A Great Day in the Pits
Story by Sam Rubinroit
Like the majority of people on the West Coast, I have never had much interest in NASCAR. I know the big names– Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Jimmie Johnson, but there was just not the connection I feel to the Lakers or the Dodgers, my local teams. Because I never understood the allure of the sport, it never tempted to me to go sit in the baking heat in the middle of the desert to watch a bunch of cars take laps for three hours. However, this all changed dramatically when I got an invitation to view a race from the viewpoint of a driver, from the sponsor meet-and-greets to the pre-race preparations.
On October 11, for the first time ever, the Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs, came to California when the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana hosted the Pepsi 500. Typically held over Labor Day weekend, the race is known for the brutal heat and exorbitant temperatures, but, luckily, due to the later date of the race, the temperatures were in the mid-60s under overcast skies.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the track was the sheer size of everything, from the track to the grandstands to the RVs parked on the infield of the racetrack. My day began with a lap in the pace car, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by former NASCAR driver and current NASCAR Director of Cost and Research, Brett Bodine. As the official pace car driver for Sprint Cup events, Bodine handles the 110 MPH car as easily as if we were taking a leisurely drive down the street. As he pulls the car to within inches of the wall, one hand on the wheel, he explains to me the basic strategy of a driver while periodically glancing over at me for emphasis. Even at only half the speed a driver would typically race, the lap just flies by and, before I know it, I am back at the finish line, thanking Bodine as I attempt to regain my wobbly legs.
I have been made an honorary pit crewmember for David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS car. In his third year in the Sprint Cup Series, Ragan is an emerging driver for Roush Racing. In 2007, he was runner-up for the Spring Cup rookie of the year, and earned the Rookie of the Year title for the Nationwide Series. The Pepsi 500 on Sunday is the culmination of a busy weekend for Ragan, who finished 9th in the Copart 300 Nationwide Series race the day before.
“I’ve heard that a NASCAR driver is just someone who drives around in circles for 500 miles and that it’s not a sport,” Ragan says. “But then you could say in basketball you just throw a ball around for an hour and try to get it in a hoop. When you look at everything more in-depth, it’s a lot more technical. When it’s 110 degrees outside, you need to get in your racecar and it’s 140 degrees and you have to go drive 500 miles. It takes a pretty strong, athletic person to do that.”
Even before getting into his car, Ragan has business to take care of at the track. Sponsorship is a major part of a team’s financial viability, and the drivers therefore have obligations to meet-and-greet representatives from their different sponsors prior to races. With the race less than two hours away, Ragan is shuttled to various meetings around the track, one with local UPS employees being honored for their service, and another with major UPS clients to thank them for their business. Ragan also attends the mandatory drivers’ meeting, which every driver must attend under penalty of fine, taking in the specifics of the race, from number of laps to correct entry into the pits. The meeting begins with the introduction of the honorary members of the race, including Christian Slater, the driver of the pace car, Kelsey Grammer, the Grand Marshal, and Jesse McCartney, who is to sing the national anthem, and ends with a prayer for the safety of the drivers and fans.
After the meeting, the drivers and crew complete the final preparations of their cars, after which the cars undergo the NASCAR “sticks and scales” inspection to ensure that all cars meet the required height, weight, and other necessary measurements. The drivers then enter the track for introductions, and after they get introduced to the roaring crowd, they take a lap around the track in the awaiting cars from a Corvette owners club.
With the race less than 10 minutes away, Ragan takes some time to prepare himself for the race, sitting with his girlfriend and stretching out. At six feet tall, Ragan has to fold himself into his car, where he is held snuggly by his customized driver seat meant to reduce movement in case of an accident.
For the start of the race I am positioned in Ragan’s pit, sitting next to his spotter, girlfriend, and engineer. I am equipped with headphones that allow me to listen in to Ragan’s ongoing dialogue with his spotter, and I watch as Ragan’s pit crew prepare themselves for the first pit stop.
One aspect of a race that is not apparent on television is the sheer volume of sound. The cars are built to maximize speed and efficiency, not to muffle sound. Nearly everyone in the pit area wears either headphones or earplugs, and removing them is like exposing yourself to the sound of an airplane taking off inches from your head.
It is clear that Ragan’s crew has practiced every aspect of a pit stop to the point where they become almost reflexive. Most pit crewmembers are former college athletes, and, during the week, they train together with specific weight programs and other exercises aimed at shaving precious milliseconds from their pit stop time.
“The crew has been here Sunday morning 5 or 6 hours before the race, checking the car for any loose nuts or bolts and getting everything warmed up and up to temperature.,” says Ragan. “It’s a 7-day-a-week job for many of these guys, and the crews are a major part of the team. They are in charge of making sure your car is running right and nothing is breaking or falling off. I couldn’t do my job without them, so it’s [important] to have a good relationship.”
As Ragan’s car approaches the pits, the crewmembers perform a carefully choreographed routine, jumping out in front of the car at the precise instant and removing the lug nuts in a way that maximizes both speed and accuracy. Many crews watch tape of their most recent stops to see what worked well and what they need to improve upon.
The life of a NASCAR driver is intense preparation in the days leading up the race and sponsor meet-and-greets and pre-race rituals all culminating with a 3-hour, 500 mile race. But the rewards are enormous; Jimmie Johnson won the race, earning $302,801 and a 12-point lead in the standings over Mark Martin. Ragan came in at seventh, a more than respectable finish for the young driver, earning $117,500 in winnings.
Being able to see what NASCAR is really about– the immense pressure a driver and crew is under and the physical prowess that is required– my entire view of the sport has changed. Now, when I see a race on T.V., rather than flipping past it on the way to watching the Dodger’s playoff game, I will linger on the channel long enough to see a few laps and learn who is in the lead and how the standings have changed. Most Californians do not understand NASCAR but if they did, they would understand why families-in-the-know regularly drive hundreds of miles to experience a race

60’6” separate you from your target. As many as 50,000 people in the stadium, and millions of television viewers, are all watching you. It is your chance to show the world that you have the same heat as the professionals, but you are only a slight miscue away from embarrassing yourself. It is enough to make even the most skilled athlete falter.

Notables have been throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at baseball games since President William Howard Taft in 1910, but with varying degrees of success. President George W. Bush was celebrated for his ability to throw a strike. President Barack Obama was lucky that the St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols was able to dig his pitch out of the dirt. Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gracefully threw a skyhook after an awkward throw. Other celebrities have lived in YouTube infamy for their throws. Comedian Adam Carolla bounced his first pitch, asked for the ball back, and proceeded to throw the ball over the catcher’s head at a Dodger game. At a game in Japan, singer Mariah Carey held on to the ball too long, and the ball rolled to home plate. At a Boston Red Sox game, actor Mark Wahlberg threw the ball wide of home plate, and it bounced and hit a fan in the butt.

At a recent Dodgers home game, I was able to observe up-close as four Olympic athletes prepared to throw a first pitch. The Dodgers were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and extended the honor to 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner, sprinter and two-time Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, and women’s basketball Olympic gold medalists Tina Thompson and DeLisha Milton-Jones.

The four Olympic athletes came onto the field at Dodger Stadium about an hour before the game started. They were each presented with a customized Dodgers’ jersey that had their last name and a number, as well as a baseball inscribed “First Pitch Dodger Stadium 2009.” Jenner talked with Dodgers legend Steve Garvey about Jenner’s childhood baseball experiences. Thompson and Milton-Jones brainstormed ideas to liven the first pitch, such as pretending to pick off a runner at first base before throwing the pitch. Yet, despite their athletic ability and previous experience on a large stage, all four athletes showed signs of nerves.

As game time approached, the athletes began to warm-up. Greene learned that he would be catching the pitch from Jenner. Greene admitted to me, “My job is easy. All I have to do is catch the ball. Hopefully [Jenner] does not make me move too far.” Greene set a world record in the 100m with 9.79 seconds, but he was worried about not being fast enough to reach for an errant ball from Jenner. Milton-Jones and Thompson played catch, but the baseball frequently got passed each of them.

Milton-Jones was the first up. She threw the ball to Dodgers’ catcher Brad Ausmus, but it bounced before it reached him. Determined not to bounce the ball, Thompson threw a high archer to Dodgers’ second baseman Orlando Hudson. Finally, demonstrating his varied athletic skills, Jenner threw a solid pitch to a relieved Greene.

If even Olympic athletes have nerves about throwing-out the ceremonial first pitch, it is easy to understand why other celebrities tend to embarrass themselves on the pitching rubber when given the ball.

By Seth Rubinroit
Photo of Watch by Sam Rubinroit
Photo of Pujols courtesy of Reactor Watch

For years, all eyes have been on St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. But, everybody should also be watching his watch.

Pujols has achieved unprecedented success on the baseball diamond. He is only 29, but he has already been the National League Rookie of the Year, an 8-time All-Star, and a 2-time National League Most Valuable Player. In 2006, he led the Cardinals to a World Series Championship. For his career, he has a .334 batting average and 355 home runs. He is well on his way to having a Hall of Fame career.

Off the field, Pujols has had a large impact as well. He was recognized for his efforts when he won the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award. He recently partnered with Reactor Watches to raise money for the Pujols Family Foundation, which helps the impoverished in the Dominican Republic, as well as individuals with Down syndrome.

“We could never afford to pay Albert for what his services are worth” Reactor Watch founder Jimmy Olmes said. “What we did instead was we made a very special watch for Albert. The watch costs a lot to make, but not nearly as much as Albert could get in a raffle for his Foundation.”

The Albert Pujols watch contains about 2.5 karats of flawless diamonds. It is customized to have the St. Louis Cardinals logo, an MVP ’08 inscription, and a large number five, which is Pujols’ number. Only two of these watches were made; one is worn by Pujols, and the other one will be raffled off to raise money for the Pujols Family Foundation. The watch would retail for $15,000, but it expected to bring in about $35,000-$40,000 because it is very limited addition, and will be autographed by Pujols.

Additionally, Reactor Watches donated dozens of watches to the Malibu Golf Classic, which also supports various charities and takes place August 14 at Malibu Country Club.

For more information about the Pujols Family Foundation, visit PujolsFamilyFoundation.org and ReactorWatch.com.

By Seth Rubinroit

Photos by Sam Rubinroit

 

When the masses rush to the store on August 14 to purchase the popular EA Sports video game Madden NFL ’10, they will see the face of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the cover.

           

“I was honored, especially going on it with a guy like Troy Polamalu,” Fitzgerald said about the cover. “It was the first time they had two cover athletes, so it is great. I am excited.”

           

Many athletes have had poor seasons or injuries after being on the cover of Madden, leading to a widespread belief in a Madden Curse. Players such as Michael Vick, Donavan McNabb, and Shaun Alexander have suffered substantial injuries after being on the cover. Fans even created SaveLTFromMadden.com to try to keep San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson off the cover. Despite the hype about the Madden Curse, Fitzgerald is not worried.

 

 

 

      

“I believe in god, and Troy does to,” Fitzgerald said. “He has led our path this far, and He is not going to lead us in the wrong direction.”

           

At the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am celebrity flag football game in Malibu, California, Fitzgerald, who served as a coach, had a chance to talk to Jerry Rice, the former San Francisco 49er who is considered the best wide receiver of all time.

           

“I know Jerry pretty well personally, and we talk about offense,” Fitzgerald said. “He has been a great mentor to me throughout my younger days, and continues to be.”

           

Fitzgerald was the third pick in the 2004 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. In college, he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top college football receiver. In 2008, Fitzgerald had 96 receptions for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has made three Pro Bowls, and won the 2009 Pro Bowl MVP. In the playoffs, Fitzgerald set NFL records for the most receiving yards, catches, and touchdowns in a single postseason, helping the Cardinals reach their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

 

In order to reach the Super Bowl again this season, the Cardinals “need to work hard, and not let complacency set in,” Fitzgerald said. “I think we will fair pretty well.”

 

To see Fitzgerald coach NFL legends such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and John Elway in the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am celebrity flag football, tune into the NFL Network, ESPN2, VH-1, and SPIKE in the days leading up to the August 14 release of Madden NFL ’10.

 

Boycotting Madden?

 

T.J. Houshmanzadeh, a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, made headlines when he decided to boycott playing Madden NFL ’10 because his overall rating was too low. His ranking is not among the ten highest wide receivers.

 

Last season, Houshmanzadeh had 92 receptions for 904 yards and 4 touchdowns, which were all below his 2007 numbers.

 

Several NFL players could empathize with Houshmanzadeh.

 

“I am probably going to boycott the game too if I get a bad rating, but they do a good job when it comes to the ratings,” DeMarcus Ware, Pro Bowl linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys, said with a smile.

Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen on NFL’s Best Running Back

By Seth Rubinroit

Photos by Sam Rubinroit

 

Who is the best running back in the NFL today? To find out, I asked some of the best running backs of all time as they arrived at the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am celebrity flag football game in Malibu, California.

 

 

“Adrian Peterson is probably the best running back,” said Barry Sanders, the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner who is enshrined in both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. “LaDainian Tomlinson is still running well, but I am going with the young buck, AP. He is young, has fresh legs, and is a dangerous football player.”

 

Peterson, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of the University of Oklahoma, was the 2007 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has earned a Pro Bowl selection in both of his NFL seasons, and was named the 2008 Pro Bowl MVP. In 2008, he rushed for 1,769 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 

Tomlinson, who plays for the San Diego Chargers, holds NFL records for the most total touchdowns in a season, most rushing touchdowns in a season, and most points scored in a single season. He was the 2006 NFL MVP, and he has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times. However, in 2008, while dealing with injuries, Tomlinson had a career-low 1,110 yards, and the fewest touchdowns since his rookie season, 11.

 

Marcus Allen, winner of the 1981 Heisman Trophy, Super Bowl XVIII MVP, and 1985 NFL MVP, is not ready to give Peterson the title as the top NFL running back.

 

“I still love LT down in San Diego,” said Allen, who is enshrined in both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. “People say he lost a step, but I do not think so. I think he has had injuries at inopportune times, and I think he will come back strong. After that, Adrian Peterson is probably the most dominating back in the game today.”

 

 

 

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NFL’s Best Young Quarterbacks

 

The running back position was not the only position that the players at the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am were talking about. Players were quick to praise their respective team’s young quarterback.

 

Tony Gonzalez, who holds NFL career records for most receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a tight end, was recently traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Atlanta Falcons. In the upcoming season, the ten-time Pro Bowler will be catching balls thrown by AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan.

 

“You hear a lot of good things about Matt Ryan, and when I saw him in person, I understood why he is who he is, and why people are making such a big deal about him,” Gonzalez said. “He has such an understanding of the game, and he is a leader. It is really a rare thing. You just do not see that out of rookies.”

 

Playing with Ryan will ease some of the pain Gonzalez has felt since being traded from the team he spent the first twelve years of his career with.

 

“It is a good opportunity. It is sad to leave KC, but it worked out for both sides,” Gonzalez said. “To have an opportunity to play on a team that is on the rise, and to be with a quarterback like that, will be a good way to end my career. Hopefully we get into the Super Bowl.”

 

At the same time, legendary running back Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions was singing the praises of his former team’s new quarterback, Matthew Stafford. Stafford, the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia, will try to turn around a team that went 0-16 last season.

 

“We have high hopes for him,” Sanders said of Stafford. “We have to get a leader in there at quarterback. We have a good young receiver [Calvin Johnson], and drafted a tight end [Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State]. We know [Stafford] has the tools, so we expect big things.”

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Linebacker in Limbo

 

Linebacker Donnie Edwards, who was last with the Kansas City Chiefs, remains a free agent.

 

“I am in the hovering pattern,” Edwards said. “I am an airplane hovering and waiting to land. Hopefully something happens soon, and I land, and hopefully win the Super Bowl.”

 

Edwards, who went to UCLA, is one of the few NFL players with both 20 career sacks and interceptions. Last season, the thirteen-year veteran had 35 tackles in seven games while battling knee injuries.

NBA Summer League Recap

By Seth Rubinroit

A Father’s Day Story: Ryan and Jerry West

By Seth Rubinroit

Father’s Day is the annual holiday that encourages families to reflect and celebrate the accomplishments of the father. However, few things make Lakers legend Jerry West more proud than to talk about his son, Ryan.

Lakers fans are very familiar with Jerry West. West is commonly known as “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to sink key shots, and “The Logo” because his silhouette was used to design the NBA logo. West was named an NBA All-Star fourteen-times, won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1960, helped the Lakers win the NBA championship in 1972, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. His #44 jersey was retired by the Lakers, and hangs in the rafters at Staples Center. After he retired, he became a general manager, winning the NBA Executive of the Year Award with both the Lakers and the Grizzlies.

While West was the General Manager of the Grizzlies, he had the opportunity to work with his son, Ryan, who is a scout for the Grizzlies.

“I think any father is proud of their son regardless of what they decide to do, but with [Ryan] being involved with the Memphis team, it was fun for him and for me,” Jerry West said.

Life was not always so pleasant for Jerry and Ryan. Growing up, Ryan struggled to escape the shadow cast by his famous father.

“Obviously, your life is different growing up. A lot of people look at you a different way, and expect a lot of things from you,” Ryan West said. “People are always tugging at you, wanting something from you all the time. Growing up, it was kind of difficult dealing with those things.”

In order to prepare his son for life, Jerry was stern with his son.

“I think the most important thing in a household is to make sure the kids know you love them, to give them guidance, and more importantly discipline,” Jerry West said. “Without those things in life, you are probably not going to have very good opportunities to succeed.”

While they worked together for the Grizzlies, Ryan gained a greater appreciation and respect for his father.

“My dad is the best dad I could ever hope for. I would not trade anything that he has done, or has not done, for any other dad. He has been perfect,” Ryan West said. “I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for me. He has always been there for me, supporting me. He has been a fantastic father.”

Since these interviews with Ryan and Jerry West, Jerry retired from basketball altogether, becoming the executive director of the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open. To honor his father,
Ryan makes sure that he is always wearing something with the NBA logo on it, even if it is just a pair of socks.

Unlike Ryan, we cannot wear clothes decorated with the silhouette of our father, but we can make sure in other ways that our fathers know we appreciate them on their special day.

By Seth Rubinroit
Photos by Seth and Sam Rubinroit

Life is good for Lakers’ center Andrew Bynum. He is returning from a right knee injury to a team that is poised to advance far in the playoffs. However, life would have been different for Bynum if he had decided to attend the University of Connecticut out of high school rather than declaring for the NBA draft.

“I do not really think about that,” Bynum said at the NBA Summer Pro League in 2006 about going to UCONN. “I think my decision was good. I am learning from Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant, so I do not think UCONN would have more than that to offer.”
Coming out of St. Joseph High School in New Jersey, Bynum was expected to step into a talented UCONN team and help offset the loss of forward Charlie Villanueva. After winning the Big East Regular Season Championship the year before, there were high expectations for the Huskies. Led by talented forwards Rudy Gay and Josh Boone, UCONN was ranked second in the 2005-2006 ESPN/USA Today Preseason Poll.

However, Bynum decided to declare for the 2005 NBA Draft, where he was selected tenth by the Lakers. Bynum was the youngest player ever drafted, as well as the youngest player to play in an NBA game. It quickly became apparent, however, that Bynum was not ready for the NBA. In his rookie season, Bynum appeared in 46 games, and averaged 7.3 minutes, 1.6 points, and 1.7 rebounds per game. He only made 29.6% of his free throws.
UCONN, on the other hand, flourished without Bynum. The team advanced to the Elite Eight. UCONN tied the record with four players being selected in the first round, with Rudy Gay, Hilton Armstrong, Marcus Williams, and Josh Boone all being picked. Denham Brown was also selected in the second round.
With so much talent on the roster, there were questions about how much Bynum would have played at UCONN. Boone averaged 10.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks at the power forward position. Armstrong was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Ed Nelson and Jeff Adrien played quality minutes at the post positions.
At the 2006 NBA Summer Pro League, UCONN teammates Rudy Gay and Rashad Anderson disagreed about to impact Bynum would have had with the Huskies.
Gay, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, said, “With the way Hilton Armstrong and Josh Boone [played], and with the athletic ability that [Bynum] has, I’m not sure how much [Bynum] would have played, but I’m sure he would have played a good deal with us.”
Anderson, on the other hand, said, “[Bynum] would not have [played] because he would not have dominated. He could not have played in front of Hilton Armstrong and Josh Boone.”
Hall of Fame UCONN coach Jim Calhoun answered the question about how much playing time Bynum would have received, saying before a game against the Pepperdine Waves in 2005, “He’d have a tough time starting in our frontcourt, and yet he would play for us. I do not think you can put a small price tag on that.”
Since Bynum decided to forgo college, the NBA has created a new rule that requires players to be removed a year from graduating high school before becoming eligible for the draft. This rule has allowed players to gain experience and realize and remedy their weaknesses, and made college basketball more exciting with players such as Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, and O.J. Mayo dominating the game for a year before turning pro.
Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who went to UCLA and now mentors Bynum with the Lakers, is a strong proponent of going to college.
“College is a good place for young players to learn the game in an atmosphere that is not high pressure,” Abdul-Jabbar said recently during an interview in his Long Beach office. “For someone with a lot of athletic talent to go from high school straight to the professional ranks is really detrimental because in the professional ranks, they do not have the time to learn what they need to learn slowly and completely. They try to rush to get it done, and in that rush, they miss-out on things, and their progress actually slows up. LeBron James came into the league when he was 18 years old, but he did not start dominating play until he was 23 years old. There was a three or four year gap where he had to learn things through trial and error. College is a much better environment for that to happen. Of course they do not pay you $30 million to go to college, and I understand that it is a hard choice, but college is a much better place to learn the game.”
Skipping college worked out well for the Lakers and Bynum, who is now one of the most promising young centers in the NBA when healthy. However, it would have been special to see Bynum play and develop on such a talented UCONN team.

Beware of Yellow Jackets
By Seth Rubinroit

For the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team, winning the ACC will be very difficult, if not impossible, considering how well North Carolina, Duke, and Wake Forrest are playing. However, the Yellow Jackets (7-2) have assembled a team that will surprise some people, and could cause some damage in the NCAA tournament.

The team is built around 6’9” sophomore Gani Lawal. Lawal is third in the ACC in scoring, first in rebounding, and fourth in field goal percentage. He also leads the ACC in double-doubles.
“[Lawal] is tough. He is an NBA player. He can do everything. He is strong and physical,” said Pepperdine head coach Tom Asbury, who witnessed Lawal have a double-double in the Yellow Jacket’s 86-58 victory over the Waves on Saturday.
In addition to Lawal, the Yellow Jackets have senior forward Alade Aminu, 240-pound forward Zachery Peacock, and 7’0” center Brad Sheehan to bang inside and grab rebounds.

“The key to the game is rebounding. With us staying on top of the boards, getting second chance points and extra possessions, it causes a lot of problems for other teams,” said Alade Aminu.
Gani Lawal added, “I try to hit the boards hard every time.”
Georgia Tech’s weakness, according to head coach Paul Hewitt, is its perimeter defense due to the injury to senior guard D’Andre Bell. However, senior guard Lewis Clinch is a reliable scorer, and freshman guard Iman Shumpert has been impressive handling the ball.
It will be an interesting test to see how the Yellow Jackets handle forward Taj Gibson and the USC Trojans Monday night.

Jim Brown: Initiating Social Change

By Seth Rubinroit

Photo by Sam Rubinroit

 

            Jim Brown became famous by knocking people down. As a fullback with the Cleveland Browns who was named NFL MVP three times and inducted into both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame, he was known for his punishing running style that would leave would-be-tacklers sprawled on the field. Now, as the CEO of the Amer-I-Can Program, Brown has earned the reputation as someone who helps people up.

            The Amer-I-Can Program has given Brown the opportunity to create significant social change. The program consists of a 60 to 90-hour curriculum that teaches people life-management skills, and to take responsibility for themselves. Over the past twenty years, people ranging from gang-members and criminals to police officers and corporate CEOs have experienced positive changes in their lives as a result of the lessons taught in the Amer-I-Can Life Management Skills curriculum.

            “The reason I started [Amer-I-Can] was because of the gang violence,” Brown said at a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Amer-I-Can program at his house, which is nestled in the Hollywood Hills. “I decided I would do something about it. One night, I had a group of gang members from different gangs up here, and I found out that most of them wanted to change their lives. Then, I had more meetings and more gang members would come up, and we would work on peace between them, and we developed the academic curriculum.”

            In addition to the Life Management Skills curriculum, Brown started the Amer-I-Can Foundation for Social Change to raise money to fight crime in low-income communities by helping people improve their lives and exercise self-determination. To achieve this goal, Brown has partnered with Rudolph “Rock” Johnson, a former gang member who spent two terms totaling 17 years in jail before Brown helped him turn his life around. Johnson now runs a club basketball team in association with Amer-I-Can for high school students who otherwise would not be able to afford the cost of a traveling team, which gives the student-athletes the opportunity to display their basketball skills and hopefully earn a college scholarship.

            What separates Brown from other philanthropists is his belief in change rather than charity. Rather than throwing money at society’s problems, Brown has dedicated his time and energy to fixing them. For example, Brown has hosted rival gangs at his house to discuss peace between them, and personally intervenes to guide those who need his help.

            “[People] love to do charity because you can give someone ten percent of your income, and you are done with it,” Brown said. On the other hand, “change takes every ounce of everything you have in your body. But change is what is going to make the major difference. That is what is going to affect our kids.”

            In addition to his work with the Amer-I-Can Program, Brown is Executive Advisor to the Cleveland Browns, with whom he spent his entire NFL career. Brown commented on the situation with Brett Favre, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback, who recently joined the New York Jets after changing his mind about retiring from football.

“I was saddened by it because I would have hoped that [Favre] would have stayed in retirement and let his legacy stay intact,” Brown said. “[Favre] is a great player, and evidently is a decent human being. But, this pursuit of the game, to me, has gone to an extreme. However, he is within his rights. I left because I wanted to leave my legacy intact. I left at 29 years old. I was the MVP of the league, and we won the world championship in 1964, so I wanted to be able to tell you that 40 years later. Sometimes, an athlete stays around too long, and there are more things to do than just athletics, and there is a time to leave. But, if he wins a Super Bowl, we will all be wrong. ”

Brown, who retired after playing only nine years in the NFL, says he was never seriously tempted to return to football.

“When you have a cause bigger than sports, you do not think about going back and playing sports.”