated by this event will be allocated towards supporting the foundation work of the four NY PGA sections located in Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and New York City. It is expected that approximately $150,000 will be generated by this unique program.
PGA H.O.P.E.Helping Our Patriots Everywhere (H.O.P.E) is a 5-week program designed to introduce golf to veterans with disabilities in the effort to enhance a veteran's mental, social, physical and emotional well-being. The PGA Foundation, the Western New York Section PGA, and PGA Professionals will partner with the VA Western New York Healthcare System to initiate this program. The goal is to introduce golf to the veterans with disabilities as an activity to assist them with their progress in rehab along with helping them to assimilate and mainstream into their community and into life.
The 2013 PGA Championship Community Relations Committee All of these programs happen as a result of the efforts of a diverse and extensive group of individuals with representation from the PGA of America, Oak Hill Country Club, The Big Parade, The PGA TOUR Wives Association, and countless representatives of the local community and ultimately the State of New York.
About the PGA Championship,The 95th PGA Championship will be conducted Aug. 5-11, 2013, at Oak Hill Country Club. The PGA Championship features the strongest field in golf and is considered one of the largest sporting events in the world. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy; including past champions Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Shaun Micheel, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and Walter Hagen.
About the PGA of America Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
About Oak Hill Country Club Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester, N.Y.), recognized as one of the finest golf courses in America, has been synonymous with championship golf. In the past three decades alone, Oak Hills' renowned East Course has hosted the 1980 and 2003 PGA Championships, the 1984 U.S. Senior Open, the 1989 U.S. Open, the 1995 Ryder Cup, the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and the 2008 Senior PGA Championship. Since the 1956 U.S. Open, Oak Hill is the only golf club in America to host all six of the men's touring Championships. The 2013 PGA Championship will mark Oak Hill's 11th premier golf championship.
Report: NFL doctor suggested removing CTE mention.
There are 12 specific programs currently under way:
Tickets for Charity Program Over 80 501c3 charities / organizations from the Finger Lakes region that provide community services in the area of youth healthcare, youth education, family services and youth sports have been selected to receive tickets for their own fundraising activities. Over 300 season grounds tickets were made available for this program. It is expected that approximately $150,000 will be raised from this program.
PGA Championship Community Days Approximately 35-40 local charities will be invited to attend the 2013 PGA Championship under this program. Each charity will receive an allotment of tickets for the PGA Hospitality Chalet for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. These tickets will provide access to the PGA Hospitality Chalet. Each charity will receive an invitation for two to attend the PGA Distinguished Service Award. This program was created to help local charities enhance and cultivate donor and other stakeholder relations.
PGA Championship Corporate Community Days PGA Championship corporate hospitality clients are encouraged to allow local charities to utilize their venue during the practice rounds of the Championship. Also, on occasion corporate clients will offer their practice round tickets to PGA Foundation. The PGA has staff and volunteers dedicated to facilitating this program.
PGA Championship Youth Clinic Monday morning of Championship week with the support of the Western NY PGA Section we will conduct a Youth Golf Clinic for approximately 250-300 youth. After the clinic the participants attend the PGA Championship. Youth from the organizations selected to participate in the Community Relations Ticket for Charity Program will attend the Youth Clinic. The clinic is not open to the public.
Levy Cares Program Levy Restaurants, the catering and concessionaire partner of PGA of America, will give local charities an opportunity to provide concession stand volunteers in exchange for a monetary donation. It is expected that approximately $150,000 to $200,000 will be raised by this program. In addition, all non-perishable foods and products will be donated to a local food bank.
Diversity Giving all people an opportunity to participate in the PGA Championship is a key initiative for PGA of America. Inclusion is directly associated with Community Relations and our responsibility as a corporate partner in the Finger Lakes region.
The following are key areas that will create tremendous opportunities as well as help us to fulfill our corporate responsibility to the community by being inclusive of women and minorities:
1. The Championship Committee Chairs
2. The Championship Office
3. The Championship daily attendance
4. Championship Volunteers
5. Selection of charitable organizations
6. Participation of Minority and Women Owned Business
Reach for the GreenReach for the Green was created during the 2008 Senior PGA Championship by a partnership between Oak Hill Country Club, The Community Foundation, and the PGA of America. Since 2008, this program has enabled seven Rochester City School district children to attend college. To date, the PGA of America has committed $75,000 towards this program and many other individuals and local organizations have also committed funds to ensure the sustainability of Reach for the Green well into the future.
Golf Balls on Parade As a result of a partnership between The Big Parade and the 2013 PGA Championship, nearly 40 larger than life golf balls are being designed by local artists, sold to regional companies and individuals, and ultimately will be put on display throughout the region for all to enjoy. This unique community art project adds to the excitement of the PGA Championship. In addition, a portion of the sale of each golf ball will be split equally among four charities: Hillside Work Scholarship Connection, Golisano Children's Hospital, Reach for the Green, and a charity of each sponsor's choice. It is expected that approximately $65,000 will be raised by this program.
PGA of America Spouses and PGA TOUR Wives Association PGA of America spouses and the PGA TOUR Wives Association have developed a philanthropic collaboration and will volunteer approximately 160 hours of their time during the 95th PGA Championship to assist the Flower City Habitat for Humanity chapter build a home for a deserving resident of Rochester.
PGA REACH In partnership with the four PGA Sections in the State of NY, the 2013 PGA Championship will be conducting a PGA REACH Pro-Am at Oak Hill Country Club in June of 2013. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase a unique opportunity to play Oak Hill Country Club only weeks before the 95th PGA Championship is contested. All proceeds generated by this event will be allocated towards supporting the foundation work of the four NY PGA sections located in Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and New York City. It is expected that approximately $150,000 will be generated by this unique program.
PGA H.O.P.E.Helping Our Patriots Everywhere (H.O.P.E) is a 5-week program designed to introduce golf to veterans with disabilities in the effort to enhance a veteran's mental, social, physical and emotional well-being. The PGA Foundation, the Western New York Section PGA, and PGA Professionals will partner with the VA Western New York Healthcare System to initiate this program. The goal is to introduce golf to the veterans with disabilities as an activity to assist them with their progress in rehab along with helping them to assimilate and mainstream into their community and into life.
The 2013 PGA Championship Community Relations Committee All of these programs happen as a result of the efforts of a diverse and extensive group of individuals with representation from the PGA of America, Oak Hill Country Club, The Big Parade, The PGA TOUR Wives Association, and countless representatives of the local community and ultimately the State of New York.
About the PGA Championship,The 95th PGA Championship will be conducted Aug. 5-11, 2013, at Oak Hill Country Club. The PGA Championship features the strongest field in golf and is considered one of the largest sporting events in the world. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy; including past champions Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Shaun Micheel, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and Walter Hagen.
About the PGA of America Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
About Oak Hill Country Club Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester, N.Y.), recognized as one of the finest golf courses in America, has been synonymous with championship golf. In the past three decades alone, Oak Hills' renowned East Course has hosted the 1980 and 2003 PGA Championships, the 1984 U.S. Senior Open, the 1989 U.S. Open, the 1995 Ryder Cup, the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and the 2008 Senior PGA Championship. Since the 1956 U.S. Open, Oak Hill is the only golf club in America to host all six of the men's touring Championships. The 2013 PGA Championship will mark Oak Hill's 11th premier golf championship.
Report: NFL doctor suggested removing CTE mention.
By The Sports Xchange
One NFL doctor who participated in a study on degenerative
brain disease in retired players suggested removing a mention of CTE from a
fact-finding sheet, according to a New York Times report.
The doctor, a member of the NFL's head, neck and spine committee, wasn't
identified. He said CTE -- a degenerative brain disease thought to be caused by
repeated head trauma -- should be omitted because it was "not fully understood,"
because it wasn't cited on death certificates of the retired players in the
study, and thus lacked "epidemiological validity."
Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, which compiled the fact sheet, rejected the recommendation. Independent
medical experts said such a request was inappropriate and not in line with
existing research.
"That's what bugged me the most," Jeffrey Kutcher, a neurologist and the
director of Michigan NeuroSport at the University of Michigan, told the Times.
"It's a huge jump and it goes completely away from what the Niosh study showed."
According to a memorandum obtained by the Times, most of the suggestions
involved simplifying the information so players without a scientific background
could understand the findings.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease closely related to Alzheimer's. It
has been found in dozens of deceased football players, leading to concern about
the sport's potential long-term effects.
Why would this doctor suggest this? What's his motivation? What's your take?
Why would this doctor suggest this? What's his motivation? What's your take?
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