Sport For Change Trends

Posted on July 2, 2009
Filed Under Outreach, Sports | Leave a Comment

It is interesting to see the growing trend of organizations using the platform of sport to impact the world.

Shoe and apparel companies, professional sports organizations, national commissions, and start up non-profits are in the game. Causes are geared towards poverty, health, peace, equality, opportunity, and education.

Change is needed. Collaboration on a global scale is happening. Sport is uniting.

The following is not an exhaustive list, but an additional post on a movement of sport for change.

Gamechangers

Gamechangers // Nike and Ashoka’s Changemakers join forces to, “Change the Game for Women in Sport.”

Ashoka is a non-profit support system for social entrepreneurs – people around the world who develop innovative solutions to the social problems that most urgently demand them.

Both groups have created an online global community that invites participants to propose, vote, or just learn about way’s to leverage sport for positive social change in the lives of girls and women.

sports&dev

Sport and Development // The International Platform uses sport as a tool for development and peace.

Goal #1: Increase the visibility of sport’s development potential among the target groups of the Platform.
Goal #2: Contribute to improving Sport & Development practice.
Goal #3: Encourage dialogue and partnerships and facilitate strategic alliances.

Target groups: developmental agencies, sports sector, practitioners, researchers, youth and volunteers, media.

Laureus

Laureus // The Sport for Good Foundation promotes the use of sport as a tool for social change and celebrates sporting excellence.

The organization comprises of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and the Laureus World Sports Awards.

The Foundation supports and partners with global community initiative projects that help combat social ills through sports.

Projects consist of educational and life skills workshops, substance abuse, lack of educational and employment opportunities, abusive relationships, racial and religious intolerance, gang violence, depression, and HIV/AIDS.

ninemillion

ninemillion // The campaign was created in 2006 by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in partnership with Nike and Microsoft.

The goal of the campaign is to give more than nine million children better access to education, sport and technology by 2010.

The website exists to raise funds, but also to give a voice to refugee children’s stories and to understand what refugee children’s lives are like.

NBA_Cares

NBA Cares // The NBA’s social responsibility initiative that addresses important social issues in the United States and around the world.

The NBA, it’s teams, and players have committed to donating $100 million to charity, providing a million hours of hands on service to the community and creating 250 places where kids and families can live, learn or play.

NFL_Play60

Play 60 // The NFL’s national youth health and fitness campaign focused on increasing the wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day and reversing the effects of the childhood obesity epidemic.

A few examples of non-profit start ups, that I have previously posted about, are Hoops of Hope and Peace Players International.

The list could continue.

C.Harv

NBA Draft Day

Posted on June 25, 2009
Filed Under Sports, Videos | 1 Comment

Today is the 2009 NBA Draft in New York. The draft is a day of excitement for many reasons, but mainly because of the anticipation of change.

Players are hoping to fulfill their dreams of making it to the top level of basketball in the world. Teams are trying to draft the best available player for there roster. Fans are desiring that their teams pick the right players for a championship formula.

This year’s draft has been labeled as “soft.” It is hard to compete with former drafts that produced LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neil, or the crew in 1984.

Remember the 84 draft? #1 Hakeem Olajuwon to Houston. #2 Saw Bowie to Portland. #3 Michael Jordan to Chicago. #4 Sam Perkins to Dallas. #5 Charles Barkley to Philadelphia. #16 John Stockton to Utah. (4 players selected into the group of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History).

1984 is also notoriously known as the draft that Portland picked Bowie over Jordan. Portland had picked Clyde Drexler, a shooting guard, the year before, so they decided to pick a solid 7′1” All-American center from Kentucky.

For further insight on the 1984 draft, check out the book, Tip-Off: How the 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever.

Below is some video footage of the many fashion statements in past NBA Draft’s. Charles Barkley and Karl Malone are classic!

Calling All Sports Leaders

Posted on June 12, 2009
Filed Under Blogging, Life Direction | Leave a Comment

I have been thinking about refining the content on this blog for a few weeks now. The main points of emphasis have fallen under the categories of sports culture, global initiatives, and various interests in my life. This will continue.

However, I would like to move forward and focus more intently on cultivating sports culture and a movement of sports leaders.

Searching the web for like minded individuals, organizations, and resources leads to a variety of results. First thing that I noticed, is that there is a major interest in the development of sports and in using athletics has a platform to make a difference in the world. Second thing that I noticed, is that in many cases, the web presence– blogging, connecting, innovation, resources, etc — is lacking and uninspiring.

This is not to say that there is no web presence, innovation, or other useful mediums. But, while doing a simple Google search under the categories of “sports outreach,” “sports ministry,” or “sports for social change,” you’ll find many organizations of interest, but little development, quality web presence, and fresh resources.

Is the development of athletics, sports outreach, or using sport as a platform for social change on the decline? If not, where is the current and next generation of leaders?

I hope to inspire a movement of leaders in athletics — players, coaches, volunteers, directors, ministers, non-profit’s, and organizations — that aspire to see athletics thrive around the world, that seek to dream of creative, game changing ideas, and that desire to make an impact in people’s lives.

Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person interested in this genre. But I know that’s not the case. As I continue to network and connect with others on this platform and abroad, I will focus on developing my character, message, and new ways to change the game for the good.

I hope to use this platform to interact with and highlight individuals, organizations, and resources that are passionate about developing athletics and using it to impact the world.

Spread the word and join me.

(image:Getty)

C.Harv

3 on 3 // West Louisville

Posted on June 8, 2009
Filed Under Sports, Videos | Leave a Comment

On Saturday, I was down in West Louisville helping run a 3 on 3 basketball tournament.

The tournament was a part of a block party for the community at Redeemed Christian Church. Proceeds from the event are going towards their kids camps this summer.

The competition was pretty good and the elimination rounds got intense.
The winning team got $100, basketballs, and gym bags that were donated by Nike.

It was a fun day and I got the opportunity to met Eric Johnson, former University of Louisville basketball player (left side above, in red), who helped out with the tournament as well.

He can still shoot and I got to throw a lob to him when we were playing the youngsters talking trash after the tournament.

I was the only non-black player on the court and was called everything from Vlade Divac, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, to Manu Ginobili.

Old school and fundamentals were running the court!

C.Harv

Hoopland Documentary

Posted on May 27, 2009
Filed Under Documentaries, Videos | 1 Comment

Hoopland is a documentary film that follows the journey of student-athletes at the SEEDS (Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal) Academy in Senegal, Africa.

The goal of the Academy is to provide an opportunity for young people to excel in academics, basketball, life, and in being the next generation of leaders in their country and in the world. The staff at SEEDS works hard to find opportunities for the student-athletes to continue their journey at high schools and universities in the United States and in Europe.

One student-athlete, seven-foot Assane Sene, is the first from the Academy to pursue his dreams at a private school in Connecticut, pioneering the way for other participants of the SEEDS program.

The feature-length documentary was scheduled to come out in 2008, but still hasn’t been released. Below is a trailer of Hoopland.

C.Harv

The Playmaker // Steve Nash

Posted on May 23, 2009
Filed Under Sports, Videos | Leave a Comment

Steve Nash is a playmaker on and off the basketball court. Off the court, Nash gives back through his Foundation and projects like this. And he also likes to have some fun on Twitter, The_Real_Nash, like the rest of us. Take a look at some footage of Nash defining a playmaker.

C.Harv

Open Letter to the Lakers

Posted on May 17, 2009
Filed Under Sports | 2 Comments

Dear Lakers,

I have been a fan ever since I fell in love with the game of basketball (mid 80’s) while growing up in Southern California. I have so many good memories.

I remember Kareem positioning himself on the block and tossing up the unstoppable “Sky Hook.” I remember Magic and “Showtime” running the fast break like no other, throwing up the crowd pleasing “Coop-a-loop,” or dishing no look passes to Worthy.

I wore out my 1987 MVP shirt of Magic to the end, even after some girl at camp bumped into my sleeve with a green paint brush. I remember Chick Hearn on the mic declaring that the “refrigerator is closed” after a game was locked up. I remember the classic battles against Bird and the Celtics.

Over the years, there has been many seasons of joy when a title banner was hung up in the rafters, and also seasons that fell short. I am fully aware that both scenarios, winning and losing, are the reality for a fan and in sports in general. Even the great teams in history lose games.

But my main point of concern, and the underlining reason for this letter, is in regards to how you play the game.

You are so frustrating to watch at times, especially this post season. The switch of focus, intensity, effort, and team work is so carelessly turned on and off it’s confusing. I hear the media analyze your game in terms of “lackadaisical”, “embarrassing,” and even “arrogance.” And they are right! Everyone that is watching you play in the current series seems to get it, but you.

You talk about learning your lessons from last year’s Finals, but it doesn’t seem to have registered yet. After losing badly this series, the response is “everything is fine,” and “we have home court advantage,” or pointing the finger of blame to someone else. That is not the right response.

That is not the response of a championship team or a team that a fan could be proud of. The right response is that we are being out hustled, out played, and are all to blame, from Phil Jackson and moving down the bench to Kobe Bryant.

A championship team plays defense, plays with their teammates, and gives everything they have on the floor, every game. When you don’t play the game the right way, you don’t deserve a ring, you don’t respect the game, and you don’t earn the respect of your fans and the basketball community.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you must win every game, or that you can’t have an off game. The point, again, is that how you play the game matters.

In my mind, winning Game 7 tomorrow doesn’t erase the repetitive madness that painfully show’s up in your game. If you are fortunate to win Game 7, you have another series to prove yourself as a team worthy of the Finals and a team worthy of respect.

It’s in your court.

C.Harv

Spike Lee Basketball Documentaries

Posted on May 8, 2009
Filed Under Documentaries, TV, Videos | 1 Comment

Spike Lee has produced a fresh basketball documentary entitled: Kobe Doin’ Work. Spike Lee, a huge basketball fan and faithful court side attender of the NY Knicks, was given an all access pass from the Lakers organization and Phil Jackson to film a unique glimpse into the game of basketball star Kobe Bryant.

(video embedded)

Love or hate Kobe, the uncensored, all access footage, and court side view of some of the best basketball action in the world is appealing to any fan of the game.

Kobe Doin’ Work, a 90-minute documentary will be shown Saturday at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Festival and make its television debut on ESPN on May 16. The DVD release will be on May 19, 2009.

(video embedded)

In other works from Spike Lee’s Joint, the NY Times reported that Lee was turned down by LeBron James in his attempt to film a similar documentary like Kobe’s; James is waiting the release of “More Than a Game,” a documentary about him and his Akron high school teammates.

Meanwhile, Spike Lee, reportedly, is waiting on a pending documentary project about Michael Jordan (in a negotiation process with the NBA). Lee’s comments on the project: “Any time you get lawyers involved it gets stuck. It’s not Mike.”

“In Michael’s last season in Chicago, a camera was with him every single day during that season. And the NBA has been sitting on this footage for years. I mean, phenomenal stuff. There’s just so much amazing material and they’ve been sitting on it. And they finally realized they needed a filmmaker to make it into a film. So I’m going to go back, cut that stuff, then interview the players, the people that were a part of that great run. So it’s a fascinating look at one of the greatest athletes of all time.”

Should be some great footage!

What basketball documentary (player, team) would you like to see?

C.Harv

iSight Fun

Posted on April 30, 2009
Filed Under Mac | 2 Comments

Here’s the deal. I have a PowerBook G4 laptop that doesn’t have the built in iSight video camera (Don’t you love it when you buy a product and then the next version has some serious upgrades).

Anyways, moving forward. The video cameras have been available as an optional component that you attach to your computer, but I just never got around to buying one.

I know, I have been missing out on all the fun of video chatting and taking crazy pictures. But get this.

I was talking to my dad and somehow the subject of video cameras for computers came up. I reminded him that I didn’t have iSight for my laptop and he then informed me that he was given one and just had it laying around! He asked if I wanted it.

Hmmm….YES!!! The attachable iSight’s are a discontinued product with Apple since they are all now built into their computers. You can find them online, but also for a pretty penny. The attachable iSight is bulkier than the current built in finger nail sized camera’s, but I’m not complaining at all.

Fun times and many serious video conferences ahead.

C.Harv

Baller Transformed // AKA White Jesus

Posted on April 22, 2009
Filed Under Books, Sports Moments, Videos | 4 Comments

Over at Bounce Magazine, Issue #14, The White Issue, caught my attention and looked like an interesting read. The issue examined and paid homage to white basketball players that made an impact on the NYC courts.
**Update: On the cover is Jack “Black Jack” Ryan and inside features a major article of a playground legend Billy Rieser, aka White Jesus, who could rise with the best of them.** (Thanks Bobbito Garcia, from Bounce, for the correction).

Back in March, this post reintroduced Bill Reiser’s story and announced a new book that he is releasing.

The new book is entitled, They Called Me White Jesus, and highlights his journey from the playing days in East Harlem to his transformed life and sense of purpose through Christianity.

The trailer below gives a brief teaser. Another book that I will be adding to my reading list!