MWPRINCight

Lessons Learned

2011-11-03T16:48:00.000-04:00

I haven't blogged in awhile. Mostly because I found myself sounding like a broken record

concerning my response to the media coverage on athletes and others who keep having "hiccups" in their lives.

But, I felt led to post today after I read a tweet from @JawnMurray. He tweeted, "U don't have to go thru what somebody else experienced to learn for yourself. Let others' mistakes teach U lessons! #IndustryTalk". In the past, I too have said something similar to this to crisis clients as well as to young people I speak to. You don't have to "have" all experiences in order to receive a lesson. I shared with a young girl one time, "I fell on the sword for you. Don't make the same mistake. Learn from mine and instead make new mistakes."

If we all got this, including myself, I strongly believe there would not be as much sensational news on the personal/private lives of individuals. And, our youth and young adults would not fall victim to repeating our actions, as if its normal behavior. I know I'm not saying anything new or profound. But, I believe if this point is made with as much frequency as the noise screamed by the negative, the mistakes, and the damaged it will overpower it.

Our Student Athletes STILL Don't Get It!

2011-04-25T10:30:00.005-04:00

The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative Commentary on UConn Athlete Jamal Coombs-McDaniel Arrest

Here was go AGAIN! Really?! Come on young people, especially those who obviously are participating and enjoying an active, productive and potentially prosperous future playing sports. I totally understand you wanting to have "normal" experiences with your friends. But, you need to be reminded that you are not normal, if your talents and skills have afforded you praise, popularity and public attention, you are not normal.

You cannot have it both ways. Which is more important to you?

And, as I always ask, where are the parents, coaches, and even the real "friends"? Who has these promising student athletes' backs?

In this day and age, with technology being what it is, if he hadn't been caught and arrested, someone could have easily been recording the "fun" experience either innocently or maliciously and you know where that could have led....posting on YouTube, local TV, a blog, etc.

I am pleading with student athletes to really take stock in where they are in life. Identify what is most important. Have a REAL "come to Jesus" on what they are currently doing that needs to stop or continue. And, determine what they might need to start doing differently. This process can begin with asking themselves the following starter questions:

Why do I play sports....enjoyment, natural ability, future fortune, parent push?
What role or impact will playing sports have in my future career and life goals and plans?
What do I need to do in order to ensure I continue to positively impact my right now and my tomorrow - if I want a career in sports?
Do I have people on my personal team that support and compliment or distract and compromise?
What's does MY playbook look like and what do I need to do to effectively execute it?

These are just starter questions. However, they will help get folks in the mind-set of really taking a moment to stop, stare, sift and strategize. Stop the ride and routine you've been on forever. Stare at your backstory on through to your present reality. Sift through what worked, what failed and why it succeeded or it didn't. Strategize what your future will look like based on your due diligence.

Until similar steps are taken I believe our student athletes will continue to make this unfortunate mistake.

The actual Huffington Post piece:

HARTFORD, Conn. – Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, a swingman on Connecticut's national championship basketball team, has been arrested on a marijuana possession charge.

Campus police say the sophomore from Dorchester, Mass. was arrested Thursday night along with two people at Merritt Hall, a campus dormitory.

"During the course of the investigation, officers found Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and two other individuals in possession of 5.6 grams of marijuana, a marijuana grinder and a package of cigars used to smoke marijuana," according to the police report.

Coombs-McDaniel was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on May 5.

He was one of 11 people arrested during the first night of Spring Weekend, an annual weekend of campus parties before final exams.

Coombs-McDaniel played in all 41 of UConn's games during its national championship season, and started twice. He averaged 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds.

He is a favorite with the UConn student section, which breaks into a chorus of "Cooombs" when he scores.

"We are aware of the arrest of Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, but beyond that have no further comment at this time," said Kyle Muncy, a spokesman for the basketball program.

It was not immediately clear if Coombs-McDaniel had an attorney, and he did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Panthers cut WR Dwayne Jarrett after second drunken driving arrest - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com

2010-10-05T21:41:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am so sorry that Dwayne Jarrett was released today by the Panthers. The 23 year old looked to have a promising career....and, he still might. But, right now as I type he is unemployed. The question is, "should he be?" The answer is, "no, he should not be."

As I have stated in previous posts, although an athlete has talent and money, they still do not possess maturity, common sense or life experience. Their life since Pop Warner has been sports...period. And, their life after being drafted is sports. They have not had a chance to live, grow, make mistakes, process....all the basic things teenagers and young adults are able to do in the world. So, when they enter the ADULT world of sports, the expectation that is placed on them is unfair.

When their parents hand them over to their sports agents there should be an understanding that the sports agents don't just help brocker the best financial deal for them with the best team. The sports agent must now take on the responsibility of mentoring, monitoring and managing the off-the-field behavior of the athlete.

Sports agents need to mentor their clients; guide them through all things that come with taking on this adult responsibility called "Pro Athlete". Sports agents need to monitor their clients; make sure they are acting responsible and being a good steward over all they have. And, sports agents need to manage their clients. Now, the latter is done to a degree, but not completely. In managing your client you are bringing in the RIGHT people to help ensure the client's brand is not just secured, but enhanced and ever evolving. All of this helps the sports agent at the negotiating table walk away with more money.

But, what happens more than not is they see the athletes as a check...period. There is no concern or little concern of the athlete's well-being...no proactive action taken to ensure that, if nothing else, their check is safe and a constant, by putting in place the right elements to guarantee success.

So, today, I would like to ask the question, when will a portion of the blame for the missteps of these young athletes begin to be placed on the sports agents? When will they be held responsible for some of the drama that seems to be getting worse within professional athletes' off-the-field/court actions?

These KIDS need help. They do not need someone else in their pockets and being a "yes person". Rather, they need someone who will give them sound advice, direction, assistance and support.

Am I alone in this form of thinking or what?

Panthers cut WR Dwayne Jarrett after second drunken driving arrest - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com

Reebok: No agreement was in place with Patriots LB Brandon Spikes

2010-09-04T16:47:00.004-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

Here we go again? Why do a sex tape EVER? When has sex tapes become the norm? Thank you Paris, Kim K, Ray J., etc. for helping create this new culture of sex tape equating to financial success and celebrity status. Because of this folks are not thinking clear. This is a society of instant success/fame/fortune.

What was Spikes' rationale for doing a sex tape pre-NFL or ever? If your plan was to be in the NFL why do anything that might hurt that? Take a page out of Vick, Roethlisberger, Burress' playbook of life and learn from them. Keep your focus on the field and not get distracted by off the field drama. Who encourages you or stands by allowing you to do such a thing?

Did your agent EVER sit you down and tell you what you should and should not do moving forward in your career? I am so tired of folks not being proactive in their approach with these players. Stop trying to clean up mess that could easily be avoided.

And, lets not make this Reebok's problem. They are not the story....it's Spikes problem along with the Patriots and NFL.

Come on man....you have a chance that many young men dream of having...and now it's stalled before it even gets started.

Now, you can recover from this hiccup. The question is, what's next?
___________________________________

Story in The Huddle by Sean Leahy:

Reebok spokesman Dan Sarro said Thursday that the company was never close to a contractual relationship with New England Patriots LB Brandon Spikes.

Spikes' agent, Terry Watson, told several outlets that news of a sex tape involving Spikes had prompted Reebok to pull out of a potential marketing relationship. Sarro said in an e-mail that the relationship never got that far:

"The media reports that Reebok has terminated an endorsement contract with Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes are completely false. Reebok never had a deal with Brandon. The story was reported without confirmation from Reebok, and as a result inaccurate information is now being reported as fact. We had discussions with Brandon earlier this summer, as we do with many NFL players, but no agreement has been reached and he is not currently under contract with Reebok."

Watson said this week that Spikes is embarrassed by the news of the sex tape, which he said occurred prior to the time the Patriots drafted him in the second round of April's draft.

-- Sean Leahy

When there is a hiccup in your life: Crisis 101

2010-08-27T11:52:00.005-04:00

WHEN THERE IS A HICCUP IN YOUR LIFE: Personal Crisis 101

A hiccup (crisis) can come at any time, from anywhere and in any form. The goal when faced with a crisis is to minimize the overall damage. The best way to manage the situation, if it should ever arise, is to not hold your breath until it goes away, but rather:

REFLECT
Reflect, don’t react on what happened. Reflect on the role you played in it. Reflect on how others have reacted to both the situation and to you. Reflect on how you feel. Reflect on how/when/what your response should be.

Honesty, self-reflection push you forward. Lies, misplaced blame and denial push you back.

REMOVE
Remove negative thinking. Remove negative/dysfunctional people. Remove yourself from any and all things that could possibly cause you to repeat your mistake or a similar one in the future.

REPLACE
Replace your negative energy, space and inner circle with all things positive, productive and progressive. Don't dwell on the mistake. Take the lesson, walk over the mistake and move forward.

RENEW
Renew your mind by speaking life into your situation. Positive thoughts, lead to positive words which lead to positive actions. Don't define who you are by just the mistakes you made/make or what others will say about you. You are the total sum of all things reflecting you.

Bottom line: Understand what happened. Embrace what happened. Promote your learned lessons. And, remember that "...in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

We all have a purpose in life to fulfill. The good, bad and UGLY are part of fulfilling that purpose.

It is time to live more proactively in this reactive world. Walk out your destiny.

Almost 80 Percent of NFL Players Nearly Bankrupt, 60 Percent of NBA Ballers? Why?

2010-03-15T14:11:00.003-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:
This piece speaks directly to why MWPR created The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative. The objective is to put a stop to this sad cycle of talented athletes living post-professional lives as bad off as they were before they inked their first professional deal.

Bishop Jakes stated in a sermon entitled, "Rags to Riches", that sometimes our gifts take us to places we are not properly equipped to handle. This is most realized in the world of professional sports. Young-gifted student athletes are dropped into the adult world of professional sports because of their talent way before they are mentally prepared to handle the responsibilities that come along with the opportunity. And, no one is taking the time to educate them through the process because everyone is out for what they can gain immediately from the opportunity. There is no long-term thinking, just right now gratification. When will this ugly cycle end?

As I have said before student-athletes are being pimped (by parents, friends, coaches, schools, agents, advertisers, media, professional organizations, etc.), not nurtured. And, we as a society need to become better stewards over the our future leaders, influencers, heads of households, decision-makers, etc. or we are in for a scary new reality. The cycle must be broken.

Almost 80 Percent of NFL Players Nearly Bankrupt, 60 Percent of NBA Ballers? Why?
Source: RO/rollingout.com

The fact that most professional athletes from the three major sports become completely broke and deep in debt after retirement continues to confound the public and sports pundits alike.

It's not like today's players aren’t aware of the many horror stories of players of yesteryear who, because of their lack of job skills, injuries and bad financial dealings, become nearly destitute. Yet, nearly 80 percent of players in the National Football League are hovering near or are in bankruptcy just two years after retiring from the game. And in the NBA, 60 percent of its players are broke within five years of retirement.

Sports Illustrated contributes the financial decline to several key factors: ignorance of business, which leads to faulty investments; conspicuous consumption during their playing days that continues after their playing days are over; divorces, which forces them to pay out exorbitant child support and alimony payments while no longer making the same money; and poor financial planning — or better yet, no financial planning — which prevents them from instituting some reasonable budgetary constraints on themselves and their inner circle, particularly their spouses.

Here are some of the most notable cases of financial blunders in recent years:

Latrell "I can't Feed My Family" Sprewell: NBA fans will never, ever forget how a washed-up, past his prime Latrell Sprewell turned his nose up at a $21 million contract because he said it was hardly enough money to "feed [his] family.” It would’ve come in handy today, because of all of the $96 million Sprewell made during his career, he has none of it left. He also lost his $1.5 million dollar Italian yacht, named "Milwaukee’s Best," in 2007. His $5.4 million house went into foreclosure in May 2008.

Scottie Pippen: Former Chicago Bulls star and Michael Jordan's famous on-court partner, Scottie Pippen lost $120 million in career earnings due to poor financial planning and bad business ideas. Arguably the greatest and most-well known sidekick in NBA history blew $27 million on bad investments and spent $4.3 million on a Gulfstream II corporate jet. He does have six NBA title rings though.

Evander Holyfield: This heavyweight could be sued for false advertising. That's because the four-time boxing champ, known as "The Real Deal,” apparently never knew how to actually make a deal. He reportedly made over $250 million in cash during his boxing career, yet he’s flat broke--and missing a chunk of his ear. Usually, buying a home is one of the smartest investments. But Holyfield bought a $20 million house with over 54,000 square feet and 109 rooms. The house has 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a movie theater, a bowling alley and an Olympic-size swimming pool. And let's not even mention all those child support payments.

Mike Tyson: Despite his career catastrophes, “Iron Mike” remains an immensely popular personality. At his apex, Tyson had $400 million. He dropped half a million dollars on a 420-horsepower Bentley Continental SC with lamb’s wool rugs, a phone and a removable glass roof. It’s one of only 73 Bentley Continental SCs ever built. He spent over $4.5 million on cars alone. Throw in a $2 million bathtub and $140,000 for two Bengal tigers and you can see why Tyson’s fortune is down for the count. –terry shropshire

Stern suspends Arenas indefinitely

2010-01-06T17:30:00.002-05:00

NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday suspended Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas indefinitely, calling the three-time all-star "not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game." Arenas admitted to bringing four unloaded guns to Verizon Center, which violates D.C. gun laws and league rules that prohibit weapons in NBA facilities.

In a scathing statement, Stern condemned Arenas's behavior after it was revealed that he got into a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton involving guns.

"The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal investigation involving the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department, and the consideration of this matter by a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia. For the same reason, I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action. Wizards personnel continue to be interviewed by law enforcement authorities, some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident."

"Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA."

The Wizards supported the decision in a statement in which the team criticized Arenas's behavior and that of his teammates before playing the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. As the team prepared for the game, the players circled Arenas, who formed his fingers into pretend guns and acted as if he were shooting his teammates. His teammates laughed.

"We fully endorse the decision of the NBA to indefinitely suspend Gilbert Arenas. Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert's recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable," the statement read. "Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert's behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable. Under Abe Pollin's leadership, our organization never tolerated such behavior, and we have no intention of ever doing so."

Source: The Washington Post By Michael Lee January 6, 2010; 4:45 PM ET

The Playbook Commentary: The State of Professional Athletes

2010-01-04T22:45:00.007-05:00

It has been a minute since I posted The Playbook Commentary. I don't know if it's because the PR biz has had me busy, as much as it seems like the state of pro athletes and sports in general has been non-stop crazy....too much to talk about.

But, with the recent incident with Gilbert Arenas, I HAD to come back on the scene and say something.

I read somewhere the comment that Arenas has "shot himself in the foot". And, I have to agree. It is amazing that after being in the NBA for as long as he has now, Arenas has not heeded the warnings offered up by the unfortunate incidents experienced and lessons learned from his fellow colleagues in the NBA and professional sports all together.

Come on man, guns in the locker room? Yes, you are a target, so to speak. And, I can understand you feeling like you have to protect yourself from the crazies out there who will try you. But, that's why you pay the big bucks to get personal bodyguards and should depend on the NBA team security to watch your back. However, IF you still believe you need to protect yourself....you DON'T pull the weapon out on a fellow colleague in the locker room. Come on.

As my pastor in Baltimore has said over the years, "Commonsense is not common to everyone." CLEARLY!

Although, I place some ownership of blame on Arenas and other players for the actions they take, I really place blame on the organizations they represent. If they would take their attention off of milking these players for the immediate monetary gain, they would be able to see that a serious issue exists that needs to be addressed now, before this small hole becomes a bottomless pit. Think strategically. Think proactively. Think productively....today. And, tomorrow will take care of itself.

We continue to live in a reactionary state. No one plans for tomorrow, they just allow tomorrow to control their next move.....not good. As owner of a PR firm that specializes in crisis/reputation management, I have been very busy as of late. Not a good thing for the clients, but I can't complain as the recipient. The first thing I have shared with each client and in each situation is its time out for reactionary living and time for proactive living.

What are your long-term goals? How do you plan on achieving them? What will you do today to start? If you are focused on your long-term goals, you will find it hard to get into short-term trouble. I say that because you will take a second pause before you make a move that is more reactionary in nature than proactive and productive.

But, because life does happen and we are all human, when or if you should ever find yourself in a "crisis" two things can save you. First, your previous proactive actions will serve as your brand foundation; it will cushion the negative blow. Let me give you an example. I use to work for an international PR firm as AGS on the world's most recognized consumer brand. This brand was big on "giving back". They were in the communities in which they did business. And, because of the sincere relationships established, they built brand loyalty. So, if and when, because life does happen, a bad thing would occur, it never turned into a major blow for them. The community never turned their back on them. Why? Because the foundation had been formed.

That is being PROactive in a reactionary world. They have always focused on their long-term goals, "giving back"; making a positive impact; affording opportunities; building their business; generating revenue; etc. So, even when short-term trouble comes up, it doesn't break their brand...just slightly and temporarily tarnishes it.

Can we say the same for folks like Arenas, Tiger and others? First, their brand foundation is not solid. Then on top of it, their arrogance, ignorance and poor advisory causes their reaction to be inadequate, ineffective and even damaging.

I am all about "doing you". It is your life, lead it the way you so choose. However, to be clear, when you are a professional athlete, your five senses, discerning spirit, inner circle and bottomline COMMON sense all need to be sharper than the regular person.

It's time to teach the next generation of "aspiring" professional athletes that you cannot have it both ways....have all the glory, attention and fame of a celebrity but, still believ you can and should be able to act like Joe Blow common man whose business will be less likely to make the morning news. That is not reality.

There is a responsibility that comes with your opportunity.

The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative continues to bring productive, positive, purpose-driven, proactive solutions to the real-life needs that occur in the natural life-cycle of an athlete..."a positive personal life = professional success".

We officially introduced it in 2009 at retired NFL Player Keion Carpenter and Pro Bowler Antonio Freeman's C4C Football Camp in Maryland. 2010 we are taking it to the next level....it is time.

Stay tuned for The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative Blog, Curriculum and Schedule.

It's time for PROactive living in 2010!

Vick Gets Second Chance

2009-08-14T10:49:00.004-04:00

Michael Vick gets a second chance with the Philadelphia Eagles. AWESOME!

Ths is an opportunity for Vick to quiet the nasty, ugly, negative and mean-spirited, oh, and yes HYPOCRITICAL folks who continue to place the entire game of dog-fighting on one man's shoulders. Folks say they haven't seen a change yet. Well, I would love to know how Vick can go about "showing" folks that he has changed, if he is not given the opportunities to do the things he needs to do in order for change to happen and be evident.

Playing football affords him the opportunity to work and provide for his family. Touring with the Humane Society helps to share his story about why it was wrong to participate in dog-fighting and to get others to literally learn from his mistake.

You have players and regular people who have killed PEOPLE, abused PEOPLE, cheated on PEOPLE and they have been allowed to get a "second chance". WHY NOT VICK?

Please people of the critical and hypocritical world...please share why Vick should not be given a second chance. And, give me real points and not emotional rhetoric. It's tired and not productive.
I don't want to make assumptions as to why folks HATE Vick so much. So, again, give me some real points. I love dogs too. So, let that point rest. Talk to me about who and why a person should or should not be given a "second chance" to make right of their wrongs and become a better citizen. How do we go about determining who gets tarred and feathered and who does not?

A quote from a long-time friend, colleague of Vick's and MWPR Client Retired NFL Safety Keion Carpenter says, "I think its a great situation for Mike being with a good organization and a great quarterback in McNabb. He can teach Mike so much on and of the field. There's no pressure on him to come in and play, Mike can rather work on getting back in the mix of just playing. Philly fans are getting not only a great player but an even better person. GO EAGLES!"

The Playbook Commentary on the tragic death of NFL QB Steve McNair

2009-07-07T08:14:00.006-04:00

Words cannot express the complete shock, saddness and total sickening feeling I have concerning the tragic death of Steve McNair. I learned about it Saturday afternoon heading to a 4th cookout and I screamed, "No, no, no!"

No, not another death. I was and still trying to embrace the reality that Michael Jackson is dead.

No, why did such a great player and person have to die so tragically and so young?

No, not another black-eye to the NFL brand.

The life and legacy of McNair's on the field and off-the-field accomplishments should be illuminated, not the details surrounding his death. And, he has many. He truly put into practice that when much is given, much is required. He was given a chance to not just play football, but to give his mother her flowers while she was alive to enjoy. He was able to influence the lives of those from his hometown and every place his feet touched and all are better because of it.

He was able to accomplish much professional success in Houston, Tennessee and my hometown Baltimore. He was the picture of hard work, perserverance and determination. He fought through pain when many athletes choose to sit out for a bruise. He was a true titan.

As Eddie George said in a recent press conference, everyone makes mistakes. And, that is what I continue to say in my Playbook Commentaries. My personal saying is, "don't cast a stone that you are not ready to receive back."

We must be slow to judge and quick to understand.

My only remark concerning how he died will be that we all, players and non, must realize that all actions bring consequences...it is up to us to determine if the consequences will be good or bad.

Steve, thank you for what you brought to the game of football...it will never be forgotten and it can never be repeated.

God bless your family.

The Playbook Case Study: Derrick Rose allegations expose a flawed system -- chicagotribune.com

2009-06-03T00:49:00.003-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

No words. And, it's not that I am speechless because of the allegation, I am speechless that there haven't been more made public. It's a sad commentary on where society's priorities have come down to as well as what we are teaching the next generation of athletes and future leaders. It has not been proven one way or the other if Rose did or did not take the SATs. But, the fact that the question has been raised is enough to make one hang their head in disappointment. AND, twhat is the saddest thing is that he doesn't even realize that what was allegedly done "for his benefit" was actually anything but. He is being pimped for his athletic potential. Period.

But, again I ask..."What is your Plan B?" What happens, if God forbid, you have an injury that ends your career before it even gets started? Who is worrying about that in your circle? We need to stop looking at promising athletes as cash cows. It is not fair to them or to anyone. All good things come to an end. The question is what will their (promising athletes) end look like? Only the athlete has the real answer. I urge the athlete to ake back your power.

I truly pray that this all turns out to be something about nothing....but, as they say, where there is smoke there is normally a fire. So frustrating.

Derrick Rose allegations expose a flawed system -- chicagotribune.com

The Playbook Case Study:Miami Dolphins player arrested in Freightliner truck incident - CNN.com

2009-05-24T18:07:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

It has been a minute since I have had a commentary on any player's misconduct. Truthfully, its because I felt like I was sounding like a broken record. And, then there was "seemingly" a lull in the missteps.

Now, I will say that on FB and Twitter, I have given my two cents on the hypocritical comments folks have made concerning Vick since he has been released. Net/net on that is...how dare anyone say that he doesn't deserve forgiveness or deserve to play football again. "Don't cast a stone, if you are not ready to receive one back." He made a horrendous mistake...poor judgement and paid for it, royally. To say he is not forgiven is to say his life might as well be over. And, what does that say about rehibilitation? What does that say to ANYONE who has made a mistake in life? Give, what you want to get.

Now, to this story...Randy Starks is an idiot. Period. There are mistakes and then there are mistakes. I want to say that this was common sense. But, as my pastor often says, "common sense is not common to everyone." OBVIOUSLY!

You load up a truck with 10 folks more than it is built for; drive with someone ON your lap; and, apparently, you drive it without legal tags. What is that about? Where is his agent? Who has his back? I know, all the things I have been saying all along. But, it is true. At least your "friends" should have your best interests at heart; even if it's for selfish reasons, like enjoying the constant hook up and benefits of being a part of the "lifestyle". Well, if you go along with the crazy ride and your boy gets in stupid trouble....your "lifestlye" is instantly over.

Come on people. Work with me. We all make mistakes...Lord knows I have, but when do we stop making the out this world ones?

Ask yourself the million dollar question, "Was it worth it?"

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Miami Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks was arrested early Sunday after police said he struck an officer with a slow-moving Freightliner truck, according to a police report.

Starks, 25, faces a charge of aggravated battery, according to the report.The arrest took place about 12:20 a.m. in Miami's South Beach area. Officers said they saw the Freightliner truck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on South Beach's Ocean Drive with some 13 people inside, including a woman sitting on the lap of Starks, who was driving.

The truck's seating capacity is four occupants, the police report said. It was not clear from the police report whether the Freightliner -- normally part of a tractor-trailer -- was connected to a trailer.

In the report, the officer recalled pursuing the truck on foot for about a half-block and pounding on the rear driver's-side window, but it kept moving. The officer caught up to the truck again, and it stopped after the officer pounded on the window again, the report said.

"I slowly approached the side door and just as I reached it the vehicle accelerated and started moving forward and slightly to the left," the unidentified officer writes in the report. "The vehicle's path caused the driver's side of the vehicle to strike me in the chest pushing me back and pinning me against a vehicle stopped in traffic in the northbound lane."

Meanwhile, a second officer was pounding on the passenger's-side window, the report said. The truck stopped and Starks was arrested.

A police check showed that the truck's license plate was not assigned to that vehicle, the report said, and Starks faces a charge for that as well.

Starks was released from jail later Sunday, according to a records check. The Miami Herald newspaper reported earlier he was jailed on $10,000 bond.

Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene told CNN the club was "only recently made aware of the situation. Since we are in the process of gathering information we have no comment."

Starks is in his sixth NFL season and his second with the Dolphins.

Miami Dolphins player arrested in Freightliner truck incident - CNN.com

The Playbook Case Study: NFL receiver Stallworth charged with DUI manslaughter - CNN.com

2009-04-01T16:48:00.001-04:00

(CNN) -- Authorities charged Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth with DUI manslaughter related to a fatal car accident last month, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office said Wednesday.

Ed Griffith said authorities allege Stallworth, 28, was driving under the influence last month in Miami, Florida, when he was involved in a traffic accident that killed a pedestrian.

NFL receiver Stallworth charged with DUI manslaughter - CNN.com

The Playbook Commentary on: Who needs 'em? Plax, Vick, T.O. & Harrison offer more questions than answers by Gary Myers, Daily News

2009-03-08T22:55:00.004-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

Everyone deserves another chance. We all make mistakes. Now, the question is, do we all learn from our mistakes? I am looking for a testimony from each of them. Take what you learned from your respective experience and make a positive impact to your respective circles of influence and community at large.

However, right now, the jury is still out on Plax, Vick, T.O. & Harrison. Until we see how they handle their "next" opportunity, we cannot say anything for or against any of them. All we can say now is they are all gifted athletes with playing life left in them. I pray each of them have finally had their "ah ha" moment and realized that this thing called life is serious and they either need to step it up or step aside to make room for someone who would truly value the blessing of playing pro sports, making a lot of money and having influence. But, I must admit, I am excited to see who gets it and does amazing things with their "next" opportunity.

To read full piece from Gary Myers, Daily News go to link
Who needs 'em? Plax, Vick, T.O. & Harrison offer more questions than answers

PB Commentary: Dallas Cowboys officially end Terrell Owns' tenure in Dallas - ESPN

2009-03-05T20:03:00.001-05:00

Not a Cowboys fan at all. Die-hard Redskins fan. "Hail to the Redskins. Hail Victory!" Win or lose. But, today, Dallas made me proud when they let TO go. I am less of a TO fan than I am a Cowboy fan. Why, you ask? Because he never allowed his game to speak for him...and, game he definitely has. He is a future Hall of Famer based on his on-the-field performances. But, off-the-field? He is what aspiring athletes should not become, caught up in his own hype. He tries to be the Jordan of football, but what he fails to realize is that MJ was a team player and allowed all teammates to have their time to perform. TO cried everytime he didn't get the ball. And, showed his emotions way too much. This is another page out of The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative (character and sportsmanship). He lacked it. And, although he has game Jerry Jones did not want the headache. Now the question is who WILL take the good (skills) and the bad (ego) combo which is Terrell Owens? Only time will tell. I hope he is doing some self-reflection. Because he is the common demoninator in all his less than happy team depatures.

Dallas Cowboys officially end Terrell Owns' tenure in Dallas - ESPN

The PB Commentary: FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Marshall's charge dropped; suspension still possible

2009-03-02T15:29:00.002-05:00

The Playbook Commentary:

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to pose the million dollar question to two NFL players. Point blank I asked, "What are your colleagues thinking continuing to get in trouble?" Their response (names will not be included) were enlightening. One said, "Since being in the league, its only over the past year or so that the examples given during the rookie symposium have become relevant and had an impact." He went on to share that he makes it a point to just go to work and that is it. Because, he says, "playing is a job". He works so hard that all he feels like doing is going home and chillin' out. But, if he does go out, he is with folks who clearly have his back.

The other player said, "Bottom-line, it's easy to get into trouble and harder to get out. That keeps me in line as much as is possible. But, anything can happen to anyone under the right the situation." They both also said, it's mainly ego that gets guys in trouble, as well as the folks you choose to have in your circle.

My follow up was about the symposium. I asked if the symposium was the first time they were taught specifically about choices and consequences. And, they said yes. I then asked, "So, it is safe to say that goes for most rookie players?" "Yes." Now, of course a lot of players come from a strong family. But, a lot don't. Either way, the symposium is the only introduction or reinforcement of the choice/consequence lesson. But, it should not be. It should be taught on the high school level, if not middle school. So, again, time to plug The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative as this is what we are looking to accomplish.

By the time an aspiring student-athlete is drafted and participate in the rookie symposium, at least the lesson on choice/consequence should be a topic they are more than familiar with.

Marshall's charge dropped; suspension still possible
Associated Press

A disorderly conduct charge against Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall has been dismissed in an Atlanta court, according to his Denver-based lawyer, Harvey Steinberg.

The Pro Bowl receiver, however, still faces possible suspension for repeated violations of the NFL's personal conduct code. The league doesn't require convictions for the commissioner to suspend a player.

"We will (still) look into it," league spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press.
When reached by FOX 31 KDVR in Denver, Marshall said, "I'm very happy, thank you. This is still not a good time, and there's a lot that I have to go through."

Marshall was suspended for a game last year for repeated run-ins with the law. He was looking at perhaps a suspension of eight games or more.

Marshall was arrested in Atlanta on Sunday morning following a fight and spent five hours in Atlanta City Jail before posting $300 bond.

He was suspended for three games last season for repeatedly running afoul of the law — Marshall's suspension stemmed from seven police-related incidents with his former girlfriend, Rasheedah Wately. But he had his punishment reduced to a single game when he pledged to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he would stay out of trouble.

Marshall, 24, now potentially faces a longer suspension to start the 2009 season, perhaps as much as eight games, which is the punishment other players have received for repeatedly getting into trouble off the field.

The league doesn't require convictions for the commissioner to suspend a player.
Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said the Broncos were aware of reports of Marshall's arrest but had no comment, and Marshall's Denver-based lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, also declined comment in a text to The AP.

His agent, Kennard McGwire, didn't immediately return an e-mail. Calls and e-mails also were sent after hours to Broncos general manager Brian Xanders and league spokesman Greg Aiello.
It was a March 6, 2008, arrest on a domestic violence warrant filed by his former girlfriend in Atlanta that led Goodell to summon Marshall to his New York offices last summer to explain his series of misdeeds. At that time, Marshall also faced a drunken driving trial that didn't fall under the league's personal conduct policy that would allow for suspension.

After sitting out the opener last season, Marshall returned from his suspension insisting he had turned round his life. He began making weekly visits to the Darrent Williams Teen Center on his days off to help inner city youths, something he said kept him grounded and fed his desire to stay off the police blotter.

Marshall said at the Pro Bowl last month he was ready to settle down and he proposed to his fiance, Michi Nogami, while in Hawaii for the all-star game. Broncos fans hoped this was another sign of Marshall maturing.

Marshall caught 104 passes for 1,265 yards and six TDs last season. But he dropped 18 on-target passes, something he blamed on the nerve damage in his right arm, which he put through a television set while horsing around with his brother in the offseason.

In three NFL seasons, Marshall has caught 226 passes for 2,899 yards and 15 touchdowns, although he's fumbled eight times, losing four.

Marshall is expected to seek a monster contract this year befitting his immense talents and reflecting his back-to-back 100-catch seasons.

His arrest came the same weekend another one of the team's leaders found himself in the news. Quarterback Jay Cutler, a fellow 2006 draft pick who also made his first trip to the Pro Bowl last month, is angry he was the subject of trade talks for Matt Cassel and has suggested his relationship with new coach Josh McDaniels has been strained.

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Marshall's charge dropped; suspension still possible

The PB Case Study: Report: Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt arrested for DUI - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

2009-02-26T14:07:00.001-05:00

The PB Commentary:

A few brands are negatively affected in this piece, the Celtics, Pruitt's and Marbury's. Now, it makes sense why the first two have some PR clean up to do. But, how did Marbury's get caught up in it? The obvious....his brand has issues of its own. Connecting his brand to the Celtics' brand doesn't help him, at least initially, as much as it might hurt theirs...at least initially. But, the jury is still out.

As for Pruitt. Why wasn't someone driving for him? If he is from the area, I know he had friends who could have and should have taken the wheel. Your circle needs to consist of responsible folks who have your back, especially since you have a "celebrity" status to maintain and a responsibility of representing the Celtics. Come on already!

Source: YAHOO! Sports

Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:15 am EST
Report: Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt arrested for DUI
By J.E. Skeets

Well, this is unfortunate.

Boston Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt (pictured right, driving to the net, sober) was arrested Thursday morning in California on suspicion of operating a car under the influence, according to that pesky little website TMZ.com.

Pruitt was pulled over around 3:15 AM in the Hollywood area. Sources tell TMZ Pruitt failed a field sobriety test and had a blood alcohol level well over the legal limit.

He was taken to a local jail and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. His bail was $5,000.
The 22-year-old Pruitt scored three points in five minutes of the Celtics' 93-91 loss to the Clippers before (apparently) hitting the bottle with friends. He is from the Los Angeles area and played college ball at the University of Southern California.

So to recap: Stephon Marbury says he'll sign the vet's minimum with Boston, Paul Pierce dislocates his thumb, twice, the Celtics lose to one of the worst teams in the league and their back-up guard gets busted for a DUI — all in the span of, what, 24, 48 hours?
Marbury is incredible. He's like the anti-rabbit's foot.

(via CelticsBlog)

Report: Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt arrested for DUI - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

MWPRINCight: NAACP head wants N.Y. Post editor, cartoonist axed

2009-02-22T17:25:00.003-05:00

MWPRINCight Comments can also be found in the USA Today article.

Comment 1:
My issue with their apology is that it was not sincere. It was more an act to eliminate the headache they created. And, my concern with the NAACP, Sharpton and others is that they might mismanage the opportunity by just demanding folks loose their jobs, that makes them instant "stars"....they will find another gig, i.e. Don Imus. The opportunity I refer to is that of "REAL" talk about race. Bump the sensitivity training...folks at the NY Post and elsewhere need to really get an understanding of where those who were offended, mainly African Americans are coming from. That is IF they care to. And, we, African Americans need to open our minds to the thought of educating those who don't have a clue. Now, once they have a clue, if they choose to continue to be insensitive, than they must go. And, do be clear, I am trying to give the editor-in-chief and cartoonist the benefit of the doubt.....but, its hard.

Comment 2:
Now, after scrolling down and reading some of the other comments, it I am officially afraid. There is hatred and ignorance within the comments on this topic and that shows that folks just don't care to heal. The NAACP was created BECAUSE African Americans (or as we were refere to 100 years ago, "colored" had no voice in education, social, political or civic rights). So, we took the word that was given us and used it for our power. As for the references to "BOY"...that right there shows that you know what you are doing and saying. There is no ignorance here, there is just plain old hurt and meanness. God help us all.

NAACP head wants N.Y. Post editor, cartoonist

NEW YORK (AP) — The head of the NAACP on Saturday urged readers to boycott the New York Post, calling a cartoon that the newspaper published an invitation to assassinate President Obama.

Benjamin Todd Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called on the tabloid to remove editor-in-chief Col Allan, as well as longtime cartoonist Sean Delonas.

APOLOGY: 'N.Y. Post' editorial addresses cartoon
CARTOON: 'N.Y. Post' depiction of dead chimpanzee stirs outrage

Earlier this week, the newspaper apologized to anyone who might have been offended by the image printed Wednesday, which some say likens Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police in Connecticut.

Jealous said the cartoon was "an invitation to assassination."

On Thursday, after protests by notable figures including director Spike Lee, the paper posted an editorial on its website saying the cartoon was meant to mock the federal economic stimulus bill, but "to those who were offended by the image, we apologize."

A spokeswoman for the newspaper referred the Associated Press to the paper's editorial when asked Saturday about the proposed NAACP boycott.

Jealous called the editorial "a half of an apology, without elaboration."

The drawing, he said, "picks off the scabs of all the racial wounds."

He spoke as the NAACP gathered for its annual meeting in New York, where it was founded a century ago.

NAACP officials said that if the Post does not take "serious disciplinary action," they would reach out to organizations across the country to join them in their efforts against the tabloid.

NAACP Chairman Julian Bond called the publication of the cartoon "thoughtlessness taken to the extreme. ... Anyone who is not offended by it does not have any sensitivity."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Black Student Athletes: Change We Can Believe In | Donna White | Opinions, Sports + Entertainment and more at RushmoreDrive

2009-02-17T18:58:00.002-05:00

My 140 word comment on RushMoreDrive.com to Donna White's piece:

MWPR ( Less than 1 minute ago)You are missing a significant piece to this puzzle, the parents. Has any research included stats on how many parents of Black athletes, who didn't graduate, played a role in that decision versus White athletes and their parents? Unfortunately, economic challenges influence the decision to stay/study or leave/cash-in on talent. And, that is normally the case for Black athletes more than Whites. Thus, the parents view their talented child as a ticket out/up. So, the pressure to leave is greater.

Donna's piece:

Since the election of President Obama, much has been written about the positive shift in attitude among some Black men who have traditionally survived on the fringe of their communities. Many young men (and not so young men) have cited the election of Obama as a turning point for doing better as Black men – being better sons, fathers and law-abiding citizens.

There is a collective sense that Mr. Obama is the representative of Black men, therefore, they have to positively ‘rep’ the race and him. If having a Black president can do what grandmas and mothers have been trying to do for a generation, then I am all for it. I hope that it extends to the classroom as well, finally abandoning the idea that doing well academically is “acting white” or makes you a sellout.

Again, as President Obama demonstrates, you can ball (basketball in his case) AND be academically competitive.Yet, some athletes are still not getting the message. National Signing Day – the day that high school football players sign their letters of intent to play for a college – was held on Wednesday, February 4. Naturally, the most prominent conferences - the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Pac-10, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) - were the big winners in recruiting the nation’s top talent. Most athletes want to play for schools whose games are televised, send the most players to the NFL and have the big name coaches. If I were a star athlete, I probably would want to do the same.

However, I wish more parents and athletes would also look for a program that graduates a majority of its athletes to show their prowess on the field and in the classroom. How many really considered the graduation rate at their chosen school along with the times they would be on SportsCenter? The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida released a report in December that shows that Black football players are graduating at a much lower rate than their white counterparts. Though the graduation rate among Black athletes has increased, only 59% are graduating compared to 76% of white players. Some may say a rate over 50% is good. But a closer examination of the report shows that 19 of the 68 teams that played in recent bowl games graduated fewer than half of the Black students whereas only one (1) school graduated fewer than half of its white football athletes according to Richard E. Lapchick, director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.

If Black athletes want to do better, they need to start selecting schools not just for the potential of getting to the NFL but also for preparing them for life in spite of the NFL.

Myron Rolle, a DB at Florida State, is headed to Oxford. Grant Hill graduated from Duke and still enjoys a prominent career in the NBA. It is possible for athletes to be serious students while dominating on the field instead of being athletes who just happen to attend class between practices. If we really want to do better, Black athletes need to step up their game in the classroom.

Black Student Athletes: Change We Can Believe In Donna White Opinions, Sports + Entertainment and more at RushmoreDrive

The Playbook Case Study: Jock Sanders of West Virginia arrested on drunken driving charge - ESPN

2009-02-10T12:59:00.001-05:00

How did this happen? Why did this happen? This is his second arrest in a year for Sanders. After the first, more restrictions should have been placed on him. Where were his friends, teammates, anyone? Under age drinking is part of the college experience however, when you are an athlete a higher level of expectation should be placed on them.

Student-athletes often do not realize that THEY are their brand. A player's off-the-field/court actions can either help them or hurt them in obtaining their future athletic goals. It doesn't matter if a player successfully scored every time they have the ball on Saturday, if by Tuesday they have done or said something negatively, the potential to instantly wipe out the on-the-field/court success is there. It can take center stage and possibly even destroy their future before it begins.

I am now officially a broken record. Ha!

To learn more about The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative email theplaybook@mwprinc.com.

Jock Sanders of West Virginia arrested on drunken driving charge - ESPN:

"West Virginia receiver/running back Jock Sanders could be facing suspension or dismissal from the team in the wake of a DUI arrest over the weekend.

'I am looking into the situation, gathering facts and will take appropriate action once all the facts are in,' West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said through a school spokesman.

Sanders, a junior, was seen speeding near campus and crossing the center lane in a black Dodge Charger early Saturday, according to an arrest report filed in Monongalia County Magistrate Court. Officer C.L. Thomas approached Sanders' car in a parking lot and reported that he could smell alcohol on Sanders' breath, the report said. When asked if he had been drinking, the 20-year-old Sanders responded 'a little,' according to the report.

Sanders then failed three out of four field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of .125, the report said. The legal limit in West Virginia is .08.

This is Sanders' second arrest in the past year. He was one of four West Virginia players who were arrested in connection with a fight at a club last February. They were charged in March with battery and each pleaded no contest, receiving a fine and community service hours.

Sanders led the Mountaineers last season with 53 catches for 462 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. He also ran for 278 yards and two scores."

Brian Bennett covers the Big East for ESPN.com.

The Playbook Case Study: Jock Sanders of West Virginia arrested on drunken driving charge - ESPN

2009-02-10T12:56:00.000-05:00

Jock Sanders of West Virginia arrested on drunken driving charge - ESPN

Moral Sense vs. Business Sense

2009-02-06T16:01:00.003-05:00

In response to Joe Favorito's Sports Marketing and PR Round-up Blog

It is amazing how the whole Phelps thing has now turned into a morality vs. business debate....should not morality be a part of business.

Now, I do agree with most of what Joe writes in his blog. He proves my point concerning the need for athletes to have another layer of responsibility placed on them, something The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative offers.

PR professionals should be placed on the team. And, as Joe shares, I applaud the NBA's attempt to manage off-the-court actions in creating the new Social Responsibility and Player's Program position. But, what exactly does not that mean? What will that person do? To me, being socially responsible refers to giving back, bringing awareness to issues, etc. That does not mean managing player's off-the-court actions in social environments...am I wrong here?

Anyway, back to Phelps, there is a double-standard clearly. And, it all has to do with what the mighty dollar. Again, a sad, sad reality.

The Playbook Case Study: USA Swimming suspends Phelps for three months -- baltimoresun.com

2009-02-05T22:42:00.002-05:00

The Playbook Commentary:

The two biggest disappointments surrounding this whole thing is first, he views this more as a nuisance, not seeing the seriousness in what he did and what it could do to him. He just wants it to past. He, like other athletes, is not realizing that this act (which again is not his first...folks seem to forget that) can instantly erase all the hard work and years of practice and preparation he has endured. And, that alone is sad. But, the other disappointment is the fact that folks are not REALLY concerned about him, but rather concerned about the money attached to him, and how much they tend to loose from endorsement deals, advertising dollars, ratings, etc. if this story doesn't hurry up and die a quick death. Both sides lack sincerity or transparency.

Now, the biggest lesson in all of this is...well, not really, because there was someone before him that he could have learned from. Never mind...for some reason athletes continue to believe they are the exception...that they will not get in trouble for negative behavior. And, if they do there will be no REAL consequence because of who they are. It's ironic, its only then they finally realize that they are their brand and that it has power...day late.

Full story: USA Swimming suspends Phelps for three months -- baltimoresun.com

An Awesome Finish: Steelers take sixth Super Bowl title on late TD catch by Holmes - USATODAY.com

2009-02-02T08:21:00.000-05:00

This had to be one of the best Super Bowls in a LOOOOOOOOOONG time. Because no matter who would win both teams had an awesome story. But, one team did become the victor, the 6-time Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers!

This game was nail bitting to the last seconds. After the Harrison play at the end of the 2nd Quarter...it was on and poppin'. And, I am so glad I was alone watching this...no distractions with folks talking, walking in front of the TV...just me and my tube. And, I was able to scream without breaking anyone's ear drum. Thank you Steelers and Cardinals for an excellent game played. You both should be proud of what you accomplished. And, now....reality kicks in....no more FOOTBALL!

Oh, yea, there is still the Pro Bowl...YES!!!!

Steelers take sixth Super Bowl title on late TD catch by Holmes - USATODAY.com

Another Playbook Case Study: FOX Sports on MSN - - Phelps acknowledges photo of him smoking a bong

2009-02-01T23:13:00.001-05:00

Okay, 2004 Olympics, he was caught drinking and driving, underage. And, he said then, he would not do such behavior again, because he knows he has people looking up to him. Now, after the 2008 Olympics he says, "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

I ask the same question to him, as I have NFL and NBA players, who do you, have on your "out-of-pool" team to make sure such things don't occur? And, where is his common sense?

Full story FOX Sports on MSN - - Phelps acknowledges photo of him smoking a bong

The Playbook Case Study: Plaxico Dodges a Bullet This Time in Car Lawsuit - Black Voices Blogs

2009-01-30T23:47:00.000-05:00

MWPRINCight continues to follow this story that seems to grow legs. It is amazing how shooting yourself in the leg is not enough drama for one to handle...you have to add more legal woes by continuing to act irresponsible. I don't get it! Who is advising him? Why isn't he making sure he crosses all t's and dots all i's? Keep your contractual agreements, don't let friends drive your car, pull over when you hit someone...better yet...stay in the house.

He continues to prove my case. Thank you?

Plaxico Dodges a Bullet This Time in Car Lawsuit - Black Voices Blogs

News from The Associated Press

2009-01-29T18:58:00.000-05:00

Black coaches no longer a curiousity in NFL

Read full piece
News from The Associated Press

Second Witness Points to Harrison - ESPN The Magazine

2009-01-12T09:34:00.002-05:00

I had decided initially not to speak on the Harrison shooting because ESPN had reported last week that no charges would be brought against Harrison. Even though, I could have still highlighted the obvious....the continued negative off-the-field actions of players continue to produce more negative publicity, not only for the individual (s) involved, but also for the NFL.
But, why beat a dead horse?

But, then again, why not? Maybe being a constant thorn in their side will get someone to pay attention. And, now with their season almost over -- two divisional title games taking place Sunday and than the Super Bowl -- this is the best time to continue this one-sided exchange. I am very curious as to how the NFL will use this off season to do some major re-organization to their internal player development department. This thing is beyond broken....no crazy clue can fix it. It needs a new mold.

Lets start over. And, I suggest they begin by allowing new businesses with a fresh perspective, new passion and driven purpose help to develop, enhance and repair the brand of the players and the NFL.

Let OTF-Branding: Professional and Personal Management, LLC (subsidiary of MWPR, Inc. and Visionary Financial Strategies, Inc.) come in the door, have a seat at the table.....shucks get a decision-maker to take their call for goodness sake! If afforded the opportunity, things will be different, trust me. Shameless plug....YOU KNOW IT!

Second Witness Points to Harrison - ESPN The Magazine

Morgan State vs. Maryland - Recap - January 07, 2009 - ESPN

2009-01-08T18:17:00.000-05:00

I am a proud third generation graduate of Morgan State University. Go Bears!...Fair Morgan.

Morgan State vs. Maryland - Recap - January 07, 2009 - ESPN

MWPRINCight: ESPN - New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attends homeless fundraiser

2008-12-13T18:06:00.001-05:00

Crisis Management 101: The first step in fixing public perception is do something that positively impacts the public. This is what Plaxico attempted to do in attending Kevin Powell's fundraiser the other night. I don't disagree with the strategy, but I wonder if it did any good other than giving Powell's event some otherwise absent media attention. It might help him get some points with the judge and that will be good. I don't believe he will do anyone any good going to jail. Shooting himself is probably all the punishment he needed and possibly loosing out on some hefty pay. I just PRAY...this is the final wake up call he needs to get it together. Unfortunately, I think he may have stayed asleep a minute too long. We shall see.

Burress attends fundraiser for homeless at New York club
Associated Press

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attended a charity fundraiser for the homeless at a New York City nightclub two weeks after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.
Burress arrived at Kevin Powell's 8th Annual Holiday Party and Clothing Drive at the Madison nightclub around 8:45 p.m. on Friday with his wife, Tiffany, and son, Elijah.

The suspended Super Bowl hero refused to discuss the Nov. 29 shooting at the Latin Quarter nightclub that led to criminal possession of a weapon charges and his suspension for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team.

"I'm just here to support this event, it's a great event, and I thought it'd be a great chance to get my wife out, and my son out, and support such a great event where it helps kids, homeless kids," Burress said in a transcript provided by WNBC-TV of New York City. "This is a wonderful thing for us to come out and be able to help people and we can lend a helping hand. I have a child, I have a son, I couldn't imagine him being in that situation, so that's why I brought him also."

Burress talked about the event when asked if he was remorseful in the wake of the shooting or was thinking about his teammates.

Benjamin Brafman, Burress' attorney, did not immediately return a telephone call by The Associated Press seeking comment on his client's appearance, which is believed to be his first since being arraigned on illegal gun possession charges on Dec. 1.

Burress shot himself at the Latin Quarter when he accidentally pulled the trigger on the .40-caliber Glock that was in his pants after fumbling a drink.

Teammate Antonio Pierce took the 31-year-old who caught the game-winning pass in the Super Bowl to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment.

The hospital suspended the doctor who treated Burress for failing to report the shooting to police.

Pierce, the Giants middle linebacker, also was questioned by police a week after the shooting for failing to report the incident, and his decision to bring the gun back to New Jersey after leaving the hospital.

Police say Pierce gave the gun to Burress' wife after returning home.

Burress pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail. He is due back in court March 31.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attends homeless fundraiser

Magic Johnson has magic touch in business, too - USATODAY.com

2008-12-11T13:37:00.001-05:00

Magic Johnson is the poster child for what Off-The-Field Branding: Professional and Personal Management, LLC, a subsidiary of MWPR, Inc. looks to do to help more athletes create success off the court/field.

By Matt Krantz,
USA TODAY

BEVERLY HILLS — Almost nobody would question Earvin Johnson's skill on the basketball court. But in his second career as an entrepreneur, there were doubters from the start.

Johnson, best known by his nickname "Magic," remains one of the best players to ever don the gold and purple Los Angeles Lakers uniform. Johnson was the star point guard and a key to the Lakers' domination in the 1980s, helping to hand the team five NBA championships. An oversize copy of his No. 32 jersey hangs above the Lakers' home court.

But despite his towering 6-foot-9-inch stature and vise-grip handshake, at first glance, Johnson didn't seem like such a natural in the boardroom.

Executives he pitched on a business idea developed when still a player — opening high-quality movie theaters and restaurants in inner-city neighborhoods — often didn't see what he saw. Instead, "they saw me as just a basketball player," he says from inside his modestly decorated offices in Beverly Hills.
In his recently released book, 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business, Johnson wrote that executives would "hand me a basketball and ask for an autograph, but they did not want to hear my pitch for investing in neighborhoods populated by blacks."

Johnson, 49, isn't your typical buttoned-up executive. He sits comfortably reclined in his chair, speaks casually, and freely flashes his trademark smile. Retired from basketball following his stunning 1991 announcement that he had contracted HIV, Johnson has focused on succeeding in a business world where many former athletes have failed.

But Johnson says he had a dream and a concrete plan. While traversing the urban hearts of cities in team buses to basketball games, he saw boarded-up businesses and a lack of retail outlets. He told himself he'd help revive some of those neighborhoods when he could, he says.

And that's the magic of Magic. While other executives steered clear of urban areas, Johnson saw opportunity. His business plan, his overtime performance after basketball, was to bring established retail brands to the inner cities by tailoring them to the residents.

From experience comes business
It's that niche that has morphed Magic Johnson from a name on the back of a basketball jersey into a brand in its own right. Magic Johnson Enterprises is a private company that owns or helps operate companies ranging from more than a dozen 24 Hour Fitness centers, more than 100 Starbucks locations, food service companies, a T.G.I. Friday's in Los Angeles and other businesses across the country. The company also has a private investment arm, with $1 billion in cash, which Johnson says will help the company expand, especially now that real estate can be bought at low prices.

It's just as Johnson saw it. The inner-city market was a big opportunity for someone with the knowledge to go after it, he says. "I knew that because I lived it. I just turned it into a business."

It's hard to summarize the swath of Johnson's businesses, as they range from food service to job placement and coffee. But the common theme of most is the marriage of his name alongside another well-known brand. Together, Johnson and another company enter urban markets that some have long avoided.

The Magic touch is taking chains with a familiar formula that plays well in the suburbs, and tailoring them so they fit the customers and tastes of the inner city. Rather than having to drive to the suburbs, residents can stay put and frequent Johnson's local twist on a national chain. Completing the circle, Magic Johnson Foundation, Johnson's philanthropic arm, invests in the community by building computer centers and other social services, helping to build goodwill with the residents.

Johnson is scarce on the details on precisely what the things are that he does to make his version of chains different that those in the suburbs, or in his words, "Magicize" it.

But he uses an example to describe how the first Starbucks he opened in Los Angeles is different than others in the sprawling chain. Johnson noticed many regular customers at the Starbucks gathered to play chess. It was a scene reminiscent of the casual chess tournaments that take place in inner-city parks.

So Johnson bent the corporate rules to make the chess players more welcome. After getting approval from Starbucks, he installed several picnic tables outside that not only captured the vibe of the chess tournaments but also let the local residents know they were welcome. Now, the Starbucks draws a loyal following of chess players, who lure friends and other chess players, he says.

Burger King restaurants that Johnson owns are also a little different. Customers hear Magic Johnson's voice on the loudspeaker in the drive-through, instead of a canned anonymous voice.

In plain sight
The fact the inner cities could support mainstream brands may seem evident now, but it was practically revolutionary when Johnson started. Getting investors in the early days of the business was challenging, especially following the riots that tore up Los Angeles following the 1992 Rodney King trial, he says.

Despite the success of his movie theater in Los Angeles, Johnson knew he needed more money to expand to other businesses.

His advisers in 1995 suggested approaching California's massive public pension fund, the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers), for $150 million to develop his first non-theater business, what would be his first Starbucks and T.G.I .Friday's near Los Angeles' South Central neighborhood. He didn't quite get the answer he wanted, though.

Officials at Calpers wanted to know why, if his idea was such a good one, no one else was doing it. That stumped Johnson. "I couldn't answer the question," he says. He'd wondered himself why even the largest U.S. companies were avoiding big potential profits to be made serving urban markets filled with consumers ready to spend but with nowhere to go.

Proof of vision
Eventually, Calpers got on board with $50 million to start. That money helped Johnson finance his dream and show that the concept could work. Another $100 million from Calpers followed shortly after. Johnson's business "has proven to be a successful model," says Calpers spokeswoman Pat Macht.
Johnson is also quick to see opportunities. After several companies called asking for help on ways to tap the inner-city market, he created a consulting and licensing business.

Best Buy, for instance, in February 2008 turned to Johnson for help on operating stores that appeal more to the urban market. "We believe our relationship with Magic Johnson Enterprises will help us learn and apply fresh perspectives, which can strengthen our business and the communities where we have stores — it makes good business sense," the consumer electronics retailer's spokeswoman Dawn Bryant said in an e-mailed response.

Despite the challenging economy, Johnson says some of the best opportunities are ahead. Magic Johnson Enterprises' capital management business, for instance, raised, but didn't deploy, $1 billion last year. "Cash is king," he says, adding that he's constantly approached by real estate investors looking to sell choice properties. Downtown areas are especially ripe for investment, he says.

That's not to say it's nothing but net for Johnson, the businessman. Foot traffic is falling at his Starbucks stores as many consumers, not just in urban markets, cut back, he says. Consumers are seeing Starbucks "as a luxury. (Consumers) may only go once a week or not at all," he says. Starbucks warned on Dec. 4 that sales at stores open a year or more have fallen 9% in the U.S. so far in the quarter started in late September.

Johnson, though, has faced difficulty before, and that hasn't stopped him. Starbucks just needs to reconnect with what it does best, he says, and stop "trying to be everything to everybody."
That's really his key advice to entrepreneurs, and something he follows himself. Pick a niche, something you can be good at, and don't stray. "You need to play to your strengths," he says. "My strength is urban America."

Magic Johnson has magic touch in business, too - USATODAY.com

The Playbook: Our Argument

2008-12-08T14:31:00.003-05:00

Thanks to CNN/SI Vault the argument for why an initative like The Playbook is needed continues to be strengthened. This is a sad state of affairs for the sports industry as a whole. See for yourself.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1149498/1/index.htm?bcnn=yes

MWPR Client News

2008-12-05T16:06:00.003-05:00

MWPR Client News Report:
Check out Keion Carpenter this Sunday, December 7th at 10:55AM on BET's Bring That Week Back (BET.com/onblast) where he shares his opinions on the Plaxico Burress and OJ Simpson situations.

Athlete Chat:Ex-NFL player Keion Carpenter

by Reeve Cononi

Baltimore is a city full of talent, birthing the careers of high-caliber athletes like Carmelo Anthony, Sam Cassell, and Antonio Freeman. Even while Baltimore has produced several premier professional athletes, the city does not always have the proper resources for student-athletes to receive the necessary exposure to move on past the high school level. Baltimore native and recently retired NFL safety Keion Carpenter looks to bring change to the face of Baltimore and create a doorway for its youth to build successful athletic careers.

At Woodlawn Senior High School, Keion competed as a three-sport athlete in track, basketball, and football. To reach the next level, Keion found recognition early from playing AAU basketball and built a reputation with coaches because of his athleticism. However, it was Keion’s talent in football that began to stand out, and by his junior year, he was a Blue Chip high school All-American and a top-100 player.

After high school, Keion played football for Virginia Tech. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Residential Property Management and was the school's all-time leading punt blocker. In 1999, Keion signed with the Buffalo Bills as a rookie free agent. Keion had a breakout season in 2000, intercepting five passes for sixty-three yards. In 2002, Keion signed with the Atlanta Falcons and intercepted four passes, returning one for a touchdown.

In 2005, Keion started his own foundation —The Carpenter House, Inc. ("TCH") — before officially retiring in 2007 after an eight-year career in the NFL.

After his retirement, Keion Carpenter became a “man on a mission” with his primary focus on his foundation. Through his foundation, Keion seeks to create opportunities for underprivileged families to become homeowners in the inner-city Baltimore area.

The name Carpenter House represents much more than just a family identity, it represents the lessons and teachings that his grandparents have passed down to him and the rest of the family. The main objective of The Carpenter House is to educate, plan, and prepare people for the future by giving them the necessary means to succeed. The foundation wants to empower individuals by helping them find a job, relieve debt, and manage their credit. What sets The Carpenter House apart from other organizations is that they don’t just give out money, they show people how to keep their house and maintain a stable standard of living.

Keion believes he has the blueprint to teach and encourage anyone who is willing to help themselves.

In keeping with The Carpenter House mission, Keion develops housing for the underprivileged and he expects to have his first home completed by Christmas 2008. However he explained, that even though it doesn’t require much effort to help someone in need, he cannot do it alone.

"Thirty minutes of volunteer work can mean so much to someone who has nothing at all." With a united effort, he hopes to have 50 to 100 homes developed within the next five years. Eventually, Keion would like to have entire blocks and communities developed as a result of his efforts. Keion wants The Carpenter House to become the model for other cities and communities in need of positive change.

It was a dream of Keion’s to take care of his family and to give back to the city of Baltimore. He knows that Baltimore has some of the best athletes in the country, but they are too often overlooked due to poor grades. Keion could not stress enough how important education is and how it became the deciding factor for his future. He wants to make sure younger kids also understand that with the proper focus on education, along with athletic talent, they can open doors to many opportunities.

To spread the message, Keion and his close friend Jerrell Wilson started the For My Kids program. For My Kids mentors and tutors student-athletes to assist them in successfully reaching the next level in life. He wants kids to be students first and athletes second. He believes kids should start taking the SAT's in ninth grade instead of waiting until the 11th grade. This way, they are more prepared to take it during their senior year and will hopefully score higher.
“The bottom line is that colleges have millions of dollars to offer in scholarships. If the kids can do what they are supposed to scholastically, then the good athletes should be all set,” Carpenter said. He also issues this challenge to the students, “If I could do it without help, then you have no excuse not to try your best!”

Carpenter is an excellent role-model not only for inner-city kids aspiring to be professional athletes, but also for other professional athletes looking to make a difference in people's lives. When Keion retired from the NFL, he made a decision to give back to the community where it all started.

Keion Carpenter is clearly making an effort to change Baltimore for the better. However, he cannot do it alone! He needs, and Baltimore needs everyone's help. All you need is compassion, some spare time, and the willingness to do some manual labor. All it takes is one weekend to change someone’s life! If you are looking to get involved as a volunteer, visit The Carpenter House, Inc.'s official website and contact Benkta Robinson at (410) 790-1367.

On behalf of AccessAthletes, we would like to thank Keion for taking time out of busy schedule to do an interview with The Real Athlete Blog. Reeve Cononi can be contacted at reeve@accessathletes.com.

http://www.accessathletes.com/blog/

ESPN - O.J. Simpson sentenced to prison for Las Vegas robbery

2008-12-05T14:04:00.000-05:00

The Playbook Commentary:

A sad ending to a former sports great. And, so avoidable. OJ's life, legacy and eventual loss, should be used as a case study for ALL student-athletes who aim to play professional sports. As quickly as it is given, it can be taken. Be good stewards over the blessings, try to not to abuse or take advantage of the advantages you are granted. Learn from others mistakes, don't make the same ones. Future professional athletes need to strive to do better than the ones that came before them. There are enough examples of good players going wrong, for whatever the reason.....stop the negative cycle. Create a new trend.

ESPN - O.J. Simpson sentenced to prison for Las Vegas robbery

MWPR News

2008-12-04T11:33:00.000-05:00

MWPR │News!

Interview with a Sports Professional: Monica Woodby Janelle Finley
AccessAthletes.com

Find full interview at http://www.accessathletes.com/blog/blogdisplay.cfm?blogid=170

ESPN - New York Giants suspend Plaxico Burress four games after charges

2008-12-03T12:57:00.001-05:00

This is just ugly. It is sad. But, it's unfortunately becoming the norm. The facts haven't really changed since the news broke Saturday. However, this situation just continues to have legs and voice. It's a broken record that keeps sounding off prodominently within the NFL. And, now, I am sounding like a broken record....what is the NFL going to do in putting in place a process for long-term practice in order to begin to lessen these blows with other players as they enter in the league? But, let me stop there...I vowed to follow this story through, but probably will not provide too much more commentary. Because there is nothing new to say or suggest.

Just read for yourself....

ESPN - New York Giants suspend Plaxico Burress four games after charges

http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&ncl=1277242740&hl=en&topic=s

ToTheCenter - News: Michael Vick the scapegoat of an unequal system

2008-12-01T11:48:00.000-05:00

MWPRINCight:

Amen and amen! This sums up this whole situation and where we still are in society pertaining to race and economic relations. It is still a broken system, regardless of who is in the White House. And, until we call it out and deal with it boldly and completely, it will remain broke.

Link to Opinion Piece: ToTheCenter - News: Michael Vick the scapegoat of an unequal system

Earlier this week on Tuesday, the fallen superstar Michael Vick appeared in court for a hearing, to determine the manner of his 23-month sentence that he has been serving in Leavenworth, Kansas, since August 2007. A U.S. federal district court had found him guilty of controlling a dog fighting ring at the home he owned in Surry County, Virginia. This most recent court appearance was to deal with the severity of his crimes, by measuring the remorsefulness of the individual. The subsequent charges were dropped after the judge showed sympathy to Vick’s desperate plea.

He is now scheduled for release on July 20, 2009, as that is when the 23 month sentence would have been completed. Pardoned of all remaining charges, he may be able to serve the remaining amount of his charges in a half-way house, since the jail-term has been suspended.Vick the former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, who draw massive crowds for the NFL franchise, is no doubt sorry. He has lost, what was, the most lucrative contract in the history of the NFL, valued at 130 million dollars. He was in the top 10 biggest earners among American athletes. Now he has been made insolvent, with his contract cancelled, since the NFL commissioner suspended him indefinitely from the Association. Now earning less than a dollar a day in prison, paying for the considerable expenses for relatives, he has also lost his hefty endorsements, while his current investments have flopped. The No. 1 draft pick in 2001, Vick was a player with bags of talent, and sometimes known as a one-man team, giving the city of Atlanta hope that their team could one day win a Superbowl. The quarterback who ran as much as he passed, was a rarity, he scored more touchdowns than any other quarterback in the league, making him the most entertaining player to watch.

However that was then, and this is now, everything has effectively dissolved for this once-upon-a time success. His material positions are being gobbled up, as his assets were estimated at twelve million dollars but he has now wracked up twenty million worth of liabilities, due to legal expenses and mismanagement of his finances. He is bankrupt, when he finally gets his freedom, he will be in heavy debt – with three kids and some family like his brother and mother who have never made much. The NFL will be the only possible vocation for him to rid himself and his family of their current troublesome situation. It was the NFL that gave him hope and a shot at being something, it was that institution that took it way. Yes, of course, the dog-fighting was the essential reason for his fall from grace, but that grace was only made possible by the NFL, and how easily it could be taken away from him. Going from one extreme to the next, two stories that are all to familiar in American culture, obtaining infinite fortune and then losing the fortune that was proven to be not so infinite. Vick was the role model for many young African-American athletes, and if he can successfully comeback will attain more admirers. Since his upbringing is all to indicative of the African-American populace: growing up in the projects where drug-dealing and violence is common in everyday life; born to a teenage unmarried couple, of whom the father left leaving the mother to bring up the kids while working two jobs. This is unfortunately all too common in America. For Vick like so many of his famed African-American contemporaries, the only way out was being an entertainer, whether it being a sportsman or an artist – not many lawyers and doctors are made from the upbringing these people receive. And when the small minority who do make it, it comes thick and fast, and near impossible to control the speed of progression from having nothing to everything. Yet is it everything, or just regressive? We’ve seen the results with two famous African American icons, Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson, they are discouraging examples, but real examples.

Jay Z is a more positive example, he’s kept a cool head on his shoulders, and has become a brilliant entrepreneur in hospitality, fashion and of course music. Except he was a drug-dealer on the streets of New York and this gave him opportunities for him to make contacts in the ‘Rap-game’. He well could have never been here due to his battling lifestyle, however he had no other choice this was the nature of the rough streets he was born into. An even more radical instance is the true story of a real hustler 50 Cent, who was shot multiple times before his first record signing opportunity, but somehow got a second chance and subsequently has made it to the top. That second chance is what Vick will be praying on, at 28 he doesn’t have long left, as a professional footballer he is approaching the latter years of his prime. Especially due to his game, he isn’t a solid distributor like Brett Favre was who had a marathon of a career due to his style. Vick’s style is all about athleticism, and one’s speed decreases as one ages, something that hardly affected Favre, as athleticism was never his strong suit.In saying all that, this is just a microcosm, one magnified example of another African American’s descent. It is not the behaviour of these people that is to blame, but the environment they are constructed in. Environment is heavily assisted in how people are made up, and my point is African Americans aren’t privileged to the greatest situations. Nevertheless it is more complex than simply the economic status they are afforded and then addicted with ridding, but the socio-political bias they are subjected to. It is commonly known that the white man controls the Western world, all the corporations, governments, and influential media, are at the will of the white man. And their hold on the world means societies are structured by their viewpoint on how things are to run. So even-though Jay Z has made it to the tune of his own drum, creating an empire for himself, this is minute in comparison to the fact he is still controlled to an extent. Since the music label he founded ‘Roc-A-Fella’ is owned by Universal Music Group, this company makes up about a quarter of music in the popular market. Hopefully now with an African American leading the country we can see more equal footing, but the president of the United States is actually quite small in retrospect, since corporations hold so much sway over governments. My point is the bias does not go both ways, there are double standards. There are countless cases of how white bankers have been made rich off other people’s credit crises’, of how white lawyers have manipulated laws to allow corporations continue doing unlawful dealing, and of how white politicians have used tax funds for their own purposes. And among these countless cases they have got off scotch free and even applauded in some realms of society.

In any case sure what Michael Vick did was wrong, and the animal right groups have every reason to be angry and berate this individual. His behaviour was shocking and nothing to be proud of, but by condoning him they are missing the big picture. That Vick’s case is everything that is flawed about this concept that anyone can make it in America, whereby the idealized ‘American dream’ is not entirely true, where we aren’t all free with equal

MWPRInsight Update: Giants' Burress reports to New York police

2008-12-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

This a great case study for The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative. MWPRInsight will follow this one throughout to see how the NFL, the public and others manage the situation with Burress.

Giants' Burress reports to New York police

MWPR Client News

2008-12-01T01:10:00.003-05:00

MWPR Client News:

Ex-NFL player back at Woodlawn
At his old high school, former 'hardhead' helps students get their heads straight

By Arin Gencer arin.gencer@baltsun.com
November 30, 2008

For the past several months, former NFL safety Keion Carpenter has been going back to school.Roaming the halls of Woodlawn High School, he slips into classrooms for lessons on federal versus state government powers. He stops to chat with teachers and students between classes.

And when the dismissal bell rings, Carpenter, 31, joins the varsity football players as they practice, exchanging quips with and shouting instructions at the athletes during grueling exercises.For Carpenter, who graduated from Woodlawn in 1995, the time spent with students as a volunteer coach and mentor is a chance to show them life's possibilities - and teach them what's necessary to turn their potential into reality.

"I want my presence, being here, to be an inspiration to them," said Carpenter, who played football and basketball at the Baltimore County school. "Hopefully, they can look at me and say, 'Wow, this guy, he went to school here, he made it. He went on to college, went on to the pros, and now he's giving back.'"Carpenter's path from Woodlawn is one that many of the young Warriors would like to take: full athletic football scholarship to Virginia Tech, then a career in the National Football League as a safety for the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons before retiring in 2006.

"He's just one success story of many, but he's the one that's right there on the front line," said Brian W. Scriven, Woodlawn's principal. "He's achieved what so many dream of achieving."Scriven recently took the lead at the newly restructured school, where about 55 percent of seniors have met state test requirements for graduation - and 46 percent of last school year's students received free or reduced-price meals, an indicator of low family income.

Carpenter credits Scriven, who was head football coach when he played for the Warriors, with saving him, acting as the father he didn't have. He wants to support Scriven's mission to turn the school around, Carpenter said.A self-described "hardhead" with a "terrible attitude" as a student, he said he can relate to the more difficult individuals, too."I tell them all the time, 'I sat in the same classrooms that you sat in, I walked the same halls, I ate in the same cafeteria,'" said Carpenter, who splits his time between Maryland and his home in Georgia.

These days, he's in those classrooms and halls regularly - although he has no plans to revisit cafeteria food.One day, Carpenter stood near Woodlawn's front entrance as students spilled out of classrooms. He easily picked out those he knew."What's up, man? Good luck today," he said as he slapped hands with several junior varsity football players, who had a game later.As the halls cleared, he shouted to a student strolling by, "You need to go to class, chump!"

"My teacher's not in there," the student replied."You've still got to go to class," Carpenter shot back."It's more than just to show up on the football field," he said in an interview, explaining his presence in the building. "I want them to know that it's more of an importance to be a better student. … If you don't take your books just as much as you take practice, then you're not going to be able to play football.

"For many of the teens at Woodlawn, the coaches "are their fathers and their role models," said Michael Sye, the school's athletics director.

Having "Coach Keion" around encourages and motivates them, the athletes said.

"He's been there before, so he knows how to get to where we want to go," said senior Delontai Bruton, a running back. "He's giving us something that most of us thought we'd never have."

"What he is doing is really special," said senior Rudy Lee Daniel, a safety. "He could be doing something else instead of coming back, giving back to his community."Gary Servance, a senior and running back, said Carpenter is "giving us a taste of what the future life could be like - if we just stay on track."His involvement also speaks to a "level of commitment and perseverance that we're trying to transfer to our students," Scriven said. "They really need to understand some of the sacrifices … all of those coaches are making to try to have a positive impact on their lives."

For Carpenter, that relationship extends beyond the football field. He is like a big brother to the students - someone they can text with questions about sports and more personal subjects, including their plans for life after Woodlawn. He plans to work with the basketball team, for which many of his students also play.

"He doesn't approach us as, 'I'm a coach, respect me,' but more so, 'I'm somebody you can talk to,'" said David Williams, the quarterback.Carpenter has also made a commitment to helping them through the college application process, talking to them about colleges they're interested in, what they need to do to prepare themselves academically - and offering to call coaches on their behalf.

"He's right there - you can ask him anything," Daniel said, adding that Carpenter is "the easiest person to get to."Williams said Carpenter's presence is "kind of like that edge that you need.""It's just a hope," Williams said. "Somebody can make it that came out of here - why can't I?"

keion carpenter

Age: 31

Education: Woodlawn High, Class of 1995; Virginia Tech, Class of 1999

Career: Played safety for the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons; retired 2006

Current activities: founder of Carpenter House, a Baltimore-based nonprofit foundation to help single parents and low-income families become homeowners; volunteer football coach, Woodlawn High School; president of for-profit advocacy organization For My Kids (FMK)

Residence: Splits time between Georgia and Maryland

Family: Father of three

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.co.woodlawn30nov30,0,7011523.story

MWPRInsight: Lawyer to AP: Burress expects plea Monday - Yahoo! News

2008-11-30T18:47:00.002-05:00

The Playbook Commentary:

Ok, first and foremost, I am thankful that he did not kill himself. But, are you serious? Can this really be happening? How do you shoot yourself? Unless an intruder has just broken in the house WHY do you have a gun near you? This is definitely a "what was he thinking" situation.

However, thanks to Tiki Barber, after just watching him on Football Night in America, let me give a different perspective. Burress and other players come from an environment where having a gun is the norm in order to protect oneself, something that many of us cannot relate to. And, before we begin to judge, we need to first place ourselves in their shoes.

So, let me twist things right here and point the finger back towards the NFL. Here again, we have a situation where the NFL, the sports agents, etc. in my opinion have fumbled the ball. Although, personal responsibility is necessary, expected and important, those who represent and benefit from the talents/skills of these athletes should be more attentive and deliberate in their management of players that they KNOW need a little more "coaching", either due to their background or personnel/personal history.

Now, Burress probably will say, I am a grown "A" man and I don't need constant supervision or need to tell you if I got a gun. Now, although he is a grown man, he is not his OWN man....not while he represents the NFL and plays for an organization which is currently the NY Giants. As long as he gets the multi-million dollar deals he is currently getting, YOU, Mr. Burress, represent those two brands. And, because of that, have a responsibility to them first and you second. I believe this is where the players are missing the mark. And, where they are being given too much rope....a level of expectations is discussed, but very loosely enforced. And, if enforced, it is not enforced fairly across the board.

Not all situations should be thrown in the same boat....consequences should be based on the actions and the number of incidents...period. Not, based on the person's performance, celebrity status, "hook ups", etc.

I throw that out there, because now I am curious to see how the NFL handles this one. What will happen to Burress because of this? And, will it be fair?

Lawyer to AP: Burress expects plea Monday
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer

LANDOVER, Md. – Plaxico Burress plans to turn himself in to police Monday morning in New York City and plead not guilty to criminal possession of a weapon, his lawyer said.

Benjamin Brafman wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Sunday that he was advised the New York Giants' star receiver will be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.

"I do not expect that Mr. Burress will make a statement," Brafman wrote.

He met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player's home in New Jersey.

"I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed," Brafman wrote to the AP.

Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.
Burress shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub Friday night and was released from a hospital early Saturday, the Giants said.

"As far as we know, he's going to be OK," general manager Jerry Reese said before the Super Bowl champions' game Sunday at the Washington Redskins.

Before the shooting, Burress already had been ruled out of the game because of an unrelated leg injury.

New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday. Giants linebacker Antonio

Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the team's hotel Saturday, Reese said.

Pierce — who started against Washington — reportedly was present for the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season of fines and suspension for Burress.

"Antonio is working on trying to beat the Redskins right now," Reese said before kickoff. "That's where his focus is and where it should be right now."

Neither Reese nor Giants president and CEO John Mara would say what Burress' status with the team might be going forward.

"I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination," Mara said. "I don't know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I'm not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is."

Reese and Mara said they hadn't spoken to Burress, who hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and was going to miss the game against the Redskins because of that injury.

"I reached out to him," Reese said. "I did not get a return phone call."

Mara repeatedly said the Giants would cooperate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.
Asked if he knows what the scope of those inquiries are, Mara said: "I do not know, no. I guess the circumstances of how he got shot, whose gun it was. There are a lot of questions like that that are still unanswered."

Burress caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Giants' Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February, following a regular season in which he scored a career-high 12 TDs. He was rewarded with a $35 million, five-year contract, only hours before the current season.

But his consecutive-games streak with at least one catch ended at 115 last week against Arizona, after he aggravated his hamstring injury during the first series and did not return.

Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns while constantly drawing double coverage this season.

Off the field, he was suspended for a game against Seattle in October and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the Giants of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.

Burress also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against San Francisco in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.

Lawyer to AP: Burress expects plea Monday - Yahoo! News

MWPRInsight response to NY Times: When it counts qualifications trump race

2008-11-18T20:43:00.005-05:00

The below comment was sent to a fellow LinkedIn member who expressed agreement in what the NY Times writer stated in the piece, "When it counts qualifications trump race". I felt it important to share with my blog readers what I expressed to him. And, I welcome your comments as well to me on this subject.

MWPRInsight Comment:

Unfortunately, I will have to respectfully disagree with your opinion and even that of the NY Times writer. The choosing of the first African American President has not changed a reality that has existed before and since Jackie Robinson entered MLB. And, in stating that the hiring of African Americans is based on skills trumps race because one is looking to positively affect the bottom-line borders on the notion that we are only good to have around as long as we help make you a profit. That strikes a deep cord.

That opinion unfortunatly IS highly visible in sports. The make up on the field/court looks one way, but the make up on the sideline, boardroom, scouting arenas, extend partners, etc. is something totally different. African Americans are accepted in limited and controlled environments...on the field they are seen only for their skills and capabilities. But, let an African American who has the skills and capabilities to manage, identify talent or run an organization come along...that same philosophy is not applied.

As an African American, I am truly proud of what happened on November 4th. But, do be clear, electing Barack Obama does not, by any stretch mean that racism is dead. Opportunities still elude us and will continue to do so until we are all deeply/sincerely honest that it has controlled our actions and decision making through to today.

The Playbook Chimes In: ESPN - Plaxico Burress insists he's not a distraction to the New York Giants

2008-10-31T12:58:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:
When will they get that? A player's off-the-field actions can either help his brand or hurt his brand. It doesn't matter if you successfully scored everytime you had the ball on Sunday, if by Tuesday you are doing or saying something that is straight negative it wipes out the on-the-field success and takes center stage.

Attention players...one more time...YOU are your brand. That means the entire you....your professional as well as your personal. And, together it can advance or stall or even destroy your future.

This conversation needs to take place on-going and should be a part of the pre-season training camp process. The Playbook is ready to provide this service.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the topic of Plaxico Burress comes up these days, most people don't talk about what the New York Giants receiver has been doing on the field.

Off-the-field problems and mistakes not related to football are what people remember -- and there have been plenty this season.

It started with Burress' decision to skip a team meeting in September for a so-called family emergency -- and not inform the team. Then, he verbally abused an official two weeks ago before missing a treatment before the Pittsburgh game and being benched for a quarter.

It has cost him money, time and the patience of several teammates.

Despite it all, Burress insisted on Wednesday that he is not a distraction, even as the Giants (6-1) prepare for the biggest game of the season, a showdown with the defending NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys (5-3).

"Like I said, I am human," Burress said after practice. "I have made some mistakes. I haven't made the best of decisions, I am aware of that, and I am the first one to look myself in the mirror, be honest with myself and say that. But as far as me going out and playing hard, I am going to keep going out and competing. Like I said, I just keep going out and doing what is asked of me on the football field, and in whatever that role may be I hope I go out and fulfill it."

Fellow receiver Amani Toomer said it has been hard dealing with Burress this year.

He was suspended for a game against the Seattle Seahawks and fined $117,500 for missing the September meeting. He was fined $45,000 by the league for abusing an official after being called for offensive pass interference against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago and then he had to watch the first quarter of the Giants' 21-14 win over the Steelers on Sunday.

"He's his own man," Toomer said. "He makes his own decisions and I have to respect that. He knows his decisions affect the team. It's hard to go up to a grown man [and talk] about doing his business the way everybody else wants him to."

When pressed about what might happen if Burress continues his errant ways, the Giants captain wondered.

"I'll be interested to see because I think that it's still a distraction," Toomer said. "It affects our team."
After getting off to a great start, Burress is no longer the No. 1 option in the offense. He had 10 catches for 133 yards in the season opener against Washington and followed that with five more catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams.

In his last four games, he has had 13 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

"I am not getting frustrated," Burress said. "You have to kind of sit there and expect it, so to speak. You can't just expect teams to come out and let you just run up and down the football field. It has been a slow year for a few of us guys at the receiver position. If you look at it and say if we take those 40, 50, 60 yard plays out of the game, those are big plays that change football games, and if you take them out of the game, you have to work around it."

Burress said he has seen more double coverages this season than ever before.

However, doubling up on Burress has opened things up for other receivers.

Second-year pro Steve Smith leads the Giants with 29 catches for 299 yards, with Toomer third with 22 catches for 277 yards and a touchdown. Domenik Hixon, who started when Burress was suspended, has 13 catches for 220 yards and a touchdown and tight end Kevin Boss is slowly catching on with 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Burress opened last season against Dallas with eight catches for 144 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. He added six more catches and another TD in the second meeting but was limited to one catch for 5 yards in the playoff game against the Cowboys.

Ironically, the Giants won the playoff game and lost the other two.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he does not plan to let Burress run free on Sunday.
"You have to double him, you have to double him," Phillips said. "He is just a good receiver. [Eli] Manning can get him the ball in all kinds of situations. You just have to double him as much as you can. We tried to do that. We will try to do that this game."

Burress welcomes the attention.

"If the team is going to line up and take me out of the game, then those are things that I have no control over," Burress said. "I control what I control and when the opportunities are presented to me to go out and make plays, then I do and because of that we are a 6-1 football team."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Plaxico Burress insists he's not a distraction to the New York Giants

A MWPRInsight Publicity: An Example of Athletes Doing Good

2008-10-27T11:40:00.002-04:00

MWPR│CLIENT NEWS

Contact:
Monica Wood│MWPR
P: 704-430-6300 or 443-538-4184
F: 443-583-2652
E: clientnews@mwprinc.com
W: www.mwprinc.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis and Washington Redskins’ Antwaan Randle El Hosts Allied Athlete Group, Inc. Launch Reception in Baltimore

(Baltimore) – Having begun their tour in Atlanta and making a stop in Chicago, Allied Athlete Group founders/partners (current and former NFL players) Ray Lewis, Duane Starks, Reggie Howard, Sam Madison and Michael Stone now bring their launch celebration to “Charm City”. This tour provides an opportunity for the Atlanta-based company to introduce and connect the brand to key influencers in each city. This introduction and celebration will take place in Baltimore on Monday, October 27th.

It is no secret that professional athletes can make tremendous incomes; unfortunately most of them do not fully understand the leverage that is created during their career. This lack of knowledge creates opportunities for various "representatives" to take advantage of the athletes' leverage in a multitude of ways. This often results in the trusted representative making huge profits from the athletes and leaving them abruptly when their career comes to an end. AAG exists to help bridge this gap. Created for the sole purpose of presenting to both current and retired professional athletes key resources, networks and opportunities AAG’s intent is to assist athletes in retaining, extending and creating wealth for both them and their families.

To learn more about Allied Athlete Group, Inc. visit www.alliedathletegroup.com.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Monday, October 27, 2008
7:00PM – 10:30PM

Where: Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Media RSVP or Interview Requests: MWPR, Inc., clientnews@mwprinc.com or 443-538-4184

About AAG
Founded in September, 2007 and comprised of a network of athlete owner/members, AAG solidifies and magnifies its athletes’ leverage through the alignment of the collective interests of its owner/members. Allied Athlete Group promotes the lifelong success of the athlete by providing its members with access to a portfolio of best in class business, personal, education, networking, and investment opportunities. Allied Athlete Group’s ever expanding member network is comprised of high profile athletes situated across the country from varying sports properties. Its athletes consistently rely on a top tier Preferred Partner network to help facilitate the evolution of their careers.

The Playbook: ESPN - Travis Henry posts bail, could get out of jail on Thursday - NFL

2008-10-10T15:45:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

Henry continues to the trend of what seems to be the longest nightmare for the sports business. From Pacman's recent fight, to Michael Beasely's attitude, and I could go on, but I won't.

DENVER -- Former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry could be released from jail Thursday after posting a $400,000 bond on federal drug charges.

Henry and another suspect were arrested Sept. 30 in Denver after federal drug agents said they met to buy cocaine from a man who was cooperating with authorities.

Henry and James Mack both face charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.

Henry offered a $360,000 house as collateral toward his bail on Wednesday and was allowed to post an unsecured bond for the remaining $40,000, said Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Denver.

Henry is expected to be released after a phone line is installed in his house for electronic monitoring, which could be Thursday, Dorschner said.

Neither man has entered a plea.

Neither Henry's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, nor Mack's attorney, James Moore, returned calls.
Mack could be released next week after posting a $10,000 unsecured bond, Dorschner said.
Dorschner said Henry's bail was higher because he is accused of making threats and running when officers tried to arrest him. Judges also can decide how high to set bail to make sure a suspect shows up for court.

If convicted, both men could face 10 years to life in prison, five years of probation and a $4 million fine.

The cases have been transferred to Montana, where authorities say they found six pounds of marijuana and about 6.6 pounds of cocaine that Henry and Mack allegedly supplied.
Jessica Fehr, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney in Billings, Mont., said no court appearances had been scheduled.

Henry signed a five-year, $22.5 million deal with the Broncos last year, and led the league in rushing a month into the 2007 season that was marred by a left knee injury and a failed attempt by the NFL to suspend him over a drug test. He finished with 691 yards and four touchdowns.
Henry fell out of favor over what coach Mike Shanahan said was Henry's lack of commitment and was released on June 2.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Travis Henry posts bail, could get out of jail on Thursday - NFL

AMEN! MCain - You're No Reagan (clarity media group : : blog)

2008-10-10T10:09:00.000-04:00

John McCain - You’re No Ronald Reagan
Bill McGowan on Oct 08, 2008

In the second of three Presidential debates last night, John McCain evoked the name of Ronald Reagan, describing him as his hero. After last night’s woeful performance from McCain, it would appear that hero worship is where the connection between the two men begins and ends.

Perhaps John McCain has “Town Hall Burnout” because The Gipper must have been rolling over in his grave. Whatever McCain handler recommended the feeble attempts at humor (talking about hair transplants he needs during an answer on health care) should be fired on sight. This is a Town Hall! The audience is instructed NOT to laugh, applaud or even react. Even the lowest-rent Borscht Belt stand-up comic knows you don’t tell a joke when the chances of getting a laugh are slim. If this is an example of his judgment, I’m not sure I want his “hand on the tiller.” If Ronnie were still here I’m sure he’d give McCain a “there you go again.”

As far as stage presence, McCain looked fidgety. When Obama was talking, McCain, at times, looked like a vulture lurking in the background. At one point he was even caught gesturing and mouthing something to someone in the audience. When McCain was speaking, his movement around the stage had no purpose, and when you’re 72 years old the last thing you want to do is look like your wandering aimlessly. These critiques are above and beyond the problems caused by his physical limitations of which he has no control, but still contribute to a less-than-robust image. In short, he seemed tired, old and cranky. By contrast, Obama struck a calm, cool and unfazed pose on his stool. None of that bogus note taking, no shaking his head while he’s being attacked… it was masterful. He looked completely unflappable and eager to stare down his detractor. And in these settings, unflappable equals Presidential.

Although McCain didn’t flash his legendary temper in its full fury last night, it was pretty clear that Obama has gotten inside his head and under his skin. I didn’t think McCain could appear any more disrespectful and dismissive towards Obama than in the first debate when he did not look at him once and rarely referred to him by name. But then came the now-famous “that one.” In a patronizing tone McCain also called Obama “my friend,” very similar to the way Nelson Rockefeller used to call everyone “fella,” as if to say, “I’m really too important and superior to you to bother using your name.”
If McCain thinks he’s coming across any less mean and crotchety by smiling during his zingers and barbs he’s mistaken. If you’re going on the attack, go on the attack without trying to simultaneously seem like a great guy. Smiling while you’re trying to take somebody apart just makes the viewer think you’re bitter, sarcastic and insincere. When he does that he visually he reminds me of Lionel Barrymore’s character Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when he’s pretending to be nice to Jimmy Stewart just to trick him into forking over the ol’ savings and loan. Perhaps that’s why of all the viewer polls taken last night, McCain took the biggest bath on “likability.”

But perhaps the most vexing problem facing McCain (and the most difficult to overcome) is his painful lack of comfort looking at the camera. From the moment he was introduced last night, McCain looked to be in a desperate hurry to break eye contact with the audience and the cameras - that’s why he started scribbling some notes the minute he got to his stool. What on Earth could you need to write down before the debate even begins? It goes back to what our mothers always told us when our credibility was being questioned, “Look me in the eye and say that.” John McCain doesn’t feel comfortable looking the American people in the eye. Given our desperate need to trust and believe in a leader who can get us out of this multi-pronged mess we’re in, that could prove to be a fatal flaw.

clarity media group : : blog

UIM Publisher's Perspective

2008-10-07T22:43:00.000-04:00

UIM Publisher's Perspective

A Playbook Example: Favre to report to Packers today after NFL's OK | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal

2008-08-04T11:18:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

This is definitely a good example of what The Playbook looks to address in our "Post-Game Wrap-Up" seminar and what my firm, Off-The-Field Branding: Professional and Personal Management offers in services. Brett Favre seems to not have had an exit strategy planned way before it was time to implement it.

He didn't have his post-NFL career solidified. This is done when you are able to think/act strategically and not emotionally. I truly believe that if Favre had outlined his post-NFL life and felt comfortable in it, when he did decide to retire, he would not have second guessed his decision.

A simple decision like a change of mind can do as much harm to your brand, your future and your legacy as any wreckless act can. Why, because more than yourself is affected by the decision you make.

Favre's change of heart has now caused an organization that had processed and planned a season without him, to now have to, by public force more than good business decision, revamp things in the 11th hour.

No matter how talented Favre is. No matter how much closer the team might be to going to the Super Bowl with him versus without, it doesn't look good to the personal/professional brand called "Brett Favre". He should have been advised by his internal team, back when he began to express the possibility of retirement after the 2007-2008 season, to wait until the emotions were gone before he made anything final. His retirement was announced in the heat of the excitement of his on-the-field accomplishments and the hype of his legacy. It was not made soundly or rationally...and, we must all remember that the NFL is first and foremost a business and should be handled as such.

I am a fan. And, I pray things work out....they probably will. But, it is still a sad situation and one to be viewed more than mainly a great player deciding to return to the field.

Career decisions made by "professional" athletes need to be handled as orderly and strategically as any corporate executive, manager or employee. In the regular world, you can't submit your letter of resignation on Friday and come in Monday as say, "I was just joking". That only happens in a Seinfeld episode....and, even there George didn't get his job back.

Live and learn from this situation student-athletes as much as you should learn from those athletes that have hurt their brand and professional career by placing themselves in crazy situation. Both are important.

Favre to report to Packers today after NFL's OK
Team says he's welcome back

By Chris Jenkins • Associated Press • August 4, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Though the Green Bay Packers say Brett Favre has put them in a difficult situation, they're prepared to welcome him back.

The NFL announced yesterday that Favre will be reinstated and added to the Packers' active roster today.

"Although we built this year around the assumption that Brett meant what he said about retiring, Brett is coming back," team president Mark Murphy said. "We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage.

"Frankly, Brett's change of mind put us in a very difficult spot. We now will revise many actions and assumptions about our long-term future, all predicated on Brett's decision last March to retire."

A private plane carrying Favre, wife Deanna and agent James "Bus" Cook arrived in Green Bay shortly after 8 o'clock EDT last night. Favre exited the plane and waved to a crowd of a few hundred fans gathered at the airport -- in a severe lightning storm, no less.

He could be on the field tomorrow, but it's unclear whether the team will let him compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting quarterback job.

"Well, there comes time when (my) mentor and I get to compete, and I guess that's what's going to happen," Rodgers said after a scrimmage last night.

Coach Mike McCarthy wants to talk to Favre today before he decides on opening up the job.

"There have been no promises," McCarthy said.

Favre to report to Packers today after NFL's OK courier-journal The Courier-Journal

NFL Suspends Chris Henry 4 Games -- Courant.com

2008-08-01T16:06:00.001-04:00

Expert of article:

Henry suspended 4 games: Wide receiver Chris Henry was suspended by the league for four games but may play the final 12 games of the season for any team that signs him.

Henry was released by Cincinnati in April after his fifth arrest. Commissioner Roger Goodell had suspended him indefinitely following his latest arrest. The charges against him on that arrest were later dropped.Henry may participate in training camp and exhibition games if he is signed. Henry was suspended for the first eight games last season under the league's personal conduct policy. He returned to catch 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. But the Bengals released him after he was accused of punching a University of Cincinnati student and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

To read full article go to: NFL Suspends Chris Henry 4 Games -- Courant.com

The Poster Child for The Playbook: Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate'

2008-07-30T12:13:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary: Dominic Jones should be commended, not for the actions that placed him in jail, but for the actions he has taken since going to jail. Finally, a star athlete who not only accepts his punishment for the choices he made, but one who is taking this negative pause in his life and using it to positively impact others.

He had the same opportunities, distractions, special treatment, celebrity-like status as any other gifted player. And, he fell victim to what many of them do. BUT, the difference between him and them is he says it is his fault. He is not blaming anyone for anything...he only blames himself for what he did. He failed to be a good steward of the blessings afforded him. As many do, they do not see the opportunity for what it is, a priviledge.

What The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative looks to do is showcase these examples through its curriculum to college-athletes, so that they can learn from those who came before them and not repeat this cycle of fame and failure.

Thank you Dominic Jones for your courage and maturity....your future will be brighter and more rewarding after this pause in your life. Stay strong and remain encouraged...all things happen for a reason and divine purpose. I can't wait to see yours manifest.

Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate' Photo Credit: KYNDELL HARKNESS, Star Tribune

Dominic Jones spends his days mentoring football players and his nights in the workhouse in Plymouth. He was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Former Gopher Dominic Jones, once an admired team leader, says he is accepting full blame for his crime.
By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune
Last update: July 29, 2008 - 1:13 AM

Former University of Minnesota football star Dominic Jones offered some high school football players $100 recently if they could come up with his previous jersey number and his current one.

One raised his hand and said Jones was No. 2 as a Gopher. Correct.

Nobody knew his current number. "Number 00425759. That's my number," Jones said. "My name now is Inmate. It's not Dominic Jones."

In the past year, the 21-year-old Jones has gone from an admired team leader with realistic NFL dreams and a college diploma within reach to a sex offender serving a one-year sentence in the Hennepin County workhouse.

During his first public interview since he was charged last summer, Jones spoke about personal responsibility, college sports and his journey.

"I am not blaming a white man. I am not blaming a prosecutor. I'm not blaming a judge. I'm blaming me. That was hard for me to do at first," he said. "I'm human. I made a mistake."

Jones had a full-ride football scholarship to Texas Southern University. Instead, he reported to the workhouse on July 7, after the state Court of Appeals declined a stay pending his appeal. He can get out during the day for work or studies. (An appeal of the guilty verdict is still pending.)

Jones spent the first seven days in full custody, locked in his cell 22 hours a day, before county corrections got the proper paperwork for his job.

"I am trying to tell you when the bars shut, reality set in," he said. "When I hit rock bottom, I hit it hard." He knows he let team down.

He leaves the Plymouth correctional facility at 7:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday, he is at the E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation in Eden Prairie, working on conditioning and mentoring high school and college players. Friday through Sunday, he works at a clothing store in St. Paul.

He is back in Plymouth for dinner at 6 p.m., then to his cell. He reads, takes a shower. Then it's lockdown and lights out at 11 p.m. Like all inmates, he is subject to random strip searches. It has been humiliating and humbling, he said.

Jones knows he has disappointed people, including the Gophers, who went 1-11 without him last year. "I let those guys down that I worked my butt off in the weight room with," he said. "I was the messiah of the team. With that young team, I needed to be there."

But he wasn't. Last July, Jones was charged with raping a woman too drunk to give consent. A 37-second cell phone video recorded by an ex-teammate shows Jones masturbating over the woman. He was kicked off the football team, then convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, but acquitted of rape.

Jones did not talk in detail about that night in the room shared by four former teammates. He said in the past he believed the behavior was consensual. Jones was the only one charged, although the woman had sex with three others before he arrived.

Before this, Jones was on track to graduate in December with a degree in sociology. He was kicked out of school shortly after his conviction.

Jones said he had to summon the courage every day to walk into the courthouse during his two-week trial. His lawyer, Earl Gray, would tell him, "No matter what happens, this is not the end of your life."
Jones said he has seen the error of his ways.

He said he used to party to the "extreme," despite his image as role model for the team. He would tell high school kids not to drink while underage, yet he would do it himself.

He doesn't disagree with things prosecutors said after the trial, about athletes being given privileges by society that distort their views of right and wrong. "When you're put on a pedestal like that, you hear a lot of things and you see a lot of things and you think it's OK," Jones said.

He is familiar with the term "jersey chaser," for women who offer themselves sexually to star athletes. "But who is it really on?" he said. "It's on us."

Now he wants to use the clout that came from athletic fame for good. He points to the example of Magic Johnson opening up about his struggle with HIV. This fall, at the urging of his new bosses, he will speak to inner-city kids about his life.

"He's a good person, but he made a bad decision," said one of his bosses, Mark Ellis, a former assistant coach with the Vikings under Mike Tice.

He thinks Jones can reach inner-city kids because he is one. "His message is, 'Look, I had it all right here in my hands. It's all gone,'" Ellis said.

He said he told Jones, "I need you here to be a model, a flawed model. You're someone that made a mistake, and you're working through that."

Jones said his support system includes Henderson and Ellis, his fraternity brothers at Alpha Phi Alpha, former Gophers coach Glen Mason, his mom and God.

Freeman pulls for redemption Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office prosecuted Jones, said, "If you believe in redemption, and I do, I'm glad to see that's occurring already."

Jones "made a frightful decision that really impacted a person. I appreciate that he's starting to acknowledge that," Freeman said.

Jones said he'd like to play football again, but wants to get his degree. He's hoping to take courses this fall.
"
My purpose in life isn't football," Jones said.

Jones has a 2-year-old son in Ohio being raised by the boy's mother and his mom. Seeing his son is one of many things big and small that he says he sees differently. "To be able to eat a meal of your choice. The value of a hug from your son. The value of an education. One decision, that's all it could take, and everything could be snatched away from you."

Jones already has props for his presentations this fall: his old jersey, a prison-style uniform and a doctor's scrubs and stethoscope. He will tell kids that it takes hard work to get the jersey or the scrubs, but just one bad mistake to end up in a prison jumpsuit.

At his sentencing in May, Hennepin County District Judge Marilyn Rosenbaum talked of the trouble she had reconciling the sincere letters of support she received about Jones with his behavior that night in April 2007.

Jones thinks about those letters and the supporters who wrote them. "I've got a lot of people to prove right," he said.

Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate'

NFL Players in Prison - Football Players in Jail - Esquire

2008-06-30T12:27:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

The case has been made in this piece by Chuck Klosterman...although he states the problem and offers no solution, the fact still remains that there is a serious problem within the professional sports community. These young athletes, men more than women, are given narrow views of what success can look like....Sports.But, they are not taught the responsibility that comes with that form of success, or for that matter, any type of success.

They are also not given healthy alternatives, just in case they don't make it.....letting them know they can be successful with or without a professional career in sports.

Instead of continuing to illuminate the problem, I wish folks would take the energy and put it where it needs to be....in prevention and problem solving initaitives....like The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative. The professional sports brand will continue to be tarnished until a sincere effort is made to address this issue, and not continue to allow the mighty dollar to influence their decisions and efforts.

When will that happen?

The 2008 NFL Prison Football Preview

Michael Vick and countless other promising young football stars are currently doing jail time. Which is unfortunate, to be sure. But they’d make one hell of a football team.
By Chuck Klosterman

FormerPro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick is in Leavenworth. Rae Carruth, currently serving a nineteen- to twenty-four-year sentence for conspiring to kill his girlfriend, made the NFL all-rookie team in '97. Arena League linebacker Darion Conner got fifteen years for running over a bicyclist. In 2006, Michigan State defensive back Cole Corey was sentenced to two to ten years for sexual assault.

Last January, an offensive tackle and a defensive end for Texas A&M were indicted for felony robbery. And this is only a sampling of the guys who got media coverage; there's no telling how many teenage criminals went to jail before they had a college career. If we selected the forty-four best football players in the U. S. penal system, how much ass would they kick?

Right now, 2.3 million people are incarcerated. This is a social travesty. But -- hypothetically -- if we were to draft and train the best talent from that pool, I bet they could win the SEC or the Pac-10. They could maybe beat the Dolphins in an exhibition. Obviously, the Vick-to-Carruth connection would be key, but I have to believe prisons contain some of the most intimidating, hardest-hitting role-players on the planet. These dudes would make the '77 Raiders look like Tibetan monks.

You know, I don't like The Longest Yard. I don't think it's funny. But this I would watch.

NFL Players in Prison - Football Players in Jail - Esquire

Photo credit: James D. Smith/WireImage.com

Athletes and Endorsements: A New Way of Doing Business - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

2008-06-27T20:43:00.001-04:00

Athletes and Endorsements: A New Way of Doing Business
by Dean Fisk

06-26-2008

Even with the current economic downturn, business opportunities for professional athletes remain plentiful. And the truth is off-the-field success doesn’t just happen to “star” players. There are numerous examples of athletes with average-at-best playing stats that have secured lucrative endorsements and other post-career opportunities. Business success for these athletes is determined by the strength of their personal brand image and the size of their fan base. And while it’s fairly obvious that as an athlete you can maintain control of your own brand, you can also positively impact your fan following through creative Web marketing techniques.

In the business world, the terms “viral marketing” and “social marketing” are buzzwords used to describe methods of a reaching a broad number of people through very personal communications methods. These concepts, used by virtually all Fortune 500 companies, can also be used successfully by today’s athletes. The fact of the matter is today’s sports fan wants their information up to the minute and on demand. No longer is it acceptable to talk to target audiences from the top down. Today, you need to hold virtual conversations with your key audiences, which includes fans and potential sponsors. By doing so, you can not only increase the size of your fan following, but also create a stronger bond with those fans.

Contemporary ways to reach out to your fans include writing a blog, having your own Website, participating in social marketing sites such as Facebook and MySpace and posting videos on sites like YouTube. All can be successful and all can be essentially meaningless without a business plan in mind.

When developing your personal business plan, you need to start by asking three basic questions:

(1) What are the companies I should target as potential sponsors;
(2) Who are the consumers that these target companies care about; and,
(3) How do I best connect with these consumers?

When identifying potential sponsor companies a good starting point is to think about the things you are passionate about. This can include products that you use or activities that you enjoy. For example, a hardcore video game player may consider targeting the game makers and the manufacturers of the game consoles. In this scenario the consumers of interest are most likely young males in the 14- to 35-year-old range. Reaching these consumers may be best achieved through participating in gaming-related blogs and Websites, or by posting viral video clips that feature the athlete and appeal to the gaming community.

A player’s agent once told me the best way for his client to market himself was by playing well. I agree that performance on the field is vital to a player’s overall success. However, I ask you this – if you have two players with similar on-the-field achievements, who is a sponsor company more likely to contact, a player who rests on his stats or a player that finds ways to portray his positive image and already has established relationships with the fans the sponsor covets?

The mistake made all too often by today’s athletes is that they wait for opportunities to come to them. The better approach is to create the opportunity yourself, strengthen your fan following and present a “no-brainer” business proposition to the sponsor company.

As an athlete, you are given a “stage” that is viewed by many. However, the spotlight can quickly disappear once your playing days are over. Don’t let the opportunities slip away. Look at the new ways of doing business that can lead to better off-the-field success.

Dean Fisk is president of X Factor Sports Media and has over 17 years of experience developing communications programs that strengthen brand awareness for athletes, athletic organizations and Fortune 500 companies. X Factor Sports Media is a unique communications agency focused on helping athletes understand and benefit from the numerous opportunities offered by today's new media and social marketing outlets. Dean can be contacted at dean@xfactorsportsmedia.com.

Athletes and Endorsements: A New Way of Doing Business - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

The Playbook: SAD Example...Humphrey dismissed from UGA basketball team | ajc.com

2008-06-27T17:35:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:
A sad ending to what could have been a future professional athlete. And, what The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative TM wants to help prevent.

About The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative TM
A mentoring initiative created by MWPR │Presents, a division of MWPR, Inc., The Playbook looks to bring productive, positive and purpose-driven solutions to the real-life needs that occur during the natural lifecycle of a professional athlete. It will be accomplished through a specified curriculum, presentations, personal player testimonies and extended professional services; all created to address the immediate and long-term needs of the aspiring and current professional athlete, like no other initiative currently available.

Prevailing Assumptions
· A player’s athletic skill is all that is needed to have a successful career in sports.
· There is an effective and organized transitional process, available at all schools, for players leaving high school/college and entering professional sports.
· The player’s agent and team organization provide all the necessary tools/expertise needed to maintain, manage and keep the momentum needed throughout a player’s professional career and beyond.

The Playbook’s formula is “positive personal life = professional success”.

Humphrey dismissed from UGA basketball teamPlayer was arrested Tuesday for DUI and other charges
By CHRIS VIVLAMORE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/08

In the aftermath of an arrest for DUI and other charges, Billy Humphrey has been kicked off the Georgia men's basketball team.

Humphrey, 20, was arrested Tuesday morning in Gwinnett County for DUI, failure to maintain his lane and purchasing alcohol while under age. Friday afternoon, Georgia coach Dennis Felton announced his decision to dismiss Humphrey.

"We've worked really hard with him in the past to see that he succeeds, but I feel that it's now best for our program to move forward without him."

Humphrey, who was to be a senior in the 2008-09 season, was Georgia's second-leading scorer last season and helped the team to the NCAA Tournament.

A guard, Humphrey played in 30 of 34 games last season, starting 28. He averaged 12.2 points per game, second-best on the team.

According to the police report of his drunk driving arrest obtained by the Journal-Constitution, Humphrey pleaded with police not to arrest him and was later warned that he could be tasered.

Also according to the report, Humphrey said "Please, please, please. I am begging you not to do this. You will ruin my career." The report indicates that Humphrey made the statement after acknowledging that he had "a few drinks" and was responding to the officer's question on what he had been drinking.

Prior to submitting to field sobriety tests, the police report states "the driver told me that he knows that he had been drinking and that he was only gong two more lights up the road and then he was going to his mom's house. The driver then asked me if I could just follow him home."
After agreeing to and failing several sobriety tests, the report states the Humphrey, who is from Dacula, was "slightly hesitant" when asked to turn around to be placed in handcuffs. "The driver was advised that if he did not turn around, he would be shot with a taser," according to the police report. Humphrey was placed in double-locked handcuffs.

According to the police report, an inventory of the silver Chevy Monte Carlo that Humphrey was driving discovered a half-full quart bottle of rum in a back pack on the back seat.

It was Humphrey's second arrest on alcohol-related charges since February. Humphrey was also placed on probation for 18 months and entered into a pretrial diversion program as result of a November felony weapons charge for having a butterfly knife in his dorm room. He was suspended for a total of four games last season for the two incidents.

Humphrey dismissed from UGA basketball team ajc.com

The Playbook: ESPN - Sources say Heat looking to trade out of No. 2, take guard later - NBA

2008-06-25T11:31:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:
Now here is an example of how your off-the-court (field) personality, attiitude and actions, could neatively affect your professional future, before it even gets started. Beasley's stats speak for themselves. On paper, it is a done deal, he would be your logical pick. However, just like in any job, a potential employer has to see if a potential employee can not only put action behind his words, but also positively "represent" the company he would be working for. And, in this day in age, with the professional sports industry getting hit left & right, non-stop, it makes sense for Riley to pause in deciding if they should take Beasley, if he shows any potential of bringing drama. Again, like in any employment situation, there are other candidates to chose from. And, if they seem to not have the element of drama in them...you more than likely will lean on the side of a safe pick.

So, this needs to serve as an example for all aspiring professional athletes...that you have to bring more than just your game to the table. Who are you when you are not playing? What are your goals in life? What do you stand for? How do you look to grow and progress as an athlete and a person over the years to come? These things are now becoming more important than just your stats. And, need to be taken seriously by these athletes.

The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative is designed to address these areas and more.

Sources say Heat looking to trade out of No. 2, take guard later
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com(Archive)

If the Miami Heat's recent activities are any indication, they are not going to select Kansas State forward Michael Beasley with the No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

With the first selection, the Chicago Bulls are leaning strongly toward drafting Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. While the Bulls say they won't announce their decision until draft night, Bulls GM John Paxson admits that Chicago is "probably leaning a certain way."

ESPN.com has been reporting since the draft lottery that Heat president Pat Riley has reservations about Beasley. While Beasley is a talent, Riley seems to be uncomfortable with his personality and seems dead set on finding a point guard to pair in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade.

To that end, Riley staged two separate secret workouts in Miami on Tuesday. The first, a source told ESPN.com, was for Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless. The second was for USC guard O.J. Mayo, who confirmed to ESPN.com that he worked out for the team.

In conjunction with the workouts, the Heat have been actively shopping the second pick in the draft with an eye on selecting Mayo or Bayless lower while acquiring another asset.

If the Heat don't find any takers, sources told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Tuesday night that Mayo was told by Heat brass -- which included Riley, general manager Randy Pfund and coach Erik Spoelstra -- that he is in contention to be selected outright at No. 2.

After the Heat were informed that Shawn Marion would not opt out of his contract, sources said Riley began calling teams looking for serious offers for the second pick.

The Heat then brought in Mayo and Bayless. Both workouts lasted about 90 minutes. It's the second time the Heat have worked out Bayless and Mayo, and according to sources, Riley believes both are special talents.

Bayless had an "amazing" workout, according to the source. He "shot the lights" out and performed even better than he had in his first workout for the Heat. They believe he can be a full-time point guard in the pros, similar to Chauncey Billups.

The source said Mayo was also "great," and in addition to shooting the ball well, he performed well in some of the ballhandling drills. The Heat believe Mayo could be a Gilbert Arenas-type point guard.

The same source said Riley is enamored of Mayo's and Bayless' shooting ability and believes both can be a point guards in the NBA.

In addition to any questions about attitude, a number of high-ranking NBA sources told Katz that one of the main reasons the Heat wouldn't select Beasley is the hope that they will land Utah's Carlos Boozer in a year when he can opt out of his contract. Boozer has a home in Miami.

With the Heat now identifying two lottery picks whom they would be comfortable with, and with questions about Beasley, it's looking more and more likely like they are going to trade their pick.
So the question is … who is going to win the Michael Beasley sweepstakes? After talking to numerous sources around the league, here are the top four contenders:

1. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have a huge hole at the power forward position (since trading away Pau Gasol) and see Beasley as an elite talent to pair up with Rudy Gay.

The Grizzlies can offer a number of deals that could entice Miami. They could include the No. 5 pick, Mike Miller and the Heat's choice of either Kyle Lowry or Mike Conley. Adding Miller and a point guard would allow the Heat to be very flexible with whomever they draft at No. 5. They could add another guard such as Bayless or they could go big with a player such as Brook Lopez or Kevin Love.

2. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers can offer the Heat someone Riley desperately covets: Elton Brand. A swap of the No. 2 pick and Marion for Brand and the No. 7 pick works under the salary cap and helps both teams with their needs. Why would Riley pull the trigger on that trade now, when he could just make a run at Brand in free agency next summer? Sources said the Heat would like to get Brand to Miami as soon as they can and lock him up to a long-term extension this fall. At No. 7, it's possible the Heat could still get Bayless.
The Clippers like Marion and Beasley, but they could actually use the No. 2 pick to grab Mayo. Mayo has been coveted by the Clippers for a while.

The Heat would have to weigh their interest in Brand against their desire for Boozer in 2009 in this scenario, however.

3. Seattle SuperSonics
Kevin Durant covets Beasley as a teammate. They were best friends growing up and want to play together. The Sonics think Beasley is the perfect complement to Durant. They'd be willing to take back more salary to make it happen.

Sources say the Sonics are offering the expiring contract of Chris Wilcox, Johan Petro and the No. 4 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Mark Blount. The move would save the Heat some serious money, putting them well below the cap in the summer of 2009.

The Heat would prefer Jeff Green in the deal instead of Wilcox and Petro, but it doesn't appear the Sonics are willing to go that far, even if the Heat dropped Blount from the equation.
A source close to Seattle told Katz that Miami hasn't called about a deal as of Tuesday.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves have been hoping and praying that Beasley somehow falls to them at No. 3. While he's not a perfect fit, they could move Al Jefferson to the 5 and have one of the highest-scoring front lines in the league. However, Beasley falling to No. 3 looks unlikely -- unless the Heat do pull the trigger on Mayo outright at No. 2. Can the Wolves put together a package that works if Beasley doesn't fall?

The Wolves have a few assets that could entice Miami. They actually hold the Heat's 2009 first-round pick, which is top-10 protected. They also have a player who the Heat have interest in: last year's lottery pick, Corey Brewer. If the Wolves really want Beasley, perhaps a return of the Heat's first-round pick and/or Brewer could make it happen.

A source close to Minnesota told Katz, however, that the Heat and the Timberwolves have talked but there was no deal that worked for both teams as of Tuesday night. Sources close to both Seattle and Minnesota also said they would take Mayo if he was on the board when they selected.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider. Andy Katz covers college basketball for ESPN.com. ESPN - Sources say Heat looking to trade out of No. 2, take guard later - NBA

Photo Credits:

Photo 1:Beasley/Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Photo 2: Mayo/Jamie Squire/Getty Images

ESPN - Rookies' exploration of game's past should enhance futures - NFL

2008-06-15T20:37:00.001-04:00

Ken Blaze for ESPN.com
Miami Dolphins tackle Jake Long, the top overall pick in the 2008 draft, admired busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- especially Dan Dierdorf's. "He's a legend at Michigan and a legend in the league," said Long, a former Wolverine.

Rookies' exploration of game's past should enhance futures

By James WalkerESPN.com(Archive)

CANTON, Ohio -- There is an undeniably nostalgic feel around these parts.
When entering Stark County, Ohio, there's a large bridge overhead that reads HOME OF THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

Canton is the gatekeeper of football's history. Close your eyes: You almost can hear Vince Lombardi's voice and Dick Butkus' brutal hits. Open your eyes: You see their legacies and so much more.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is where football's past meets football's present. In this shrine, the game's all-time greats are permanent residents of this Northeast Ohio town of about 79,000 people. Today's players hope to become enshrinees some day.

This offseason, the NFL is sending every incoming player for a special tour of the Hall of Fame. Former Dallas Cowboys receiver and 2007 Hall of Fame inductee Michael Irvin came up with the idea last summer to increase rookies' awareness and help them recognize the value of their opportunity.

"When I was inducted into the Hall, I told the commissioner that guys coming out of college don't appreciate the game," said Irvin, who went through the tour with Cowboys rookies on Friday. "They don't have an understanding of the game's history. They've been playing football to get away from their history.

"So I told Commissioner [Roger] Goodell that the first thing he should do is bring them here and give them a sense of history. It's impossible to go there and not come away with something."
The NFL gets most things right and, by following Irvin's suggestion, nailed this one.

Seeing wide-eyed rookies like Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons take the tour this week convinces you that this is a great thing for the league.
"I've never been to the Hall of Fame before and to come here and see all the different stuff, it definitely puts things in perspective," Ryan said after Atlanta's tour.

"It makes you realize that you got a great opportunity, and I think that's what they intended to do with this trip, and I think it worked out pretty well."

The image of the NFL has taken a hit recently with high-profile cases involving Michael Vick, Odell Thurman, Chris Henry and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones. Their well-documented stories likely had a hand, directly or indirectly, in getting this objective passed so quickly.

Troubled players such as Vick, Henry, Thurman and Jones could have used this tour. Although every situation is different, they share a common thread in that there was a general lack of appreciation for their responsibilities inherent in the privilege to play in the NFL.

"I think it would've helped some of them understand that if you make a mistake at 22, you could end up regretting it at 42," Irvin said. "You got Google and everything out there now, so if you get in trouble, it never goes away. Your kid is going to end up Googling it, too."

There is no guarantee that these tours will help steer more players away from trouble, but there's no way they can hurt, either. At the very least, the tours are a positive step in the right direction.

The educational value was tremendous.

Rookies got to see the old leather helmets and the contracts that paid as little as $4,000 per season. They learned that Bill Willis and Marion Motley broke the NFL's color barrier in 1946, a year before Jackie Robinson did it in major league baseball. And most were surprised to hear that Jim Thorpe was Native American.

At the end of the tour, every rookie received a lifetime pass to the Hall of Fame and special memories to take home.

Ryan was ecstatic to see game-worn artifacts of his favorite player: former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Falcons offensive lineman Sam Baker, who grew up with Jackie Slater's son, took a picture next to Slater's enshrinement statue. Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne did the same with the bust of fellow Pennsylvania native Dan Marino, and Long took pictures next to the replica of former offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf.

"[Dierdorf is] a legend at Michigan and a legend in the league," said Long, a Michigan alum. "And being able to see him here is pretty cool."

Long also was enamored with the display of every NFL Super Bowl ring -- most notably the two given to the New England Patriots during their back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004.
The 2004 ring is the biggest in league history, weighing one-quarter of a pound, and the 2003 ring is not far behind in size.

"Can you imagine having those two rings?" Long said to his teammates. "That's sweet."
For the length of the two-hour tour, it was easy to forget that some of these rookies are multimillion-dollar athletes. Seeing artifacts from players they idolized growing up produced a humbling level of respect mixed with childlike admiration.

The NFL has yet to decide whether Hall of Fame tours for incoming players will go beyond this year. But that decision should be a no-brainer.

Every rookie can benefit from looking at the game's past before going out and have an impact on its future.

James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
Rookies' exploration of game's past should enhance futures - NFL

The Playbook Argument: SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NCAA Basketball stats, scores, standings, and blogs from NCAA Basketball columnists

2008-06-07T12:47:00.002-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

So, it is not just a football problem....it is obviously a sports problem. This young man just experienced what many aspire to do, go into the NBA draft early AND be given the chance to practice with a NBA team.

And, how does he show his thanks and humility for such an opportunity....by driving around NC BLASTING his music, drawing attention to himself that would eventually get him caught drinking and driving. Now, he has no agent yet, because he wanted to keep his options open...that was a wise move. However, possibly, in one big swoop, he might have closed the door to all opportunities because of the poor choices he made one Friday night.

There is truly a missing link here....it is one thing to teach the student-athletes about proper training, skills, endurance, even the importance of a good education. However, what is missing, and is evident, is the lesson on character development, actions/consequences, long-term vs. short-term goals and personal assessment.

This is what The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative looks to provide these student-athletes...to enhance what they are already getting, in order to help them avoid the pitfalls that so many have fallen victim to, before they get out of the gate.

Our formula is "a positive personal life = professional success."

Contact theplaybook@mwprinc.com to learn more.

Drinking lands trouble for Tar Heels' Lawson

Posted: June 6, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson was charged Friday with driving after consuming alcohol following an early morning traffic stop.

Lawson was stopped in downtown Chapel Hill because of the loud music coming from the car, said Chapel Hill Police Capt. Jackie Carden. The car smelled of alcohol and a field sobriety test led the officer to file charges, she said.

Because Lawson is not 21, he could be charged with driving after consuming alcohol. He was also charged with violating the city's noise ordinance and driving with a suspended or revoked license, police said. He was taken into custody and later released. Lawson is scheduled to appear in court July 8.
Neither Lawson nor coach Roy Williams will comment until the legal process runs its course, a school spokesman said in a statement.

He was one of three North Carolina players who declared for the 2008 NBA draft. Lawson has not hired an agent, meaning he could return to school for his junior season.

Lawson attended the NBA pre-draft workouts last week in Florida with teammates Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. On Wednesday, he worked out for the Indiana Pacers.

Lawson helped the Tar Heels reach the Final Four, where they lost to eventual national champion Kansas in the semifinals.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NCAA Basketball stats, scores, standings, and blogs from NCAA Basketball columnists

2008-06-06T20:19:00.002-04:00

Ex-NFL Player Charged After Dog Attack
AP
Posted: 2008-06-05 20:55:13
RICHMOND, Texas (June 5) - Former NFL linebacker Steve Foley was charged with a felony after his pit bulls bit a woman and killed her puppy.

Sports Figures Legal Woes
June 4, 2008: Former NFL player Steve Foley is charged with a felony for failing to secure his dogs after his pit bulls attacked a woman and killed her puppy.

June 4, 2008: Patriots lineman Nick Kaczur was arrested in April on a charge of illegal possession of oxycodone, according to the Boston Globe. The report said Kaczur then helped federal authorities in a sting operation that resulted in the indictment of a supplier.

June 1, 2008: Buffalo police are trying to find out if Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was behind the wheel during a hit-and-run incident in the nightclub section of the city.

May 29, 2008: The former Minnesota football player is sentenced to a year in the county workhouse after being convicted of criminal sexual conduct.

May 25, 2008: Authorities in Florida charge Chicago Bulls forward and former Florida star Joakim Noah with possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol.

May 23, 2008: Former NFL lineman Rich Tylski and his wife admit they abused their adopted daughter. Charges against Tylski will be dropped after he completes a program for first-time offenders.

Getty Images

May 23, 2008: Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda settles a plea deal with the county's Deputy District Attorney over marijuana possession.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

May 20, 2008: Saints defensive end Charles Grant is indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a February incident where a woman was stabbed in a nightlclub.

G. Newman Lowrance, Getty Images

May 20, 2008: Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is sentenced for an assault near McDonald's.

Paul Thomas, AP

He surrendered at the Fort Bend County Jail on Wednesday and was released on a $10,000 bond, sheriff's spokeswoman Terriann Carlson said.

A grand jury indicted Foley, accusing him of failing to secure the dogs. The two adult pit bulls attacked neighbor Twana Schulz on March 26, causing serious bodily injury when they bit her on the arms and face, according to court documents.

Foley was not home when the attack occurred, said his lawyer, Paul Nugent. A conviction on the third-degree felony charge could result in two to 10 years in prison, Nuggent said.

The 32-year-old Foley played with the Cincinnati Bengals (1998-02), Houston Texans (2003) and San Diego Chargers (2004-06).

His career ended after he was shot by an off-duty police officer in San Diego in 2006. The Chargers released him in March 2007 with two years left on his contract. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving and was sentenced to five years' probation.

Schulz, 36, was walking to the corner to pick her daughter up from the school bus when she and the puppy were attacked. Foley's dogs were seized by animal control officers and put to death.

Nugent said Foley kept two adult pit bulls and some puppies as pets. He said the pit bulls were "show dogs and pets, not fighting dogs" and had no previous history of attacks.

"It's a tragic accident," Nugent said. "Mr. Foley feels very sorry that it happened. He had no prior problems with the dogs."

http://sports.aol.com/nfl/story/_a/ex-nfl-player-charged-after-dog-attack/20080605181809990001?feeddeeplinkNum=0

The Playbook Example: ESPN - Bowman, Taylor sentenced to 1 year of probation, community service - College Football

2008-06-03T20:03:00.002-04:00

Bowman, Taylor sentenced to 1 year of probation, community service
Associated Press

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Two Penn State football players pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor charge in connection with an on-campus fight last year, resolving the last of the major legal problems for current team members.

Linebacker Navorro Bowman and defensive tackle Phil Taylor pleaded guilty Friday to a disorderly conduct charge in exchange for prosecutors' dropping more serious assault charges.

"You're never pleased to have to plead to anything," said Taylor's defense attorney Ron McGlaughlin. "But from the standpoint that the matter is finally over with, I think it worked out appropriately."

The players were sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service by Centre County Judge Bradley P. Lunsford, who gave the players a stern lecture about being role models.

Taylor, who will be a junior in the fall, and Bowman, who will be a redshirt sophomore, had been kicked off the team while their cases were pending.

Sports information director Jeff Nelson said he has not received any update that would indicate either players' status with the team had changed.

Bowman and Taylor are among a number of Penn State football players who have been charged over the last year in connection to assaults.

"A lot of kids look up to them," McGlaughlin said, recounting Lunsford's talk. "When they act or engage in problems they obviously cause more problems than they realize."

Bowman's attorney, Stacy Parks Miller, said her client is eager to move on.

"My client's pleased to put this behind him, get on with his life, play football again and get back to school," Miller said.

Although authorities said more than a dozen players were seen on video surveillance near the altercation, police ultimately charged three players with beating a Philadelphia man who was attending a party at the campus student center Oct. 7.

Defensive tackle Chris Baker pleaded guilty to simple assault earlier this month and was sentenced to probation. Cornerback Knowledge Timmons -- who was charged for an altercation after the fight -- was placed in a probation program that will allow his record to be expunged upon completion.

Together, Bowman and Taylor must also pay more than $750 in restitution to the victim, and to the university for costs related to the clean up from the fight.

The cases were the last involving current football players being handled by Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira.

Former receiver Chris Bell still faces charges for threatening another player with a knife in a campus dining hall, but he was kicked off the team shortly after being charged.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3418962&campaign=rss&source=NCFHeadlines

In NBA playoffs, less ink means more viewers : FoxSports.com Water Cooler

2008-05-29T17:06:00.002-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

My initial reaction to Whitlock's article is, WOW!

But, what is interesting is that what he writes, I honestly thought earlier in the playoffs when Iverson and Anthony were still playing….I was SO turned off by their tattoos. I think it is ridiculous how they have covered their body in ink.

It does harm their brand, which directly impacts their potential to have a successful financial future.

And, what bothers me even more is that while I watched college basketball during March Madness, I noticed that SO many college students are now all tatted up…..emulating their NBA heroes.

This (professional sports) is a business, when did folks loose sight of that? It is not just a game they are playing. The athletes are responsible to the organization whose jersey they wear at minimum and truly they should be thinking about their potential financial opportunities….endorsements, paid appearances, etc. Bottomline, there are a lot of stackholders they are accountable to.

Now the article by Mr. Whitlock, is what it is….and, he is DEFINITELY going to get slack for his words. But, if folks would first stop and think about it a little bit, what he is pointing out is true….in my professional as well as personal opinion.

In NBA playoffs, less ink means more viewers
by Jason Whitlock

Jason Whitlock brings his edgy and thought-provoking style to FOXSports.com. Columnist for the Kansas City Star, he has won the National Journalism Award for Commentary for "his ability to seamlessly integrate sports and social commentary and to challenge widely held assumptions along the racial divide."

Over the next couple of weeks you'll hear lots of theories about why TV ratings are surging for the NBA playoffs.

Of course it helps that large TV markets with storied franchises (Boston and Los Angeles) are still alive and favorites to make the NBA Finals. And, yes, it helps that the league's two most successful franchises over the last five years (San Antonio and Detroit) are competing against the Lakers and the Celtics.

The conference finals are littered with big stars, too. Kobe, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, Tony Parker, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili, Rasheed Wallace and all the rest could make up an all-star team that the rest of the league couldn't beat.

Obviously, there are a lot of factors contributing to the ratings numbers that TNT, ESPN and ABC keep bragging about in nearly daily press releases.

The NBA has been experiencing a resurgence ever since the Suns traded for Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, the Mavericks got hoodwinked into snagging Jason Kidd and the Cavaliers picked up new spare parts for LeBron.

But there's one issue driving improved ratings that likely won't be touched by all the NBA talking heads on TNT and ESPN.

Tattoos. Or rather the lack of tattoos in the conference finals.

Part of the reason more people are watching these playoffs is because the average fan isn't constantly repulsed by the appearance of most of the players on the court. Most of the key players left in the playoffs don't look like recent prison parolees.

The only accurate way to describe Garnett, Pierce, Duncan, Allen, Manu, Parker and even Kobe is "clean cut." Yeah, there are a couple of tattoos in that group — Duncan has something on his back, Kobe still has his post-rape-allegation tat — but the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics have far less ink on average than your typical NBA franchise.

Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony have more tats on their hands than the entire Spurs roster.

I know many of you probably think the number of tattoos doesn't influence viewing habits. You're wrong. Like everything else televised, appearances matter. There's a reason you don't see nude scenes in movies with fat people. Trust me, fat people have sex. It's just no one wants to see it. Not even fat people.

No one wants to watch Delonte West or Larry Hughes play basketball. It's uncomfortable and disconcerting. You don't want your kids to see it. You don't want your kids to think they should decorate their neck, arms, hands, chest and legs in paint. You don't want to waste time explaining to your kids that some millionaire athletes have so little genuine self-confidence that they find it necessary to cover themselves in tattoos as a way to mask their insecurities.

You just want to watch basketball and feel like you're watching people you can relate to a little bit, people you somewhat respect.

We finally have that again on the NBA's biggest stage, and everyone can see it because the league's substance isn't covered in a barrel of tattoo ink.

David Stern has been arguing that the NBA is the best book. Ever since Ron Artest went into the stands, Stern has been slowly changing the cover of his book. The dress code and the age limit have helped. The midseason trades helped. Garnett's donning of a Celtics jersey really helped. Kobe's maturity and ascension to Jordan's throne has probably been the most important development. Kobe is everything the league wants LeBron James to be.

But don't underestimate how much having a visually pleasing product to look at has benefitted the league at conference finals time.

It's a television show. Pleasant smiles, non-threatening people sell products better than menacing, tattooed brutes.

If I was David Stern, I'd commission Nike and/or Under Armor to create a basketball jersey with long sleeves, all the way down to the wrists. I'd make Iverson wear a turtleneck jersey with sleeves. I'd cover the tats.

Do you think Sports Illustrated would let its swimsuit models cover themselves in tattoos? Models are paid to look good. Athletes are no different from models. Everyone accepts that female basketball players — when possible — are pushed to showcase their feminine beauty.

It's unfortunate that too many young athletes are too unenlightened to approach the game like a business. They resist almost all ideas that would put more money in their pockets. They have to be forced to do the little things that would help them make more money.

Growing NBA ratings is what's best for the players in the long term. Adopting a non-prison-ready appearance would help everyone in the league earn more money. But no one will talk about it.

In NBA playoffs, less ink means more viewers : FoxSports.com Water Cooler

The Playbook: FOX Sports on MSN - NFL -

2008-05-27T18:27:00.003-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:
If you really want to get folks to take a sincere vested interest in these players, threaten the pockets. The organizations are now being forced to take a more active role in their player's off-the-field activities. Finally, we are getting somewhere.

Now, in order to make sure these players get the point that this thing is serious, the organizations need to implement a new level of personal/professional enhancement initiatives.

Here is where The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative needs to make its entrance. Let MWPR, Inc. bring in The Playbook to help reinforce to the players the fact that what they are getting paid to do is not a game, it's their job. And, that they are to take it as seriously as anyone who has a "9 to 5" does, if they want to keep it.

We believe a professional athlete’s journey to success begins long before the contract is signed and their first game as a professional is played. The proven formula for professional achievement is a mixture of natural talent and a positive personal life. Recognizing that some athletes struggle with keeping it all together – MWPR, Inc. created this mentoring initiative to assist them on this journey. Like no other initiative currently available, The Playbook ™brings productive, positive and purpose-driven solutions to the real-life needs that occur in the natural life-cycle of an athlete. Through a specified curriculum, presentations, personal player testimonies and extended professional services, the immediate and long-term needs of the aspiring and established professional athlete will be addressed.

Our formula is “a positive personal life = professional success”.

NFL won't punish teams for prior player acts
by Alex Marvez
Fox Soprts on MSN - NFL

The NFL's personal conduct policy is about to get stricter — but not before every team is allowed to start with a clean slate.

FOXSports.com has learned new league rules resulting in fines for clubs whose players are suspended for off-field violations begin June 1. But the NFL is pardoning franchises whose players' legal problems occurred before then.

That is good news for a team like the Minnesota Vikings, which has a player (left tackle Bryant McKinnie) facing serious criminal charges following a February arrest. McKinnie, who was arrested on three previous occasions during his NFL career, could face disciplinary action from league commissioner Roger Goodell once the case is resolved. The Vikings, though, won't be financially penalized regardless of the outcome of the McKinnie case.

Teams that sign free-agent players who face possible suspension also will not be fined if such punishment is levied.

"The policy on club fines is being applied going forward (prospectively), not retroactively," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in a Tuesday email. "The plan is that the club to be fined will be the club to which the player belonged at the time of the arrest or violation. But it only applies to arrests or violations occurring after June 1."

Goodell announced the policy change last week and said he may ultimately begin yanking draft choices from teams with multiple player violations. The moves add teeth to the personal conduct policy Goodell introduced in April 2007. Since Super Bowl XLII, the same number of players have gotten arrested or cited (27) as in the same span following last year's championship game.

"When you look at any particular window, it might not look like there's been significant progress," Goodell said at the NFL's spring meeting in Atlanta. "But I think there's a greater recognition of the issue. ... I recognize there have been incidents in recent weeks that concern me. That's one of the reasons we raised the [punishment] again. We will continue to address this issue. It is still a priority for us.

"As I said last year: This is not going to get resolved simply by issuing a new personal conduct policy. It's going to be a continuing reinforcement of the message. You're expected to act a particular way if you're going to be involved with the NFL — period."

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL -

The Playbook: What NOT To Do Post-Season

2008-05-25T22:57:00.003-04:00

Police arrested Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah early this morning on charges of possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol. According to a police spokesman, Noah was spotted by an officer on a sidewalk holding a plastic cup containing an amber drink, a violation of city law. Cops later found pot on him during a search at the police station. He could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for the marijuana charge.

The Playbook: ESPN - Grizzlies' Quinn charged with second DUI in less than a year - College Football

2008-05-23T17:16:00.001-04:00

The Playbook Commentary: Are you kidding me? Two DUI's in less than one year....and, he is only 22?

After the first DUI, why didn't his attorney, the school, the coaching staff, etc. keep a tighter reign on him to ensure this didn't happen again? And, with the other trouble he was in that caused him to be ineligible to play last season, you would think he would try to be on his "Ps" and "Qs".

In my opinion, it was in the best interests of everyone to have created a winning environment for this young man. And, I truly believe they failed him.

The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative....COMING SOON!

Grizzlies' Quinn charged with second DUI in less than a year
Associated Press
Updated: May 23, 2008, 1:45 AM ET

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Montana offensive lineman J.D. Quinn was arrested Thursday on charges of drunken driving, his second DUI charge in less than a year.

The 22-year-old senior, who transferred from Oklahoma, was arrested after he pulled over for a traffic stop, refused a breathalyzer and requested a blood test, according to his attorney.

Neither of the tests was administered before Quinn posted $500 bail. He pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge the same day.

"He disputes that he was impaired at all," said Paul Ryan, Quinn's attorney. "We continue to monitor his alcohol use, but he's been really compliant and just wants get these matters resolved."

Quinn was arrested in Missoula in July on another DUI charge. He pleaded not guilty to that charge and is awaiting trial.

Quinn, an All-Big Sky selection last season, has been suspended from the team until further notice, athletic director Jim O'Day said.

Around the time of last year's DUI arrest, the NCAA forced Oklahoma to vacate eight wins from the 2005 season because Quinn and quarterback Rhett Bomar took money for work they didn't perform at a Norman, Okla., car dealership.

The players were dismissed from the team in August 2006 and lost a year of eligibility. They were eligible to play again last fall.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Grizzlies' Quinn charged with second DUI in less than a year - College Football

The Playbook: ESPN - Parker to miss two games after guilty plea to two misdemeanors - College Football

2008-05-22T22:12:00.002-04:00

The Playbook Commentary: Are you kidding me? Why are the majority of the articles on ESPN/College Football about college-athletes either being indicted, not returning to school after being suspended or ineligible to play due to off-the-field actions? And, this is all this week!

After reading a few, I just couldn't continue to post these stories without saying something. Please explain to me why this young man felt it necessary to carry a gun in his glove compartment. What was he protecting?

See how quick an adolescent act can create an adult situation with major consequences. Instead of him enjoying the full college experience with his class and teammates, he is now forced to live in a supervised dorm, perform roughly 100 combined community services hours, attend NCAA regulated classes, etc.

For what? And, why?

Was it worth it? Is it ever worth it?

Who is watching, speaking, influencing, guiding, supporting these kids to help make sure such things don't happen?

Now, do be clear, I was once a college student and I truly had my fun. However, I was not active in sports and did not contribute to a team and university's success because of my athletic ability. College athletes are more than just regular students; this is evident in how the school treats them, how the community embraces them (especially if they have a successful athletic program) and, how often the scouts and agents pay them a visit.

So, it is safe to conclude that these students have a lot to offer, to a lot of people. And, because of that, should be receiving the support, guidance and positive influence from these people to make sure, at the minimum, they continue to produce the great results that make them so popular.

Is this possible? I believe so.

I HAVE to believe so.

Parker to miss two games after guilty plea to two misdemeanors
Associated Press
Updated: May 19, 2008, 3:36 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State receiver Preston Parker will have to sit out the first two games of the 2008 season after pleading guilty Monday to two misdemeanor charges.

The 21-year-old Parker, the Seminoles' most versatile player last season, was arrested in April on a felony charge for allegedly having a loaded .45-caliber pistol in the dashboard of his car. The charge was reduced to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

At the time of his arrest, Parker was also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, to which he also pleaded guilty in Palm Beach County.

"Preston made a very serious mistake, and there are consequences when one of our boys gets in trouble," head coach Bobby Bowden said in a statement. "Preston will have the opportunity to continue as a student and as an athlete at Florida State, but he will have to earn that right."

Parker will be a junior in the upcoming season. He is set to sit out games against Western Carolina and Chattanooga, and return to play against Wake Forest.

Parker apologized to his teammates and fans in a statement released by his attorney.

"I fully blame myself for being in this situation, because it could've easily been avoided," Parker wrote.
Parker scored five touchdowns last year. He caught a team-leading 62 passes, was second on the Seminoles in rushing and was Florida State's main punt returner.

As part of a plea agreement, Parker will perform 50 hours of community service and serve 12 months of probation.

Besides the two-game suspension, the university has set several other conditions for Parker to remain on the team. Those include moving into a supervised dorm, going to weekly study hall, performing an additional 50 hours of community service, attending weekly sessions with the school office that enforces NCAA regulations, submitting to drug testing and mentoring at-risk students.

"He wants to move forward with doing whatever he needs to do to get himself back in good graces with the university and back out to what he does on the football field. This is his first step toward doing that," said Parker's attorney, Jason Weiss.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Parker to miss two games after guilty plea to two misdemeanors - College Football

The Playbook: ESPN - Reports: Grand jury indicts Arizona DE Turner - College Football

2008-05-22T22:07:00.001-04:00

Reports: Grand jury indicts Arizona DE Turner
ESPN.com news services
Updated: May 20, 2008, 9:52 AM ET

A University of Arizona defensive end has been indicted by a grand jury on a sexual assault charge, according to media reports.

A Pima County grand jury indicted Johnathan Turner, 23, on Friday in connection with an incident alleged to have taken place April 3, sheriff's deputies said.

According to the reports, a woman reported that she fell asleep after drinking alcohol at a party and awoke to find Turner sexually assaulting her.

According to court documents, the woman pushed Turner away and went into a bedroom to tell a friend about the assault. Turner followed her and told her friends that she was "tripping out" and that he was just "cuddling" with her.

The woman's friends took her to a nearby hospital, where police were called, according to the reports.
The Tucson Citizen reported that it could not reach Turner for comment. However, his attorney, Richard Martinez, asked that Turner not be judged before the facts are known.

"It is an extremely difficult time for him," Martinez said, according to the Citizen. "He is caught in a situation where I know everybody is going to prejudge him, and that shouldn't be the case until all the details are known. ... Once the whole story is out there will be a different opinion."

"Obviously we are aware of the situation and we are going to let the judicial system obviously take its course," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said.

Stoops said he had not yet discussed Turner's playing status with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood.

"We will discuss what is best for all parties and make some type of decision this week," Stoops said, according to the report. "We are going to leave him on scholarship and let him continue to work on his education ... He is going to work out on his own."

ESPN - Reports: Grand jury indicts Arizona DE Turner - College Football

The Playbook: ESPN - Hamby indicted on assault charge for altercation near campus - College Football

2008-05-22T21:57:00.001-04:00

Hamby indicted on assault charge for altercation near campus
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech center Stephen Hamby faces an aggravated assault charge for allegedly punching a man in the face twice in March.

Hamby, indicted by a grand jury Tuesday, is accused of punching the man during an altercation near campus. The victim suffered a fractured jaw and was treated at a Lubbock hospital, police said.
Hamby fled the scene, according to a police report.

Hamby, a 6-foot-3, 287-pound junior from San Antonio, walked on at Texas Tech and rose steadily on the depth chart before starting for the first time last season.

Hamby's attorney, Tom Pitts, declined to comment Wednesday.

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said in Wednesday's edition of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that he knew of Hamby's altercation and had not decided whether to discipline him.

"His status is we'll see what the facts are and then address it based on the facts," Leach said. "We're not going to jump to any conclusions."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Hamby indicted on assault charge for altercation near campus - College Football

The ULTIMATE argument for the need of such a program as The Playbook

2008-05-21T16:38:00.007-04:00

The question posed in the The Playbook© commentary earlier today is applicable here. Mr. Professional Athlete, What is Your Game Plan....OFF-the-field? Because one is needed. Don't get distracted by today's hype and initial financial reward for playing hard in college. As a rookie, you need to get your personal team together and create a solid plan for both your financial and physical future.

A rookie’s security depends on more than draft-day decisions

Street & Smith's Sports and Business Journal

By Jason Cole

Published April 21, 2008 : Page 17

The 2008 NFL draft will launch a new class of athletes who may very well focus on living a higher lifestyle than they can afford without considering the financial challenges awaiting them.

The financial decisions that players make even before they sign their contract affect the quality of their lives for years beyond their playing careers.

First-round draft picks will sign contracts with large salaries and bonuses. Most rookies, however, will not.

In 2008, the minimum salary for rookies is $295,000, for second-year players it is $370,000 and for thirdyear players it is $445,000. These salaries apply to all but the first 31 players drafted (although round-one draft picks can choose to take these minimum salaries if it makes the most sense in their total contract package).

No guarantees
Unlike MLB and NBA contracts, they are not guaranteed. Signing and roster bonuses are the only real guarantees in what are traditionally four-year NFL rookie contracts.

The NFL Players Association estimates that at least 78 NFL players were defrauded of more than $42 million between 1999 and 2002 alone. Fraud and poor financial decisions have caused many NFL players to go broke.

Dale Carter, a first-round draft pick who played in the NFL for 13 years, filed for bankruptcy in 2002 claiming debts of $5 million.

Financial decisions NFL rookies make even before they are drafted or sign their first contract can affect their lives long after their playing careers end.

Fred Taylor lost his entire $3 million signing bonus in the William “Tank” Black fraud scheme. Black, a sports agent, was sentenced in 2001 to nearly seven years in prison on a money-laundering charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Sanford said during trial that Black abused his clients’ trust and stole between $12 million and $14 million from them. NFL players testified that Black used his position as their agent to steal millions from them through bogus investments.

Getting drafted does not guarantee employment in the NFL. From 2000 to 2007, according to Colin Lindsay of GBN Report, an online NFL draft site, an average of 37 draft picks annually, or 15 percent of those players drafted, were released prior to opening-day rosters.

Being prudent in the early years is crucial to achieving ultimate off-the-field success. Rather than spending, athletes need to save.

It makes sense to keep a portion of one’s earnings invested in safe short-term cash and cash equivalents if for nothing else but to have some liquidity and a safety net. I recommend that these rookies seek more financial training.

NFL education
In an effort to help their players handle their money responsibly, the NFLPA has stepped up its programs to educate young players about important financial issues.

All rookies are required to attend a symposium covering lessons about finances (among other topics). The NFL also provides a background-check service to screen any business opportunities players may encounter.

A rookie who receives a $1 million signing bonus and a starting salary of $295,000 will net about $1.2 million (before any spending and after fees taken by a business manager, agent, taxes, social security and union dues) over the average NFL career of 3.3 years.

If the player earned 7 percent on investment savings while spending $100,000 after taxes per year during his 3.3-year career, he’d accumulate $1 million at retirement. This will create an annual income stream of $40,000 (with annual cost-of-living increase) if he wants his money to last for the rest of his life.

If he continued to spend $100,000 after taxes and had no other earned income, he would run out of money after only nine years.

In most cases, rookies have poor or zero credit once they leave college. To establish good credit, they must pay their bills on time and avoid accumulating too much debt.

Rookies who are concerned about poor spending habits and lack a handle on their cash flow should hire a business manager to hold them to a fixed monthly budget. I recommend paying oneself back in the form of forced savings to start building a nest egg for retirement.

One way to address this is through the NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan, which is a 401(k) plan. A player’s NFL team matches the player’s pre-tax contributions 2 to 1 up to $20,000.
Thus, a player who elects to defer a maximum of $15,500 pre-tax from his paycheck will receive a $20,000 tax-deferred matched contribution from his NFL team.

Due to players getting only 17 paychecks during the season and then receiving no paychecks during the off season, planning for one’s spending and savings has to occur well in advance of the off season.

Establish residence
Many athletes do not realize that the state where they reside when they receive their signing bonus determines its taxation. In California, this means paying 10.3 percent, including a millionaire’s tax of 1 percent. To save or avoid state income taxes, look to establish residency in states such as Texas or Florida before contract signing.

I often advise rookies to set up an LLC for all marketing, endorsement and trading-card income streams.

With an LLC, a player can elect to make an additional retirement contribution (up to 25 percent of net LLC income), as well as deduct certain travel, agent, financial adviser and business management expenses against income. In all of the excitement and anticipation of this year’s draft, let’s not forget the reality of short careers and poor money decisions that these players will experience.

Jason Cole (Jason@abacuswealth.com) is a certified financial planner and managing director of Abacus Wealth Partners.

The Playbook: What is Plan B?

2008-05-21T12:08:00.002-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

What is Plan B? Does a professional athlete place as much mental and physical energy in creating a Plan B, JUST IN CASE, things don't go as planned? More times than not, they don't. And, that is a shame. Because in life, nothing is guaranteed. And, you are as hot and good until tomorrow's new kid comes along. I am curious to see what happens with Schweigert and Biamila and others like them. Even if they get picked up by another team, they and all players should not place all their future eggs in that one uncertain basket. They should have options...because at the end of the day, no one should be more concerned with their future on any level more than themselves.

The question is, "What is your game plan for life?" The answer is, "The Playbook©: Mentoring Initiative can help you create it."

Coming Soon!

Raiders release S Schweigert, LB Gbaja-Biamila
Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders released safety Stuart Schweigert on Tuesday, cutting ties with a former starter who lost his job late last season.

Schweigert, a third-round pick out of Purdue in 2004, became the starter at free safety midway through his second season in Oakland and started 37 consecutive games before being replaced last season.

Schweigert lost his job to Hiram Eugene when he was forced to miss a game with an injured calf and then played as a backup in the final five contests of the season.

Schweigert struggled at times last season as a run-stopper and the Raiders set out to improve their tackling at safety this offseason by signing Gibril Wilson from the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Wilson lined up mostly as a strong safety during last week's practice open to the media, with former first-round pick Michael Huff shifting to his more natural position of free safety. That left little room for Schweigert, who missed the open practice with a leg injury.

Schweigert had 215 tackles and four interceptions in 63 games with the Raiders. He also had 20 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

The Raiders also released linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, signed as a free agent earlier this offseason.

The Raiders began their second week of offseason practices Tuesday in a session closed to the media. It was the first time running back Darren McFadden and quarterback JaMarcus Russell got to work together.

McFadden, the No. 4 overall pick in last month's draft, was not allowed at last week's practices because he is a rookie. Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, was not at the rookie minicamp the previous week.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Raiders release S Schweigert, LB Gbaja-Biamila - NFL

The Playbook argument continues to be proven: Saints' Grant charged with involuntary manslaughter - NFL

2008-05-21T11:53:00.001-04:00

Saints' Grant charged with involuntary manslaughter
Associated Press

BLAKELY, Ga. -- New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant has been indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a February altercation at a nightclub.

Grant, who was stabbed in the neck during the fracas, was charged by an Early County grand jury that also charged Laquient Macklin with felony murder and feticide in the shooting death of Korynda Reed, 23. Reed died after being taken to the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, after the fight early Feb. 3.

The indictment was posted on the Web site of the Early County News on Tuesday.

"We are aware and have no comment," Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said.

District Attorney Charles M. Ferguson could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Sheriff's Capt. Will Caudill said at the time of the melee that there was no known connection between Grant and Reed. He said the fight started inside the club and then moved outside, and Grant was attacked after shots were fired.

Woodrow Gray was indicted on a charge of aggravated assault in the knife attack on Grant, a former University of Georgia star from nearby Colquitt.

Grant was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. He had 2½ sacks in 2007 while starting 14 games for the Saints and has 38½ over his six-year career.

In addition to Grant and Macklin, and Marshae Stromer, Anthony Wilson, Jarvis Tinson, Rodreaco Gray and Woodrow Gray were charged with involuntary manslaughter for alleged participation in the fight.

Grant also received misdemeanor fighting charges.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Saints' Grant charged with involuntary manslaughter - NFL

The Playbook: ESPN - USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye - Columnist

2008-05-14T13:06:00.001-04:00

USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye
By Pat FordeESPN.com

In a just world, USC basketball would have something in common with SMU football in the near future.
The death penalty.

It's not going to happen, because NCAA bylaws don't work that way. And besides, they're not likely to ever again disband a program for a year after the smoking crater it left at SMU.

But USC deserves it. The school has so far escaped facing NCAA prosecution for compelling allegations that star tailback Reggie Bush and his family were lavishly compensated by an aspiring agent while playing for the Trojans. Now comes a devastating, thoroughly documented "Outside The Lines" report that goes into stunning detail about the money and gifts star guard O.J. Mayo allegedly received before and during his one season at USC.

All directly beneath USC's chronically blind eyes.

You can plead ignorance once -- and even that was almost impossible to believe, in the case of Bush. Plead it twice? Um, no. USC should be crushed by the NCAA, the Pacific-10 and its own administration.

Especially with a player everyone in Hoopsworld strongly suspected was no amateur before he set foot in Los Angeles. You had to search hard to find a soul who didn't think O.J. Mayo had been prostituted for years as his prep legend grew, starting in seventh grade. (Put it this way: When early Mayo confidant Sonny Vaccaro gets muscled out of the scene, somebody's bringing some serious juice to the table.)

So you take the Bush allegations, add a side of Mayo and ask the question: Has there ever been a more textbook definition of "lack of institutional control"?

If all the allegations stand up, USC athletic director Mike Garrett and the Inspector Clouseaus who comprise his compliance staff must lose their jobs over these serial embarrassments, or the school has no credibility whatsoever. When USC's two highest-profile sports both have star players allegedly on the brazen take from agents, somebody needs to answer for it. A lot of somebodies.
Or USC can take its ignorance and explain it to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which shouldn't be in much of a mood to listen if the same OTL facts are presented to NCAA investigators as compellingly as they were on national TV and on this Web site Sunday.

According to the OTL investigation, Mayo received thousands of dollars' worth of clothes. A flat-screen TV for his dorm. Hotel rooms for him and his friends. And receipts for all of them, provided to ESPN by insider-turned-whistle-blower Louis Johnson (whose stories were remarkably consistent and verifiable, according to those who worked on the piece).

But it gets better: The swag allegedly was financed by a man named Rodney Guillory, who previously had gotten former USC guard Jeff Trepagnier in trouble for accepting agent kickbacks. Not only did that fail to get Guillory banned from campus, he also wound up a fixture within the program. Of course, who wouldn't want a 43-year-old scammer hanging around a college freshman?

According to transcripts from OTL's interviews with Johnson, Guillory was sitting in the USC basketball offices when Mayo's signed letter-of-intent rolled off the fax machine. Johnson also said coach Tim Floyd talked frequently with Guillory about Mayo whenever "issues" arose.

In the wake of this, it's hilarious to listen to Floyd's interview on "Pardon The Interruption" before Mayo started his brief career at USC. In a previous episode, Michael Wilbon had arched an eyebrow about taking someone with Mayo's red flags into the program. Floyd's response made Mayo sound like a tragically misunderstood Eagle Scout.

According to Floyd, Mayo was raised by a single mother who didn't have the money to pay a big cell phone bill -- which ostensibly is why Guillory discouraged Floyd from calling him during his recruitment. Floyd also said the kid "doesn't have anything" materially.

Despite that, the USC coach apparently never got around to wondering how the poor child from Huntington, W.Va., could afford the expensive clothes on his back or the expensive shoes on his feet. How about the flat-screen TV in his dorm? That never set off an alarm? If the answer is that USC coaches or compliance workers never set foot in Mayo's dorm room … why the hell not?

When you recruit someone radioactive, you better have everything checked down to the smallest detail. Or else your program turns into Three Mile Island.

Johnson told ESPN that he believes USC did not know about any of the kickbacks Mayo allegedly received. Why?

"I think after the Reggie Bush fiasco that they would have definitely taken steps to prevent this type of thing from happening again," Johnson said.

Except they apparently didn't. Which is astonishing. And damning.

(However, it would not qualify as "repeat violator" status with the NCAA. The school has not been penalized -- or even charged -- in the Bush affair, and until that happens, USC would not fall under the repeat violator umbrella. That's why it couldn't get the death penalty. But a postseason ban would seem to be both plausible and justifiable.)

You have to assume USC simply didn't want to know. Didn't want to know the extent to which runners already had set their hooks into their highest-profile basketball recruit ever. The Trojans knew they were in this deal for one year before Mayo turned pro, and they probably just averted their gaze, hoping nothing blew up and the victories would pile up.

It's a scenario playing out right now on many other campuses nationwide, guaranteed. Agents and their runners are identifying who can play as early as college scouts are, and they're commencing the jockeying for position. And we all know what wins most of those turf wars: money and favors. Most topflight young basketball players have at least been offered plenty before college, even if they haven't accepted it.

It's a problem the NCAA desperately needs to get a grip on if college basketball is going to maintain even a hint of a legitimate relationship to higher education. The sport's repeatedly pilloried reputation took another big hit with this revelation, but perhaps it will spur other Louis Johnsons to tell the truth about what's going on in college hoops and youth basketball.

And as for USC?

Fight on.

And deny on.

Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
ESPN - USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye - Columnist

Dialing up True Love while Temptation is on the Other Line - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

2008-05-13T00:06:00.001-04:00

Dialing up True Love while Temptation is on the Other Line - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

The Playbook: ESPN - Florida player allegedly used deceased woman's credit card - College Football

2008-05-12T23:23:00.003-04:00

The Playbook commentary:

Now this one is sad on so many levels. First, and foremost, why did this young man find it necessary to do what he did? This action speaks of total desparation. Now, yes, with gas prices the way they are, we all would love to be able to catch a break. But, NOT like this....so sad.

What is also sad is how fast the university's team dismissed Hornsby. Severing all ties and any level of responsibility. Now, understanding that this is not the first or second time this young man had been in trouble, and in knowing that, a red flag goes up for me....who takes responsibilty for the previous times? What was done to help him, "see the light" when the first and/or second incident occurred? This is scary because it shows that players are valued only when they are producing key results on the field....nothing is sincere. And, if this is not the case...perception is reality. Time to rethink how you manage players, communicate to the media/public and prioritize your goals.

And, lastly, what is sad is the tragic way two young people died. They can not be forgotten in this....no matter what.

I hope that someone tries to step in and save the life of Mr. Hornsby, while he still has a chance. He should not easily be dismissed...he still has a promising future, maybe not on the field, but in life.

MWPRInsight

Florida player allegedly used deceased woman's credit card
ESPN.com news services

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida Gators safety Jamar Hornsby has been kicked off the team after turning himself in Friday to answer charges he allegedly used the credit card of a woman killed six months ago in an accident that also killed a teammate.

"He is not a part of our program," Florida coach Urban Meyer said in a news release.
Hornsby, a 21-year-old junior, learned Thursday that a judge had issued a warrant for his arrest on charges he used the dead woman's gas card for six months, so he surrendered on charges of credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card, lawyer Huntley Johnson said.

Hornsby was released from jail several hours later on his own recognizance.

Hornsby allegedly used a credit card issued to Ashley Slonina, a University of Florida student who died in an October 2007 motorcycle accident that also took the life of Gators walk-on Michael Guilford. It was not known how Hornsby obtained the card.

Alachua County Sheriff's Office spokesman Stephen Maynard said the card was used 33 times in Alachua County and another 37 times in Jacksonville, for $3,000 in charges.

"I would love to hear the explanation for utilizing the card of a deceased person," Maynard said.
Hornsby is accused of using the card starting Oct. 13, 2007, the day after the woman's death, the newspaper said.

Slonina, the girlfriend of another Florida teammate, was apparently getting a ride home from Guilford when his motorcycle struck a curb at high speed near campus early on the morning of Oct. 12.
Hornsby, who has played the last two seasons mostly on special teams, has had two prior off-field problems during his Florida career. He was cited in April 2007 on misdemeanor criminal mischief charges when he caused $750 damage to a car by throwing a man onto the vehicle's hood during a fight.

He also was suspended from playing in last year's game against Georgia for selling his tickets to the game, a violation of NCAA rules.

Guilford, a walk-on defensive back, had earned national attention for playing the role of Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith on the scout team during preparation for the 2007 Bowl Championship Series national title game, which the Gators won 41-14.

Information from ESPN.com college football reporter Mark Schlabach and The Associated Press was used in this report.

ESPN - Florida player allegedly used deceased woman's credit card - College Football

The Playbook Poster Child: ESPN - Florida state attorney drops case against Broncos' Thomas - NFL

2008-05-12T10:39:00.004-04:00

The Playbook Commentary:

My two cents before you read yet another story about a player not thinking, whatsoever....Mr. Thomas should get down on his knees and thank God that the charges were dropped. This situation is becoming too much the norm in the world of professional sports, especially within the NFL. And, it is so ridiculous because it doesn't need to happen. Why do you find it necessary to be in possession of any illegal substance, when you know that your job has mandatory drug testing? Why do you find it necessary to associate with folks who obviously do not respect your job (yes, playing football is not a game) and don't take the potential consequences of their actions into consideration before they get you involved? People (players, agents, the NFL, family, friends, etc.), can we PLEEZE wake up?!

Now, of course I am not going to illuminate the problem without offering a solution, at least one solution, from my POV. My firm's latest initative under MWPR │Presents, is The Playbook. This mentoring initiative looks to bring productive, positive and purpose-driven solutions to the real-life needs and situations that occur during the lifecycle of a professional athlete. And, pertaining to players in crisis...there are proactive as well as reactive programs developed to address these scenarios including: Under Your Jersey: Game Day Decision; Post-Game Wrap-up; and, 4th & Goal.

I would LOVE to be able to help the Marcus Thomas' of the world and their "agents"realize once and for all that this thing is for real....let us help you (the professional athlete) make your career a successful one.

Coming soon!

Florida state attorney drops case against Broncos' Thomas
By Bill WilliamsonESPN.com(Archive)

The Florida state attorney's office has dropped its case against starting Denver Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas.
Thomas had been arrested in March in Clay County, Fla., for cocaine possession. However, charges were never pursued by prosecutors. According to the Clay County clerk's Web site, the case was abandoned Friday.

Thomas' attorney, Charlie Truncale, said Friday night that he had spoken with assistant state attorney James Boyle earlier in the day and was told the case had been dropped.

"It's over," Truncale said. "I'm so pleased for Marcus."

Thomas, who was dismissed as a senior from the eventual BCS champion Florida Gators in 2006 after repeated positive tests for marijuana, was arrested with his former high school teammate, Bryce Carter, in Jacksonville, Fla.

According to the county Web site Friday, Carter is being charged with third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance.

Truncale said in March that both Thomas and Carter told the arresting officers that the cocaine was in the possession of Carter, who was driving when Carter's truck was stopped for a traffic violation.

However, those statements were not part of the police report. Thomas, Truncale said, recently talked to prosecutors and maintained his story. "I'm just glad the right thing was done," Truncale said.

The Broncos had no comment Friday night. However, coach Mike Shanahan said in March that the team supported Thomas. Sources have said that if Thomas would have been prosecuted, Denver likely would have cut him.

"Marcus is so appreciative of Coach Shanahan's support and he is happy this thing is over," his agent, Richard Burnoski, said Friday night. "He's looking forward to the future with the Denver Broncos."

Denver drafted Thomas in the fourth round in 2007, moving up to get him at the No. 121 spot by trading a package of picks to the Minnesota Vikings.

Shanahan repeatedly has said Thomas was a top-15 quality pick. He finished last season as a starter and is expected to be teamed with Dewayne Robertson, just acquired from the Jets, in the middle of Denver's defensive line.

Bill Williamson covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

ESPN - Florida state attorney drops case against Broncos' Thomas - NFL

Hamilton resigns post at Georgia Tech | ajc.com

2008-05-07T18:14:00.001-04:00

Hamilton resigns post at Georgia Tech
By STAFF REPORTS
Published on: 05/07/08

Joe Hamilton's career on the Georgia Tech football staff ended less than two weeks after it started when he resigned Wednesday, a day after his arrest on charges of drunk driving, hit-and-run, marijuana possession and open container.

Hamilton, the 1999 Heisman Trophy runner-up, had hoped to use his assistant player personnel job as a steppingstone to a position as an on-the-field coach. Instead, he faces charges from an early Tuesday traffic stop on the Tech campus.

Hamilton did not immediately return a voice and a text message sent to his cell phone.

"Today, I sadly accepted Joe's resignation," Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson said in a released statement on Wednesday. "I know he has great love and concern for this program and always will. Both athletic director Dan Radakovich and I made it clear to Joe that we would offer any support he requires in the coming weeks and into the future. Joe will always be a part of the Yellow Jacket family."

He had just joined the Tech staff on April 28. His duties included assisting with recruiting and helping the players.

Hamilton apologized to Tech and professed his innocence after a bond hearing in courtroom in Fulton County Jail Tuesday evening.

Hamilton was pulled over shortly after midnight by a Georgia Tech police officer because his black Ford Expedition matched the description of a car in a nearby hit-and-run crash.

Officers smelled alcohol on Hamilton's breath and asked him if he had been drinking and involved in an accident. Hamilton admitted that he had a few beers and that he hit another vehicle from behind, the report said.

Hamilton failed a series of field sobriety tests, including walking in a straight line and standing on one leg.
Hamilton, 31, received his history, technology and society degree from Tech last August. Since graduating, he has been a personality on Tech's pre-game radio show. He also provided color commentary on the game replays on CSS-TV.

The 5-foot, 10-inch quarterback played for Tech from 1996 to 1999. He led the team to an ACC championship in 1998 and finished second in the Heisman Trophy race the next year. He moved on to play in the NFL and the Arena Football League.

Hamilton resigns post at Georgia Tech ajc.com

MWPRInsight: Evidence of why "The Playbook" initiative is timely

2008-05-07T17:40:00.001-04:00

It's academic: NCAA reveals APR sanctions
Steve Megargee is a national writer for Rivals.com.

Orange Bowl champion Kansas and Washington State were the only programs from "Big Six" conferences to face penalties. Other schools facing penalties for football were Akron, UAB, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Hawaii, Idaho, UNLV, New Mexico State, North Texas, San Diego State, San Jose State, Temple and Toledo.

The list of major programs facing penalties is longer in men's basketball. Colorado, Kansas State, Purdue, Seton Hall, South Carolina, USC and Tennessee were among the 53 Division I programs cited.

A total of 218 teams at 123 schools will be sanctioned for poor performance, NCAA president Myles Brand said. Another 712 teams were publicly recognized last month for APRs in the top 10 percent of each sport.

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year. The APR is based on the eligibility, retention and graduation of each student-athlete on scholarship. An APR of 925 equates to an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of about 60 percent.

The average APR for all Division I student-athletes is 961 – 951 for males and 969 for females. This year marked the first time the average eligibility and retention rates both showed increases.

"Overall, there is much to be encouraged about with the latest data," Brand said. "When we started four years ago, baseball and football were in serious trouble. There has been great improvement in both of those sports.

"We are not out of the woods, however. There are individual institutions that have seen steady decline in APR over the last four years. The situation is dire for them."

Teams that score below 925 on the APR and have a student leave school academically ineligible can lose up to 10 percent of their scholarships. Teams also can be subject to penalties for poor academic performance over time.

The majority of basketball programs facing penalties recently had coaching changes. Coaching changes can be problematic for a school's APR, particularly with the transfers that can result.
No school faces penalties in more sports than Sacramento State, which was cited in baseball, football, men's basketball, men's golf, men's indoor track, men's outdoor track and women's tennis. The Hornets are a I-AA football program.

Schools facing penalties in six sports included UAB (football, men's basketball, men's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, women's basketball), New Mexico State (baseball, football, men's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, women's outdoor track) and San Jose State (baseball, football, men's basketball, men's cross country, men's soccer, women's basketball).

The single-year APR has increased 12 points for baseball and 11 points for football since 2003-04, when the NCAA began collecting data on this issue. The APR for men's basketball declined each of the past two years before increasing four points this year.

This is the second year for "historical penalties." Second-year sanctions include restrictions on scholarships and practice time. Starting next year, teams that receive three consecutive years of historical penalties (below 900 APR) face the potential of restrictions on postseason competition in addition to scholarship and practice restrictions.

Every program posting an APR score below 925 is required to develop a specific academic improvement plan. Teams posting APR scores below 900 must submit their plans to the NCAA for review.

Steve can be reached at smegargee@rivals.com. Link to article:

MWPRInsight: Another Example of Why Athletes Need Qualified PR Professionals

2008-04-23T00:21:00.001-04:00

By Monica Wood │MWPR, Inc.

Up to now, all I have done is post examples of off-the-field mistakes and choices athletes have made, expressing my frustration in the headers. But, I really need to finally state for the record my total disgust at what seems to be epidemic in the NFL. Why is it that SO many players are continuing to make the same bad decisions over and over again?

Isn't this a fraternity of sorts? Where is the internal communication line between fellow players getting the word out that "player X" of "Y team" was just arrested...and screaming to the members..."brothers, we need to stop the maddness and focus on the game." There is a responsibility that should be placed on the players (fellow members of the fraternity) to help nip this thing. Come on....you don't have to make the same mistake that others have made....learn from them.

And, now my finger is pointing to the agents, PAs and PR folks....where are you? How is it that your clients are able to get so out of hand? Why isn't anyone sitting them down and talking about how important it is to keep their nose clean off-the-field? Give them the examples of other players that have fallen from grace and let them know that they are not special....it could easily happen to them. Where is the mentoring? Where is the consulting? Where is the assistance?

If nothing else will get their attention, the mighty dollar should. Let them know how much they stand to loose with one mistake. Pound into them the point of how hard it will be to regain trust and to polish their tarnished brand.

My passion has always been sports and making sure athletes, especially ones that look like me, are able to embrace all they can from the priviledged opportunity they have....playing professional sports. It is a job...not a game. Can you please start acting like it?

If not, you could possibly suffer the same fate as Quincy Wilson. Let it stop with him.

Coming soon: The Playbook

Wilson released by Bengals, RB was previously arrested
Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Running back Quincy Wilson has been waived by the Cincinnati Bengals.

It is the second time in the past five days the Bengals released a player who had been arrested.

The second-year running back from West Virginia was arrested last June 17 in Huntington, W.Va., and charged with disorderly conduct for failing to disperse after a weekend wedding party. The Bengals waived him Monday.

Wilson was the 10th Bengals player arrested in a 14-month span.

The Bengals recently released wide receiver Chris Henry, another former West Virginia star, after he was arrested last week on an assault charge, his fifth arrest while he was with the team.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Mauia arrested on battery charge, accused of punching man outside restaurant - NFL

2008-04-23T00:07:00.000-04:00

"WESTON, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins fullback Reagan Mauia was charged with punching another man in the face and knocking him unconscious in a restaurant parking lot early Friday.

The victim, Michael Gianatassio, was treated at a hospital and released. Mauia was charged with battery and released on $1,000 bond, the Broward County Sheriff's Office said.

According to witnesses, Gianatassio and his girlfriend were walking by when Mauia asked Gianatassio what he was looking at. Gianatassio replied he wasn't looking at anyone, then was punched by the 270-pound Mauia, the sheriff's office said.

Mauia fled, but a witness took a photo of his vehicle, which allowed the sheriff's office to track him down. A witness identified him as the person who punched Gianatassio, the sheriff's office said. After being booked at the county jail, Mauia was released.

A sixth-round draft choice, Mauia started nine games for the Dolphins as a rookie last year.
'We are aware of the situation regarding Reagan earlier today,' coach Tony Sparano said in a statement. 'We will withhold any further comment because we are in the process of gathering more information.'

ESPN - Mauia arrested on battery charge, accused of punching man outside restaurant - NFL: Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Panthers' Smith wants young WR Jarrett to produce - NFL

2008-04-22T23:55:00.000-04:00

Panthers' Smith wants young WR Jarrett to produce
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Steve Smith wants Carolina Panthers teammate Dwayne Jarrett to get his act together.

Carolina's three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver was asked Monday if the embattled Jarrett was due for a coming-out party after his disappointing rookie season was followed by an offseason charge of driving by impaired.

"You know, the party session is actually over. This is the NFL," Smith said. "You make plays. You're here to play football. You do the party scene at your own discretion, but on Sundays, we're here to play football. If you can't play football, you won't be playing with the Carolina Panthers or any NFL team.
"So, this isn't a poke at anybody," he added at a charity golf tournament hosted by fellow NFL players Torry and Terrence Holt. "That's just the way it is. You know, you produce, you're in. You don't produce, you're out."

For years, the Panthers have searched for a second capable receiver to relieve the double teams faced by Smith seemingly every week, and team executives drafted Jarrett in the second round last year with the hope that he would develop into that kind of threat.

But he struggled to adjust to the NFL, never cracked the starting lineup, played in just seven games and caught six passes for 73 yards with no touchdowns. Then, when he reported last month for the team's offseason conditioning, Jarrett was arrested after police said he crossed the center line and ran a red light in the Charlotte suburb of Mint Hill.

The police report said Jarrett's blood-alcohol level was .12, above North Carolina's legal limit of .08 for driving. He pleaded not guilty to the DWI charge and faces a June 23 court date.
Now the Panthers are turning to one of their best players from their past to mentor Jarrett and become a quality No. 2 option to Smith.

They re-signed Muhsin Muhammad, who was released by the Bears. Muhammad turns 35 in May, spent nine seasons with Carolina after he was picked in the second round of the 1996 draft and still holds three club records.

"A lot of people look at [his] age, but I think he's like fine wine," Smith said.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Panthers' Smith wants young WR Jarrett to produce - NFL

MWPRInsight: Crisis Situation...Who ELSE?

2008-04-22T23:42:00.003-04:00

Police drop all but criminal trespassing charge against Colts' Keith
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts running back Kenton Keith was charged Tuesday with one count of criminal trespassing for refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot being cleared by police.

Keith will not face the charges of disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement, public intoxication and contributing to the delinquency of a minor on which he was arrested early Sunday, said Matthew Symons, a spokesman for the Marion County prosecutor's office. Keith was released from jail later Sunday on his own recognizance. His initial hearing on the misdemeanor charge is set for Wednesday.

Officers working security tried to clear a crowd from the parking lot of the Cloud 9 club after it closed at 3 a.m. Sunday. The 27-year-old Keith and several others refused to leave and were laughing, dancing and joking, police said.

Police eventually ordered them to put their hands on a vehicle, but Keith refused and took out a cell phone to record the incident, according to an Indianapolis police report.
Keith kept saying, "I'm a Colts player, I'm a Colts player," the report said.

Last season was Keith's first with the Colts after playing in the Canadian Football League. He ran for 533 yards and scored four touchdowns, backing up Joseph Addai.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3361494&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

MWPRInsight Helpful Hints:Timing Preparedness in Crisis Management | The Business Crisis Counselor

2008-04-21T17:33:00.001-04:00

The Business Crisis Counselor
By Richard Solomon
Thursday, March 27 2008

When there is an apprehension of difficulty, getting prepared to deal with the possibilities is less difficult/easier than when everything has already hit the fan. It is possible to manage personal apprehensions well before the fact at a stress level that doesn't have everyone reaching for their anxiety medications.

Since very few people ever have the misfortune to do this both ways -- way before the fact and at the moment of attack -- it's hard to appreciate the difference in levels of difficulty.

Having seen it both ways, I can reliably report that early warning prophylaxis is easier on the soul, easier on the budget, and far superior in the sense that the options are maximized. What you can do once an assault has begun or is about to begin immediately is greatly restricted by comparison. When assault has begun, triggers are pulled that may limit defensive strategies.
Denial is the most expensive company dynamic. Even if you are reasonably satisfied that "nothing is wrong," you need to take into account that if the sentiment is reliable and nothing is wrong in fact, that verification is worth a great deal in psychic revenue as well as downstream risk.

To view the rest go to: Personalities Under Stress: Timing Preparedness in Crisis Management The Business Crisis Counselor

MWPRInsight: 40 Years Later

2008-04-04T10:38:00.001-04:00

By MWPRInsight as posted on BlackVoices.com

I believe that we are all here to play a specific role in making our communities reflect the dream that Dr. King preached, marched for and ultimately died trying to realize. It is our responsibility to pick up the baton and take an active role in improving ourselves first and then our personal circles of influence and work out from there. I am truly afraid of the generations that are behind me and are yet to be born...that the disconnect between 1968 and 2008 is becoming so wide, that the future will have no connection to the past, if we do not put action behind our constant rhetoric.

MWPRInsight: What did the Bengals to do contribute to Henry's downfall?

2008-04-04T09:59:00.001-04:00

Bengals cut Henry, say they'll no longer tolerate his conduct
ESPN.com news services

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry lost his job while in jail awaiting arraignment on assault charges on Thursday.

The Bengals cut him after his fifth arrest since 2005.

An attorney for Henry, 24, entered not guilty pleas for him after Henry was accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.
Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard set bond at $51,000 on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging. Noting Henry's previous arrests involving drugs, guns and alcohol, the judge called Henry "a one-man crime wave." He ordered electronic monitoring if Henry makes bail.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said it was premature to speculate on Henry's future in the league.

"It will be reviewed under the standard conduct policy," Aiello said.
Henry did not speak at the hearing. His lawyer, Perry Ancona, disputed the allegations in the complaint sworn by Gregory Meyer.

"We have a different set of facts we ask the court to consider," Ancona said.
Minutes before the arraignment, Ancona broke the news to Henry that he had been released.
Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement that Henry, an often brilliant receiver who would be in his fourth pro season this year, had forfeited his career with the club. "His conduct can no longer be tolerated," Brown said.

Henry was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the first half of last season for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy. He also was suspended for two games in 2006.
"The Bengals tried for an extended period of time to support Chris and his potentially bright career," Brown said. "We had hoped to guide him toward an appropriate standard of personal responsibility that this community would support and that would allow him to play in the NFL. … But those efforts end today, as we move on with what is best for our team."

Henry's agent, Marvin Frazier, thanked the Bengals for their patience. "I just want to say that we're sorry this all happened, and we will continue to try to work to help Chris," Frazier said. "I do want to thank the Cincinnati Bengals -- Mike Brown, [coach] Marvin Lewis and everyone -- for all they have done to try to help this young man. Many of them have gone beyond the call of duty."

Under the NFL's tough new policy, Henry could face further suspensions even if he is not convicted of the latest charges. The Bengals were among the worst offenders in recent years, with 10 players arrested in a 14-month span from April 2006 and June 2007.

According to a complaint filed with authorities, Henry was identified by Meyer and a witness who claimed Henry punched Meyer on Monday, causing "visible injury." Henry then threw a beer bottle at Meyer's car, breaking the rear passenger window, according to the affidavit.
After an arrest warrant was issued, Henry surrendered to police Wednesday night.

Henry has had a string of problems with police. He was in court last week after being ticketed for driving with expired Kentucky license plates. He paid $149 in fines and court costs, according to the Municipal Court records.

He was ticketed a year ago for driving with a suspended license. Henry was arrested four times between December 2005 and June 2006. He was accused of possession of marijuana in northern Kentucky, carrying a concealed weapon in Florida, drunken driving in Ohio and providing alcohol to minors in northern Kentucky. He pleaded guilty to the marijuana possession and concealed weapon charges. In the drunken driving case, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless vehicle operation. In the last case, he served two days in jail in 2006 after pleading guilty to a charge of letting minors drink alcohol in a hotel room he had rented.

Following his suspension, Henry caught 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns last season. He had nine touchdown catches in 13 games in 2006, when he was suspended by the league for two games and benched for another by Lewis because of misconduct.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver was a third-round draft pick from West Virginia in 2005.
Disgruntled star receiver Chad Johnson was stunned when told of Henry's release.
"Are you sure? Man, they can't let him go. That dude is good. He's very, very good," Johnson said on 1050 ESPN New York.

"We need him. Those are not easy shoes to fill, regardless of the trouble he has gotten into in the past," Johnson said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

ESPN - Bengals cut Henry, say they'll no longer tolerate his conduct - NFL

MWPRInsight: Crisis Situation in Sports...AGAIN!

2008-04-04T09:54:00.001-04:00

Browns' Wright arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charge
ESPN.com

PEARLAND, Texas -- Cleveland Browns defensive back Kenny Wright was arrested Thursday after police said he led them on a quarter-mile foot chase that began in the parking lot of the police station.

The 30-year-old Wright faces a misdemeanor charge of unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor charge of evading arrest and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. He remained in the Pearland City Jail on Thursday night pending a bond hearing Friday.
Pearland police said officers were investigating a disturbance in the police station parking lot around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. When officers approached Wright, he took off running and was eventually caught in a nearby subdivision.

"We had people on scene pretty fast and I believe because of our quick response time and the mental and physical toughness of our officers to catch offenders, we were able to get him in custody quickly and safely," Sgt. Roy Castillo said.

Police said they found 1.875 ounces of marijuana in Wright's vehicle.
A jail official told The Associated Press he did not know if Wright has an attorney. The Browns said they would not comment on the arrest Thursday night.

If found guilty on the unlawful restraint charge, Wright faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. If found guilty on the other charges, Wright faces up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine on each charge.

Wright, who attended Northwestern State in Louisiana, was a fourth-round pick in the 1999 draft by the Minnesota Vikings. The nine-year veteran also has played for Houston, Jacksonville and Washington. He has seven career interceptions.

Houston television station KRIV first reported the arrest.

Pearland is about 15 miles south of Houston.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

40 Years - Same Fight: What if the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had lived?

2008-04-04T09:17:00.001-04:00

What if the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had lived? CNN.Com

(AP) -- The preacher in him would have continued speaking out against injustice, war and maybe even pop culture. He would likely not have run for president. He probably would have endured more harassment from J. Edgar Hoover.

Four decades after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. fell to an assassin's bullet, colleagues and biographers offer many answers to the question: What if he had lived?

For his children, however, the speculation is more personal. They know their lives would have turned out differently had they had their beloved father to guide and teach them.

Instead, history moves on, remaking the world in myriad ways. The nation has grappled with issues of race and inequity without the benefit of King's evolving wisdom. A generation has come of age celebrating him in a national holiday, like other figures of the frozen past.

But given the trajectory of his life -- from his appearance on the national scene during the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott of 1955 to his death on a second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968 -- some of those closest to him have a good idea what King might be doing now, and where we might be as a country.

In the months before his death, King was speaking out against the growing U.S. involvement in Vietnam and was working with other civil rights leaders on a Poor People's Campaign, with a march on Washington scheduled for that May. He was in Memphis that spring day to support striking sanitation workers.

Were King alive today, the disciple of Mahatma Gandhi would most certainly be speaking out against the Iraq War, says King biographer David J. Garrow. However, citing the famous "Drum Major Instinct" sermon King delivered from the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta just two months before his death, Garrow says people might be surprised to hear echoes of presidential candidate Barack Obama's controversial former pastor.

"God didn't call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war," King said of the fighting in Vietnam. "And we are criminals in that war. We've committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I'm going to continue to say it."

While King didn't go as far as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in suggesting that God "damn America," he predicted that the almighty might punish this country for "our pride and our arrogance."
"And if you don't stop your reckless course," he imagined the deity admonishing, "I'll rise up and break the backbone of your power."

Garrow and others feel comfortable saying that King would not have sought elective office.
In 1967, King was being courted by the "New Left" to make a third-party run for president on an anti-war ticket with the renowned pediatrician, Dr. Benjamin Spock. FBI wiretaps reveal that King gave serious thought to running, but ultimately decided that his role lay outside the political arena.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King and marched alongside him, doesn't think time would have changed his friend's mind.

"I think Martin was a preacher, and I doubt very much if he would have wanted to subject himself to the need to compromise and play certain games that are requisite to political candidacy," says Lowery. "I think he would have preferred to do what he did best, and that was point out to ALL candidates and ALL officials ... `Thus sayeth the Lord."'

Had he chosen that path, his enemies -- chief among them FBI Director Hoover -- would have laid bare potentially embarrassing details of King's personal life.

Then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy authorized the wiretapping of King's home and offices in a campaign to ferret out communists. The secret recording campaign failed to prove that King was a communist, but it did provide evidence of the civil rights leader's extramarital affairs.

William C. Sullivan, head of domestic intelligence under Hoover, told a congressional committee that King was subjected to the same tactics used against Soviet agents and, "No holds were barred."

Hoover's office was unable to marginalize King with his supporters or cow him into silence with threats of exposure. But how might King have fared in the Internet age, when every peccadillo is exposed and every word parsed in a 24-hour news cycle?

The late Hosea Williams, one of King's chief lieutenants, once told Martin Luther King III that his father was "unstoppable" because he had conquered the two things that made men most vulnerable: the fear of death and the love of wealth.

Some, however, feel King's influence was on the wane and that at the time of his death he had already reached the zenith of his public career. He had "run out of things to do," the late Chauncey Eskridge, a King attorney, told Garrow.

"The painful truth is that in his last two months or so before he was killed, King was so exhausted -- emotionally, spiritually, physically -- that a lot of the people closest ... to him were really worried about his survival, his survival in the sense of would he have some sort of breakdown," Garrow says. "It would be expecting something truly superhuman, literally superhuman, for King to have continued the pace of life he had lived over those 12 years for another 12 years, never mind for another 20 or 40 years." Journalist, author and commentator Juan Williams wonders whether King would be able to connect in a meaningful way with today's youth.

Although he was just 39, the 1964 Nobel Peace laureate's insistence on nonviolence was bumping up against the burgeoning black power movement, says Williams, author of "Eyes on the Prize" and more recently "Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do About It."

"The big issue would be whether or not when he spoke out against the excesses of the rappers, for example, or when he spoke out on the high number of children born out of wedlock, whether or not he would be lumped in with the Bill Cosbys of the world ...," Williams says.

But he has no doubt King would be a force on the international stage.

"I don't think he'd be in the petty fray in the way that we think of some of these civil rights guys who are kind of ambulance chasers," says Williams. Instead, he sees an elder King as a man of "some standing, some stature, that people wait to hear from him... I think of Nelson Mandela in this way."
Lowery says that when King died, part of the nation's conscience died with him. Four young children lost something much more personal.

To Marty, Yolanda, Dexter and Bernice, the baby, Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't the icon or the dreamer. He was Daddy -- the man who smelled of Magic Shave and Aramis and chlorine from the YMCA pool where he taught his sons to swim, and of the long-stemmed green onions that somehow fell outside the prohibition against eating before the evening blessing.

One of Bernice King's fondest memories is of the ritual she and her father shared when he'd return from a trip, like the time he came home for her fifth birthday party on March 29, 1968 -- a day late because of a march in Memphis. She would jump into his arms for the "kissing game," in which each member of the family had a different spot on his face. Bernice's "designated spot" was his forehead.

Had her father lived, the 45-year-old minister is fairly certain she would be married and have children by now. But his graphic death and ponderous legacy, she fears, have made her a less than "viable candidate" for domestic bliss. Part of the problem is that her father set the bar so high. She remembers something her mother often said.

"She said, `I didn't marry a man. I married a mission,"' the daughter says. "So for me, a spouse is more than just a companion. It's someone to fulfill your destiny with. And I think in my case, because the destiny is so great, because you had a man whose life was cut short and there was some work that had to be completed, that you now have a responsibility to participate in, that makes it a little more difficult." Martin III, likewise, feels he wouldn't be having his first child at age 50 had his father not been killed. "I wasn't clear that I even wanted to bring a child into the world," he says.

Both siblings are quite certain, however, that their father's death did not determine their career paths. "I don't feel like I could have been exposed to what my father and mother were doing without being involved in this movement," says Martin King, president of the nonprofit group Realizing the Dream. Each year as the assassination anniversary approaches, legions flock to the Lorraine Motel, which now houses the National Civil Rights Museum. Among those who made the pilgrimage last week were two lions of the civil rights movement -- U.S. Rep. John Lewis and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

If King were alive today, Lewis has no doubt he would be speaking just as forcefully and with as much authority as ever about the issues that matter most to Americans, old and young.
"He would be the undisputed leader," the Georgia Democrat says. "Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years later would still be speaking out against poverty, hunger, against violence, against war."

Jackson, then 26 years old, was in the parking lot of the Lorraine that day, talking up to King when he was shot. During his recent visit, the aging activist stepped over a low wall meant to keep out ordinary tourists, climbed the stairs to the balcony where his mentor lay dying, and wept.

King would be 79 now, but Jackson feels his power to move would remain undiminished.
"He might not be leading the marches, but he would have set the frame of reference," says Jackson. "His voice would be a voice of great moral authority."

Of all the "might be's" and "what if's," MLK III feels sure of one thing. Had his father lived, the country would be closer to realizing the "beloved community" he'd envisioned.
Still, he feels his father's guiding force pulling us inexorably in that direction.

"From my perspective, his light still shines," he says. "His voice, his message, we're living every day. We're embracing more and more. We're not as close to it as I would like to see us, but we're still living it.

We're still moving toward it."

So, in that way, he lives.

What if the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had lived? - CNN.com