Life IS Sport

NBA Guard Larry Hughes Raises Awareness on Organ Donors and Recipients

Jemele Hill of ESPN is doing a feature called Riding With and I caught the interview with Chicago Bulls guard Larry Hughes.

I have provided two of the questions Larry was asked about the Larry Hughes Foundation and his perspective after the recent passing of his younger brother.

ESPN: You started a foundation that helps organ recipients and donor families. How have you seen your foundation impact people's lives?

LH:It's a blessing for me to have the opportunity to help families help themselves. I think that's probably our main goal. You don't just want to give people money just to say you gave it to them. You want to make sure the bills are paid. If a family has to travel to place X, that they're able to get there and take their mind off whatever is going on and be more focused on that family member or that friend or whatever it is they need to do. We always stay positive because a positive attitude and positive reinforcement cures all.

ESPN: How much has your attitude and life changed because of your brother's death?

LH: A piece of me is definitely missing. I think it's a process I'm going through now as far as talking about it more, being more open about it. A lot of those things I'm getting because of basketball. I'm trying to flip those things around as far as making people aware of what's going on with organ and tissue donations, making kids aware that there's a positive route to take if you want to go to school and want to go to college. It's not just about basketball and making money now. None of us knows how long we're going to be here. The impact we make now can affect a lot of people and, obviously, you affect one, there's a possibility you can affect another.

Hall of Famer Robin Yount is the "Paul Newman" of Baseball

I saw this story about baseball legend, Robin Yount, and his efforts to give back through a new beverage, Robinade.

Surely he could have come up with a better name but nonetheless, the lemonade flavored drink donates a portion of its proceeds to the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund.

A conversation with Basketball Legend, Jerry Lucas

The most recent episode of the Life IS Sport podcast features my recent conversation with Hall of Famer, Jerry Lucas.

Jerry Lucas has the rare distinction of winning championships at every level of competition -- in high school, college and the pros. He was even a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic basketball team that won a gold medal in Rome.

Honors: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1980); NBA champion (1973); All-NBA First Team (1965, '66, '68); All-NBA Second Team 1964, '67); All-Rookie team (1964); Seven-time All-Star (1964-69, 1971); All-Star MVP (1965); Olympic gold medalist (1960);One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996);One of 25 Greatest Players in NCAA History (2008)

Listen itunes as Jerry talks about discipline, learning and success.

Ivy League Athletes Giving Back

I saw this article about Princeton University athletes doing some redeeming work in their community through the Ivy Athletes Charity Team (IACT).

In short, IACT organizers work with the captains to provide an opportunity for each team to donate its time to raise money and awareness for a Summer camp at Princeton called Community House, which connects University volunteers with disadvantaged youth in the community. The summer camp serves economically disadvantaged youth, ages 10-14, in the Princeton and Trenton areas, providing them the academic and technical skills they need in order to get ahead by the time they return to school in the fall.

In the article , IACT's current president, Meagan Cowher, comments on their purpose:

"It's our goal to mobilize the varsity athletes for a positive cause," said Meagan Cowher, "and make sure we are giving back and are aware of our fortunate situation being students at a University like this one."

A valuable life lesson from Rick Reilly

ESPN sportswriter Rick Reilly is one of the most talented writers the sports world will ever read and his debut column is another powerful read.

His nearly lifelong alcoholic father passed away a few months ago and Reilly reflects on his fathers abuse, neglect, influence and a bedrock life lesson he learned in this impacting excerpt:

"Golf taught me the lessons my dad never did, including the best one: You play life where it lies. You hit it there. You play it from there. Nobody threw you a nasty curve or forgot to block the defensive end. I learned that my mistakes were mine alone, not my boss', not the cop's and, as much as I hated to admit it, not my dad's."

This perspective and resulting attitude that this lesson provides is imperative to success.

To read the full column, click here.

Running for Peace

My friend Kevin Carroll introduced the phrase "sport for social change" to me a few years ago and it has opened my eyes to the power of sport to inspire positive change in our world.

This power is evident in a story I read today about Lebanese students uniting to run for peace in Lebanon. For nearly two years, Lebanon has been besieged by a political crisis. Thousands of athletes ran in two races to promote the unification of the Lebanese people.

"We have here all religions and races," said Jinan Mantash, an 18-year-old participant in the 5-kilometer race who won her age bracket. "Because children and youth are the new generations, now that they have united in this event they will learn when they grow up that a united Lebanon is a must. It feels great to work for Lebanon."

To read more on these inspiring students, click here.

Syracuse Football Players Influence Their Community

   

This is a redeeming story about college football student athletes.  The Syracuse University football team spends time serving their community in five specific areas.  One area that is particularly compelling is troubled minors in the juvenile detention systems.

     "Sergeant Tom McDowell, from the Onondaga County Justice Center, said the impact the football student-athletes had on the minor males, ages 16-18, is very evident.   

     “Some of these players, not all of them, have backgrounds that might be similar to that of the incarcerated youths,” McDowell said. “And because of the similarities, the minors can look at the adult players and say, ‘He’s in school. He had a similar road to mine and he’s making changes.’ It gives them positive feedback. After the student-athletes leave, you tend to hear the minors telling stories about the football players, ‘He’s doing this, maybe I can do that.’ It gives them the idea that they do have choices. I think it’s a terrific program.” 

To read more, visit the Syracuse Athletics web page.