I really wanted to concentrate on other events besides sports during these class assigned blogs but i couldnt help myself when i saw this story.
Another coach has jumped ship on his players and taken a position that is more favorable (money) for his career. From my perspective, football is the ultimate team game and also the most grueling. It takes a special person to stand up in front of 50 men and ask them to believe in what they are preaching and literally put their physical health on the line for a win. A win, more often than not, goes to the credit of the coach.
Bobby Petrino, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, has left his team of players and other assistant coaches for a position with the University of Arkansas. Granted, Petrino is better suited for the college game but the NFL season is not even finished. It is obvious that this man's word is worth nothing.
Don't get me wrong, professional athletes are well paid and i am sure their feelings arent hurt too bad. The main concern i have is Petrino going back to the college ranks. He will now be recruiting 17, 18 and 19 year olds and telling them about how fine an institution Arkansas is and promoting his coaching experience to the parents of these kids. After the kids believe his bull, they will sign a 'letter-of-intent' to attend Arkansas and are usually treated with disdain when they have a change of heart.
The NCAA has a lengthy policy which explains that a player must sit out for one year of competition when transferrring to another school that is in the same division. Let me explain for those that dont follow sports - If i sign an agreement to accept a scholarship and attend to the university of michigan to play football and later begin to experience homesickness and opt to leave for a closer school, I have to wait one calendar year before i can compete in that sport.
And coaches?
Their are no policies in place to reprimand coaches for changing schools. A coach can come into your house in January, tell you that he needs you to help his team win then walk out the door in December when he has a better offer from another team/school. Where is the integrity? Nine months ago, Petrino was at the university of louisville coaching their football team. Arkanas is his third gig in a year. Those players at louisville are still held to their signature and expected to play no matter who the coach is.
Who looks out for the student-athlete in all of this mess? When the coach who brought those student-athletes to that university is allowed to shop around, most times after the saeson, then why cant student-athletes?
There needs to be some sort of guidelines or policies that makes these coaches stick to their contractual agreement and not only coach the football team but also serve as a role-model and not always jump at the first sight of a better opportunity.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Can you save a child? Will You?
November was National Homelessness Awareness Month. How appropriate to designate a month typically characterized by family gatherings and a hearty feast in honor of those who rarely eat, don't have health care, and often are subject to the elements because they have no roof over their heads and no family to turn to. Now we are in the middle of the season known for its bright lights, holiday cheer, bountiful food, and the exchange of beautifully wrapped gifts. But what about those who sleep under leaf-bare trees? What about toddlers who know nothing of Santa or the birth of Christ? What about the rising number of veterans who are homeless? A very sad commentary on this nation. Even sadder, the number of children who are homeless or living in poverty.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that in the United States, more than one million youth are homeless at some time throughout any given year. Locally, four out of 10 children live in poverty,making D.C. the jurisdiction with the highest child poverty rate in the nation. How does this happen? In any given year, D.C. has approximately 1,400 homeless youth and yet, there are only 38 sheter beds and 74 transtional or supportive housing programs for youth specifically. There are more adult shelters, but youth who are not accompanied by an adult are either not allowed in those shelters or are advised against entering those shelters. How do I know this? Frank told me.
Frank is a 20 year old African American male residing in the Transitional Living Program of Covenant House Washington (my place of employment). He also served as the emcee of a Candlelight Vigil on Behalf of Homeless Youth, held Nov. 15 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. The Vigil was held outside intentionally to give participants a sense of what it feels to be without shelter in the winter. The backdrop of the event was the nation's capital and national mouments, conveying to participants that among such awesome beauty, in seat of government there is great poverty and violence: In the District, 4 out 5 deaths to older teens (ages 15 - 19) are violent in nature, nationally, approximately 5,000 homeless youth die from assault, illness and suicide every year; 57 percent of homeless youth don't eat at least one day a month; 50 percent of youth aging out of foster care and juvenile justice systems will be homeless in six months.
In his opening remarks, Frank spoke of how just about a year ago he was sleeping outside, in train stations, on benches. He tried to enter a men's shelter but got some advice that made him walk away. The intake person told him, "You're welcome to come in, but you won't survive in here. If you want to live a long life, leave." Fortunately, Frank left. One cold February night, he was picked up by the Covenant House Outreach Team and the rest, as they say, is history.
The 2007 Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth kicked off the 90 Days of Winter Campaign of Covenant House. The campaign, which spans the coldest months of the winter season, seeks to raise support for the nonprofit's Crisis Center--a 90-day emergency shelter program. During the Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth, youth engaged in the programs and services of Covenant House Washington took to the stage to tell participants how they can make a difference in the lives of homeless youth. Check out their comments and learn how you can make a difference. You can also visit the Covenant House web page to light a candle for homeless youth or make a donation: http://candlelight.covenanthouse.org/ or locally, visit http://www.covenanthousedc.org/.
Sources: L.A. County Department of Children & Family Services; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, The Older Adolescent Task Force and St. Louis University, 2002: National Runaway Switchboard; Covenant House.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that in the United States, more than one million youth are homeless at some time throughout any given year. Locally, four out of 10 children live in poverty,making D.C. the jurisdiction with the highest child poverty rate in the nation. How does this happen? In any given year, D.C. has approximately 1,400 homeless youth and yet, there are only 38 sheter beds and 74 transtional or supportive housing programs for youth specifically. There are more adult shelters, but youth who are not accompanied by an adult are either not allowed in those shelters or are advised against entering those shelters. How do I know this? Frank told me.
Frank is a 20 year old African American male residing in the Transitional Living Program of Covenant House Washington (my place of employment). He also served as the emcee of a Candlelight Vigil on Behalf of Homeless Youth, held Nov. 15 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. The Vigil was held outside intentionally to give participants a sense of what it feels to be without shelter in the winter. The backdrop of the event was the nation's capital and national mouments, conveying to participants that among such awesome beauty, in seat of government there is great poverty and violence: In the District, 4 out 5 deaths to older teens (ages 15 - 19) are violent in nature, nationally, approximately 5,000 homeless youth die from assault, illness and suicide every year; 57 percent of homeless youth don't eat at least one day a month; 50 percent of youth aging out of foster care and juvenile justice systems will be homeless in six months.
In his opening remarks, Frank spoke of how just about a year ago he was sleeping outside, in train stations, on benches. He tried to enter a men's shelter but got some advice that made him walk away. The intake person told him, "You're welcome to come in, but you won't survive in here. If you want to live a long life, leave." Fortunately, Frank left. One cold February night, he was picked up by the Covenant House Outreach Team and the rest, as they say, is history.
The 2007 Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth kicked off the 90 Days of Winter Campaign of Covenant House. The campaign, which spans the coldest months of the winter season, seeks to raise support for the nonprofit's Crisis Center--a 90-day emergency shelter program. During the Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth, youth engaged in the programs and services of Covenant House Washington took to the stage to tell participants how they can make a difference in the lives of homeless youth. Check out their comments and learn how you can make a difference. You can also visit the Covenant House web page to light a candle for homeless youth or make a donation: http://candlelight.covenanthouse.org/ or locally, visit http://www.covenanthousedc.org/.
No child should be homeless. You can save a child!
According to Homeless Youth, In 90 Days You Can:
- Encourage City Officials to fund more shelters and housing programs for youth.
- Donate warm, new clothing and blankets to a local youth shelter.
- Get more businesses to invest in youth by providing more job opportunities.
- Donate Metro fare cards and tokens to youth programs to assist with transportation.
- Save all change you get after you buy your morning coffee or breakfast and donate that to a youth shelter at the end of 90 days.
- Volunteer to teach young people skills in a trade or talk about entrepreneurship.
- Advocate for more educational support systems for young adults and children.
- Encourage City Officials to provide more health care and health insurance for the homeless and people with jobs that don’t offer health insurance at affordable prices.
- You could bring/or refer a homeless youth to Covenant House Washington’s Crisis Center“hould ever be homeless. You can save a child!
- Host a Candlelight Vigil in your home or at your place of business.
Sources: L.A. County Department of Children & Family Services; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, The Older Adolescent Task Force and St. Louis University, 2002: National Runaway Switchboard; Covenant House.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Charm School
Southerners--I consider myself a Southerner second only to being a Texan--have a wonderful ability to charm with words. Where else in the world can you berate or denigrate someone and have them thank you for it?
I was facilitating a two-day session to teach employees how to use a new Web content management system when I worked for a teaching hospital in Texas. During the first day, a very strong minded Texan, who believes everyone is entitled to her opinion, frequently reminded me that she was no fan of the new Web design.
As our time together was drawing to a close, "Dora" piped up again, "David, I really just think the old site was better. I just don't like this."
I flashed a big smile, clasped my hands together to keep from lunging at her, and, in my sweetest Texas drawl I could muster, cooed "Well, Dora. I just suppose there ain't no accountin' for taste, is there?"
Dora chuckled while I proceeded to explain the logic behind the new design and reiterate the benefits to her of using a content management system.
Meanwhile, my supervisor, who was sitting directly in front of Dora, stared at me in wide-eyed disbelief.
I was running late the following morning, so I was last to arrive in the training room. Before I could even put my materials down, Dora enthusiastically summoned me with a wave. "Oh, David, I'm glad your here." She pushed a stack of pages toward me. "I think I know how I'm going to organize my Web pages."
Dora never complained about the Web design again.
During a meeting to brief the D.C. Council on his plans to close 23 schools, Mayor Adrian Fenty managed to alienate council members again, according to the Washington Post.
Sounds like Fenty could use a brief lesson in charm. And he better do it quick because as the head of D.C. schools, he has less than five years on the clock to accomplish his goals before he's ousted.
You see, superintendents--for all intents and purposes, Fenty is now the District's de facto superintendent--have a love-hate relationship with the boards that hire them. In this case, the council is the board because they approved Fenty's take over of the schools.
First comes the honeymoon. The board is in love with the superintendent because, after all, they practically hand picked him. But time eventually changes the face of the board through elections, scandals, and retirements. As the board changes, so do its values and its love for the superintendent.
A superintendent who loses favor with the board becomes a lame duck. Or a dictator. Soon, constituents will be clamoring for a change and the superintendent is forced to leave one way or another.
Fenty, for the most part, has made a favorable impression on me, but I'm concerned that if he doesn't learn to better handle school issues he's going to have a very short career because his role as superintendent is now tied to his role as mayor.
I was facilitating a two-day session to teach employees how to use a new Web content management system when I worked for a teaching hospital in Texas. During the first day, a very strong minded Texan, who believes everyone is entitled to her opinion, frequently reminded me that she was no fan of the new Web design.
As our time together was drawing to a close, "Dora" piped up again, "David, I really just think the old site was better. I just don't like this."
I flashed a big smile, clasped my hands together to keep from lunging at her, and, in my sweetest Texas drawl I could muster, cooed "Well, Dora. I just suppose there ain't no accountin' for taste, is there?"
Dora chuckled while I proceeded to explain the logic behind the new design and reiterate the benefits to her of using a content management system.
Meanwhile, my supervisor, who was sitting directly in front of Dora, stared at me in wide-eyed disbelief.
I was running late the following morning, so I was last to arrive in the training room. Before I could even put my materials down, Dora enthusiastically summoned me with a wave. "Oh, David, I'm glad your here." She pushed a stack of pages toward me. "I think I know how I'm going to organize my Web pages."
Dora never complained about the Web design again.
* * *
During a meeting to brief the D.C. Council on his plans to close 23 schools, Mayor Adrian Fenty managed to alienate council members again, according to the Washington Post.
Sounds like Fenty could use a brief lesson in charm. And he better do it quick because as the head of D.C. schools, he has less than five years on the clock to accomplish his goals before he's ousted.
You see, superintendents--for all intents and purposes, Fenty is now the District's de facto superintendent--have a love-hate relationship with the boards that hire them. In this case, the council is the board because they approved Fenty's take over of the schools.
First comes the honeymoon. The board is in love with the superintendent because, after all, they practically hand picked him. But time eventually changes the face of the board through elections, scandals, and retirements. As the board changes, so do its values and its love for the superintendent.
A superintendent who loses favor with the board becomes a lame duck. Or a dictator. Soon, constituents will be clamoring for a change and the superintendent is forced to leave one way or another.
Fenty, for the most part, has made a favorable impression on me, but I'm concerned that if he doesn't learn to better handle school issues he's going to have a very short career because his role as superintendent is now tied to his role as mayor.
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