Compete March 2017 by COMPETE Magazine

GAMERS

RULE! PAR EXCELLENCE

PRO GOLFER

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MCKENZIE LYNG

BEAT YOUR SLUMP

AND WIN AGAIN

SAVING FACE

14 WRINKLE

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ALL EVENTS SUPPORT

MARCH 2017 Volume 11, Issue 3

PUBLISHERS Eric Carlyle • eric@competenetwork.com Patrick Gamble • patrick@competenetwork.com COMPETE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Connie Wardman • connie@competenetwork.com Style Editor Bobby Ciletti • bobby@competenetwork.com Graphic Design Assistant Matt Boyd • mattb@competenetwork.com Field Ambassador Alfonzo Chavez • alfonzo@competenetwork.com Contributors Harry Andrew, Ian Colgate, Jared Garduno, Jeff Kagan, Ali Kay, Miriam Latto, Bryan Lee, Michael Losier, Kevin Majoros, Dr. Rob Elliott Owens, Brian Patrick and Sarah Woodward Photographers Thomas Fleisher, Leland Gebhardt and Robert Mercer Sales & Partnerships sales@competenetwork.com Administration Camille Powell • camille@competenetwork.com Copyright © 2017 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved. Corporate Office 4900 Scottsdale Road, Suite 4500 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 • 480-493-6191 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

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16 GAME ON!

• GAMING IS NOT A GAME: IT’S BIG BUSINESS • CONFESSION OF A GAMER

20 PHOENIX GAY FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE CELEBRATES THE BIG 10

KICK–OFF

10 LEFT FIELD

Grandstanding, Speed Read,Thumbs UP/DOWN

15 COMMUNITY HERO Doug Litwin

DEPARTMENTS 24 MVP

John Houghton

27 INTERVIEW

McKenzie Lyng is Giving Back Through Golf

30 ATHLETE

Rick Zuniga Walks His Talk

34 NUTRITION

14 Natural Wrinkle Reducers

SPORTS 36 38

Honoring Golf’s LPGA Pioneers When Money and Winning Mean More Than People

OVERTIME

40 FITNESS

6 Ways to Kill a Sports Slump

42 GYM BAG 44 EVENTS 46 STYLE

Selecting a Signature Scent

COMPETE ONLINE

Check out Compete stories, videos and more online at: competenetwork.com

COVER ATHLETE John Houghton SPORT FLAG FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Koenig, Power 10 Films

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 5

FROM THE SKYBOX BY ERIC CARLYLE, SDL

MY FAVORITE MARCH SPORTS @CompeteEric

hat is your favorite thing about March? Is it the arrival of spring weather? The NCAA Division I Men’s or Women’s Basketball Tournament? Major League Baseball’s (MLB) spring training? Maybe it’s hitting the links and getting a golf tan? Maybe enjoying your last ski weekend? Whatever your favorite thing is about the month of March, it is easy to agree there are lots of options for the sports-minded. Being from Indiana, basketball is one of my favorite spring moments. The tournament, now branded as March Madness plays its Final Four for the men at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix this year and the women will play at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Even though March Madness ends on April 3 for the men and on April 2 for the women this year, I still count it as one of my favorite March sporting events. Baseball season starts early for people living in the Phoenix Metro Area and parts of Central and Coastal Florida. All 30 MLB teams play practice games as part of either Arizona’s Cactus League or Florida’s Grapefruit League. Since both areas are known for their beautiful spring weather, you will see lots of license plates from cold weather states in both areas this month. The best part of spring training, at least for me, is running into my favorite baseball stars out and about at local restaurants, malls and stores. Golf is always fun but it just seems to be better during March. During the summer the best tee times are too early for me. I enjoy sleeping in and with some afternoons in the low 70s, March is ideal golf weather for me. This month I even get to enjoy the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup being held this month. There is a great preview of the event in this issue. Finally, who doesn’t like one last chance to ski or snowboard? March marks the end of the ski season and with so much snow at popular ski resorts this year, it is the perfect time to wear that great wool sweater one last time. I particularly like Elevation Mammoth being held in California from March 13-15. So, sports fans, please share with us what your favorite thing is about March. Sport On,

Eric Carlyle, SDL Publisher/CEO eric@competenetwork.com

| COMPETE | March 2017

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No Purchase Necessary. US residents 18+ only. Ends 10/31/16. Official Rules at www.MarchToEquality.org/MTEsweepstakes

FROM THE CATBIRD SEAT BY CONNIE WARDMAN, M.A., SDL

SPRING HAS SPRUNG – SPRING OUT AND ENJOY!

@CompeteConnie

n March 20 the Spring Equinox officially kicks off spring weather in spite of the weather you may experiencing in your area of the country. It’s a time when lots of the outdoor sports also begin to take off. Lots of golfers plagued by cabin fever are ready to hit the links and we’ve got a story on the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup that tees off on March 14 in Phoenix, the only LPGA tournament played in Arizona. And if you’re already a golfer or just thinking about it, our Gym Bag features some comfortable and stylish clothing for both men and women from Callaway Golf Apparel. It’s never too early (or too late) to update your sports wardrobe. Our interview this issue is with McKenzie Lyng, professional golfer, contestant on the Golf Channel’s popular “Big Break” TV series and co-founder of BackSwing Golf Events. Perhaps most exciting of all, she’s also a brand new mom who’s managing to juggle a lot of balls in the air. And while this isn’t an issue focused on Phoenix specifically, we’ve also got a great story on the positive growth and development of the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League (PGFFL) as it gets ready to celebrate its tenth anniversary. For the first time in Compete Magazine’s 11-year history, we’ve done a feature on the sport of video gaming and the quickly developing eSports category. Amazing things are happening – and yes, we do consider it a sport. If you’ve never played some type of game on some type of device, I think you’ll be surprised. There’s something for everyone in this far-ranging sport. Try it; you’ll like it! Our Community Hero is the amazing Doug Litwin, officer of marketing for the Gay Games and our Athlete is the inspirational Rick Zuniga who at age 23 had to learn to walk again. In addition to some great articles on beating your sports slump, some time-honored wrinkle reducers and picking your signature scent, there’s also a thought-provoking look at the longrunning sexual abuse scandal at Baylor University. It’s a classic example of what happens when winning and making money mean more than the people involved. So get outside and have some fun … but first, enjoy the March issue of Compete! Keep Smiling,

Connie Wardman, M.A., SDL Editor-in-chief connie@competenetwork.com

| COMPETE | March 2017

nagaaasoftball.org (636) 3NAGAAA Photo courtesy of the NAGAAA Archives

Play Out at a NAGAAA Tournament Upcoming 2017 Tournament Dates

Lone Star Classic ..........................................Houston, TX ................. 3/18/17 - 3/19/17 Saguaro Cup .................................................Phoenix, AZ .................. 4/08/17 - 4/09/17 Southern Shootout ......................................Birmingham, AL ........... 4/14/17 - 4/16/17 Big D - Easter Bonnet Classic ...................Dallas, TX ...................... 4/15/17 - 4/16/17 Texas Shootout ............................................Austin, TX .................... 4/29/17 - 4/30/17 NAGAAA Cup ............................................Columbus, OH............. 5/06/17 - 5/07/17 Liberty Bell Classic ......................................Philadelphia, PA ............ 5/26/17 - 5/28/17 Tournaments listed as of 2/26/16. For a complete list of NAGAAA tournaments and dates, visit nagaaasoftball.org.

SAVE THE DATE

2017 Gay Softball World Series Portland, OR - Sept. 3rd to 10th

KICKOFF

LEFT FIELD

SPEED READ MICHAEL SAM NOW A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Speaking before an audience of a few hundred students at the University of Albany last month as part of the school’s Sexuality Month,, Michael Sam shared his story about coming out as the first openly gay NFL player in 2014. He said that growing up he always felt like an outsider. But while the death of two older brothers, the bullying he received from other family members as well as his mother’s religious affiliation with the Jehovah’s Witnesses made him feel he didn’t belong, he said nothing made him feel more of an outsider than being gay in the NFL. The constant attention focused on his sexual orientation when he came out has left him distrustful of the media to this day. He’s still bewildered by their reaction to his coming out; “I thought it would be a story for two weeks and then it would go away.” Even more upsetting was his expectation that when he was drafted the headline would be ‘NFL has first openly gay player’ but instead it was all about him kissing his boyfriend. The media, he says, made it a distraction of it and it just never quit. He believes that the combination of the continuous and excessive media attention he received and the homophobia still rampant in professional sports ruined his football career. However, noting that “everything happens for a reason,” Sam now uses all these experiences as a motivational speaker, urging people to be true to themselves.

STANFORD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH TARA VANDERVEER REACHES 1,000 VICTORIES Congratulations go to Stanford Women’s Basketball Coach Tara VanDerveer who now joins the legendary Pat Summitt as the only other women’s coach with 1,000 victories. Summitt died last year due to early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Mike Krzyzewski of Duke is the only other Division I men’s coach with 1,000 wins. Now in her 38th year of coaching, VanDerveer also has two NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992; an Olympic gold medal from the Atlanta Games in in 1996, 11 Final Four appearances to name a few. In 2011 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

KELSEY PLUM BREAKS NCAA SCORING RECORD For scoring a career-best 57 points in her Senior Day game with the University of Washington women’s basketball team, Kelsey Plum broke the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record and was named the 2016-17 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. . During the 84-77 win over Utah, she beat Jackie Stiles’ record of 3,393 by four with 3,397 career points as well as topping Stiles 56-point career-best by one.

UCONN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM WINS 100TH CONSECUTIVE GAME The women of the University of Connecticut basketball team showed why they’re the top-ranked team on February 13 by extending their winning streak to 100 consecutive games. Nicholas Goss of NESN.com calls it even more impressive that 98 of the 100 wins have come by double-digits and 56 of them were decided by 40-plus points. Congratulations came from all over the sports

| COMPETE | March 2017

world, including NBA legend himself, Kobe Bryant who called Coach Geno Auriemma “one of the greatest coaches/leaders we have ever had in sports.”

MARCH MADNESS CAMPUS SITES NOT IMPACTED BY NCAA BAN This past September the NCAA pulled seven championships from North Carolina as well as the first two rounds of the 2017 men’s basketball tournament due to the discriminatory HB2 “bathroom bill” limiting protections for the transgender community. Even though newly-elected Democratic governor Roy Cooper promised to repeal HB2, the effort has been blocked by the Republican-backed legislators. As a result the NCAA is threatening to eliminate from consideration all of North Carolina’s bids to host championship events through 2022. But now Duke and North Carolina State are among the top 16 projected seeds recently revealed by the NCAA, making them potential game hosts in their home state of North Carolina. While it appears at first glance that the NCAA could be in violation of its own ban should either school win, that’s not the case. The NCAA allows games to be played by teams that have earned the right to host the game on their own campuses.

EYEGYM FOUNDER TO CRACK DOWN ON RUGBY PLAYERS’ SMARTPHONE USE Dr. Sherylle Calder, world renowned sports scientist and coach specializing in visual performance has been appointed to work with England Rugby. She is the founder of an online training program called EyeGym that specializes in improving visual skills. Saying that players’ ability to have good awareness is deteriorating by use of smartphones where there are no eye movements, she will be making strong recommendations on length of phone use to improve their spatial awareness and decision-making skills under pressure. The South African native has been signed to ready the team for the World Cup in Japan in 2019 and will initially work with only the back-line players at the request of head coach Eddie Jones. They are typically the fastest members of a rugby team. Calder comes highly recommended having helped win two World Cups – England in 2003 and South Africa in 2007.

SENATOR CALLS FOR CHANGES IN OLYMPIC SPORTS LAW TO PROTECT CHILD ATHLETES FROM ABUSE Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-California, announced she will introduce legislation requiring Olympic national governing bodies to immediately report any allegations of sexual abuse to authorities. This is in the wake of an Indy Star investigation into the sexual abuse over the past 20 years of 368 young female gymnasts by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. USA Gymnastics had delayed informing the FBI about Nassar for five weeks. He is currently charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13 and faces up to life in prison if convicted.

GRANDSTANDING LETTERS TO COMPETE MAGAZINE

NOT TOO MUCH SIN IN SIN CITY ISSUE (Jan. 2017) I picked up your magazine in Las Vegas during the Sin City Shootout and was pleased to find it coffee table ready. I can show Compete to my mom, my dad and even my nieces and nephews without being embarrassed by the content. I am glad to see something so positive being published today.

COMPETE READER SURVEY Cruise or Beach Vacation?

Betsy Charbonneau

Cruise 30%

Montreal, Quebec LOVE ME GENDER, LOVE ME SWEET (Feb. 2017) I found Compete’s digital issue and was genuinely happy to see a woman on the cover. Too many people in our community give all the attention to the guys. Sharnee’ seems like an awesome woman and judging by the story’s photo, very happy, too. I hope to see many more women on the cover of Compete in the future.

Beach 70%

Michael Henry Culver City, California TALK TO US! Submissions to Compete should include the writer’s name, address and contact phone number and should be sent by email to letters@competenetwork.com. Letters may be edited by Compete and become the property of Media Out Loud, LLC.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 11

FESTIVAL AND PARADE APRIL 1ST & 2ND, 2017 PHOENIXPRIDE.ORG

SPORTS KICKOFF

QUIZ

THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (NHL) … for naming one player from each team as a You Can Play ambassador as a means of support and inclusion of diversity in both the locker room and the community..

HOPE SOLO, LONGTIME GOALIE FOR THE U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM … for not appearing to take responsibility for her actions that led to a six-month suspension and contract cancellation for calling another team “cowards” and criticizing head coach Jill Ellis among other missteps. Although now eligible to return, it doesn’t appear probable since it’s up to Ellis to invite her back.

A. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Publishers collected and buried huge numbers of the game in a New Mexico landfill where they were unearthed in 2014.

THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Q. What’s the name of the mid-80s video game adaptation of a 1980s film that’s allegedly responsible for an industry crash in 1983 but now has a copy residing in the Smithsonian?

Source:FunTrivia.com

NIKE … for its new “Equality” campaign that proclaims “Equality should have no boundaries.” Aimed at inpiring people to take action in their communities, it features LeBron James, Serena Williams, openly gay Megan Rapinoe, Gabby Douglas, Kevin Durant, Victor Cruz and Dalilah Muhammad.

MY-KING JOHNSON, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA RECRUIT … for becoming the first active openly gay scholarship player in major college football history. He told The Arizona Daily Star that “I do feel like when I say that (I’m gay) it can put a target on my back. But whtever.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 13

COMMUNITY HERO

KICKOFF

Doug Litwin Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional Sports: Bowling, racquetball and tennis

hile Doug Litwin loves going bowling and playing racquetball and tennis as an adult, his first love was baseball. And how could it be otherwise for the kid who grew up in Chicago and says he’s always been a sports fan – “I realized how lucky I was to live in a city that had two major league baseball teams.” Since his birthday is June 6 which falls right in the middle of baseball season, Doug says “I could always count on being able to attend a game on my birthday. I quickly realized that I was one of very few Chicagoans who supported both local baseball teams. Just about everyone else in Chicago chooses just one of the two teams to support. “Naturally, when I moved to California in 1978, I chose another city (San Francisco) that also had two pro baseball teams. Over the years, I’ve been a season ticketholder for both the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants,” the Giants being his favorite sports team. Talking about his love of sports, Doug says that “They allow people to rally behind a common goal and that builds real community among athletes and supporters. They are liberating, they are fun and they are sexy.” He also says that “at their most basic level, most sports are really quite silly. But true fans look past the silliness and see opportunities for greatness and long-lasting relationships.” Aside from being born in Chicago and the specific sports being played, Doug’s story could easily come from a great many athletes, LGBTQ or ally. What makes Doug’s story noteworthy, what makes him such a community hero is his commitment to both the athletic and cultural components of the LGBTQ community. In addition to a love of sports, Doug is also a musician who is very involved in the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA) in San Francisco, serving 20 years on their board. Beginning by playing the clarinet in the fifth grade, his current list of instruments played now includes saxophone and piano in addition to some percussion in his marching band when they need him. In between his ongoing involvement in sports and music, Doug has managed to earn a B.A. in finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA in marketing from Northwestern University’s prestigious Kellogg School of Management. Fortunately, he has chosen to use his marketing and advertising expertise to benefit the LGBTQ community over the years, admitting that he’s a “board geek.” When asked what advice he would like to

share with his younger self and the younger generation of the LGBTQ community, Doug’s immediate answer is to “get involved sooner.” Photo courtesy of Doug Litwin He says that his greatest personal achievement is winning the highest award given out by his community LGBA band back in 2000. He’s now been a loyal member of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for 32 years and just last month was elected as its president. And he lists his greatest athletic achievement as winning various Gay Games medals, especially his one and only gold medal won at Gay Games III in Vancouver in 1990 in racquetball singles.. When Doug moved to San Francisco in 1978, he couldn’t know then that he’d be positioned in the heart of the Gay Games movement that started there in 1982 by Dr. Tom Waddell, a gay Olympian who wished to make the Olympic experience open to all LGBTQ individuals who wanted to participate. To say that Doug is passionate about the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) organization and the work they do is probably an understatement. “They say the Gay Games has changed the world. This is no doubt true, and it certainly has changed my world,” he said. “Although I was living in San Francisco in 1982, I think I was unaware of Gay Games I. I really regret missing that event, although I’ve participated in every Gay Games since then. As both a sports and a cultural participant, I’ve seen first-hand how this event has changed lives. That’s why I have been involved with the leadership of the international Federation of Gay Games since I attended my first annual meeting in Berlin in 1999.” Currently the FGG officer of marketing, much of Doug’s work is behind the scenes, enabling the host city and its volunteers to shine. And he still remains active in local sports with Team San Francisco and the gay racquetball and bowling leagues. Thanks, Doug Litwin for being such a great community hero!

DO YOU KNOW A COMMUNITY HERO? Community Heroes is a regular feature in Compete Magazine. Nominate deserving individuals by emailing us at heroes@competenetwork.com and include a brief biography of or a link to your nominee.

www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 15

GAME ON! BY CONNIE WARDMAN

aming tools of shells, sticks, stones and bones have been found worldwide in pre-historic and ancient sites, reminding us that people have always had a desire to play, whether the purpose was for learning, practicing focus and concentration to support simple survival or for actual leisure entertainment. Games have also served as important religious events (even including human sacrifice) and been used for military training. Looking at today’s gaming industry, you wonder how people can create such a panoply of games that keep alive the passion, even obsession of today’s diverse global audience of gamers. But I follow Walt Disney’s belief that creativity depends on looking at old things in new ways. For example I always think of the ancient game of equestrian polo as the early version of the popular arcade game “Whac-A-Mole.” So whatever a person's interests may be, there is sure to be a game to match it and provide hours of enjoyment for all of today's growing generation of gamers.

Today’s Gaming Market It’s impossible to cover the entire industry in this space; today’s games can be played on smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices, TVs and consoles, casual webgames and PC/MMOs (computer massively multiplayer online). According to newzoo.com, gamers generated a worldwide total of $99.6 billion in 2016 revenues, up 8.5 percent compared to 2015. The largest revenue segment in 2016 was the computer screen games at $31.5 billion although the largest growth segment on a year-to-year basis was personal smartphone games which had a 23.7 percent increase over 2015 numbers.

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Gaming is big business due to the constantly changing entertainment value it provides. Thanks to both the continuing advances in technology platforms and the creativity of game developers, the constant upgrades to older games and the new ones being released actually keep today’s attention span-challenged population hooked. Today’s games are totally fan-centric. You can choose to play by yourself or as part of a team; you can also choose to play superhero in a past or future age; win a war or create a new planet; rescue a queen or a whole new universe; or simply learn how to bowl or play tennis using a Wii. The gaming industry has learned the secret of throwing a good party – getting everyone involved in having a good time. It’s something they do superbly. The operating philosophy for the industry’s large multi-day conventions is to “meet, make and play,” offering daily play, games, tournaments, prizes, workshops and more. There are segments for participants to meet game developers and actually beta test new games as well as play older games; they can speak with industry experts and artists. They can also attend various workshops, even including ones for children, like learning to build their own robots. And if you don’t want to play, you can still be part of the fun by participating in the cosplay phenomenon where you dress like your favorite character. This is an ingenious way of building on-going generations of gamers who are just waiting for the next new game or convention to arrive!

The Future of Gaming – eSports (Competitive Video Gaming) The dream of every young gamer ever forced to quit playing in order to eat, do homework or go to bed has now come true – you can actually make a living as a professional gamer. According to espn.com, pro gamers now earn six-figure salaries, tournaments sell out arenas and college gaming scholarships are on the rise. The future of gaming is moving into eSports or competitive video gaming, with eGames often referred to as the Olympic equivalent for eSports. While not associated with the Olympics, at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio the British House hosted an eGames showcase featuring “Smite” as a show match and “Super Smash Bros.” for Wii U as the competition match. The first full eGames will be held during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea and in 2020 at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Long gone are the days of holding tournaments in convention halls. eGaming tournaments are now selling out arenas globally on a regular basis, especially in South Korea. In October 2013 the “League of Legends” Season 3 World Championship final between South Korea’s SK Telecom T1 and China’s Royal Club came to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Sold out in less than a day, the event managed to bring competitive gaming to the U.S. in a much larger way. Now incorporating eSports into its events, X Games is awarding medals to pro gamers, a decision that created an uproar among other X Games medalists. In January of last year Kristi Leskinen, a 34-year old freestyle skier who won bronze at the 2005 X Games Superpipe event, took to Twitter to protest X Games medals being awarded to pro gamers who were part of a “Halo 5” tournament. Using the hash tags #couchgames and #athletesonly, she raised the chronically unresolved questions of what is a legitimate sport and who is a legitimate athlete. Although she clarified in subsequent tweets that she respected gamers, Leskinen said she believed that X Games medals should reserved for those athletes who take physical risks, earning their medals “through blood, sweat and tears.” While a number of other athletes agreed with her, according to Nick Schwartz in a USA TODAY Sports “FORTHEW!N” column states that these negative opinions aren’t about to change anything at X Games. He notes that the eSports tournaments bring valued viewers to the X Games broadcasts which, surprisingly, don’t bring in high television ratings. eSports tournaments are definitely here to stay. Columbus, Ohio already has the first dedicated gaming arena thanks to Major League Gaming (MLG) with a much larger MLG facility set to open this year outside of Shanghai, China. And just last month USA Today Sports reported that the National Basketball League (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver announced that they have a new NBA 2K eLeague partnership with Take-Two Interactive Software that “will include a wing for the video game community.” This will be

the first official eSports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league. Scheduled to launch in 2018, five pro gamers will be paid a salary to play a version of the popular NBA 2K video game using user-generated avatars rather than those of NBA players. In sharp contrast to Leskinen’s opinion of gamers as non-athletes playing couch games, Silver says that gamers “… are a completely different set of professional athletes,” an opinion shared by Compete Magazine. “There’s a global pool of gamers,” Silver said. “They come in all ages, and sizes and ethnicities and sexes, and then we will at some point have a draft that will look somewhat similar to an NBA draft, in which the teams will select their players, and presumably on top of that they’ll have the ability to spot some great talent on their own, players who aren’t identified through sort of a league system. And that’s how we’ll form our teams.” At this year's All-Star Tournament in New Orleans five NBA players were trounced by Still Trill, a team of five gamers in a runup to the eLeague's official launch. Since this NBA partnership is a joint venture that includes all 30 NBA organizations, it means that eventually each organization could have its own eTeam. Silver, who has proven to be a savvy businessman in his three-plus years as commissioner added that, “Fans and players of these games, who aren’t as expert as these professionals, want to come into an arena and watch the very best play." He said to imagine a scenario at Milwaukee's new arena where, just like NBA basketball, there's a five-on-five competition projected on a huge high-definition screen with fans watching all the moves. The play will include quarters, halftime and "everything that goes with it." Under Silver’s leadership virtual reality (VR) may finally reach its potential to transform the sports industry like never before. The idea of replacing a person’s senses with those generated by a computer failed to catch hold in the 1990s but better technology and more affordable equipment means it’s here to stay. NBA fans with a season LEAGUE PASS subscription can already view the league’s weekly games in VR. Starting on February 23 fans without the LEAGUE PASS can now select games a la carte to view in VR for $6.99. As if it couldn’t get any better, Silver is already talking about fans being able to pay to watch just the last five minutes of NBA games.

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| COMPETE | 17

Blast From the Past This would hardly be a worthy look at gaming, however, without a nod to just a few of the iconic games and events that shaped U.S. gaming culture. While there are a few games that began as early as the 1940s on the mammoth electronic machines of the day, many people date the beginning of public recreational gaming to 1972 with the introduction of “Pong.” The following information comes from The Strong® National Museum of Play. Located in Rochester, New York, the museum is dedicated to the history and exploration of play in human development. 1972 – Atari’s “Pong” Developed by Nolan Bushnell and Al Alcorn of Atari as an arcade table tennis game, they tested it in Andy Capps Tavern in Sunnyvale, California. Great at first, it quickly stopped working. The reason? People played it so much the quarters kept jamming the works. According to the museum, an arcade legend was born.

1975 – Atari’s “Pong Home Version” Since Atari founder Bushnell couldn’t find any toy manufacturers interested in the home game, he sold the first units through the Sears Roebuck sporting goods department.

1977 – Atari’s “2600” The joystick arrived with this unit which also included interchangeable cartridges, games in color and switches for selection of games and levels of difficulty. It turned millions of Americans into home video game players.

1978 – Taito’s “Space Invaders” Its initial release in Japan caused a shortage of 100-yen coins. It hit the U.S. the next year and U.S. gamers spent millions of quarters trying to stop attacking aliens.

1980 – Namco’s “Pac-Man” Namco employee Toru Iwatani created Pac-Man after looking at a pizza missing two slices. That same year a version of it for Atari 2600 became available and was the first arcade hit to be on a home console. Two years later “Ms. Pac-Man” became the best-selling arcade game of all time.

1981 – Nintendo’s “Donkey Kong” “Donkey Kong” featured a character called Jumpman. You’ll recognize him today as Mario, the name he took when

| COMPETE | March 2017

his creator, Shigeru Miyamoto made him the star of a later Nintendo game.

1987 – Fantasy Role Playing Games Games featuring role play, like “Legend of Zelda,” “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Leisure Suit Larry” all hit the market this year.

1988 – “John Madden Football” Incorporating football realism into a computer game made this and its many console sequels ongoing best sellers. It was the start of the sports and fitness games of the future.

2008 – “World of WarCraft” Over 10 million subscribers worldwide made “World of WarCraft” the most popular massively multiplayer online (MMO) game.

2009 – Social and Mobile Games Social games like “Farmville” and mobile games like “Angry Birds” shook up the gaming industry as former nongamers spent hours on new platforms like Facebook and the iPhone.

2011 – “Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure”

Game Boy made handheld gaming popular with its interchangeable cartridges, easy use and long battery life.

This became the first augmented reality hit that let players place plastic figures on a Portal of Power to zap characters into the game.

1990 – Microsoft “Solitaire”

2012 – Kickstarter

1989 – Nintendo’s Game Boy

Microsoft bundled the computer version of the classic card game with Windows 3.0 and attracted many new players. It became one of the most popular electronic games ever and a model for quick, easy-toplay casual games like Bejeweled.

1993 – “Mortal Kombat” Concern over gaming bloodshed prompted hearings on video game violence and the creation of a game rating system. The game “Doom” ironically popularized “first person shooters” the same year.

1995 – Sony PlayStation Sony first released PlayStation in the U.S. When PlayStation 2 debuted in 2000, it dominated the home console market.

1997 – IBM’s “Deep Blue” IBM’s supercomputer chess program “Deep Blue” defeated world chess champ Gary Kasparov in a match.

2001 – Microsoft Xbox The Microsoft Xbox and games like “Halo: Combat Evolved” hit the market this year and four years later grabbed millions of fans with Xbox 360 with its high definition realism and seamless online play.

2006 – Nintendo Wii The Wii, with innovative motion-sensitive remotes made gaming more active and appealed to millions who had never before enjoyed video games.

The advent of crowdfunding enabled game designers to raise millions to produce experimental play platforms like the OUYA console and the Oculus Rift.

2014 – Free-to-Play This new business model enabled blockbuster games like “CrossFire,” “League of Legends” and “World of Tanks” to make hundreds of millions of dollars via micro-transaction payments for in-game items and premium content.

2016 –Nintendo’s “Pokémon GO” App While not listed on The Strong’s timeline, few can forget the worldwide fun and chaos caused by people trying to capture the various Pokémon characters. Using the slogan, Get Up and Go, it quickly had 20 million downloads in the U.S., making it the biggest U.S. mobile game ever.

2017 – In addition to previewing its new Switch console, Nintendo has two new titles that appeal to sports and eSports fans – “ARMS” and “Splatoon 2.” An arcade-style boxing/fighting game, "ARMS" is being positioned with company favorites “Legend of Zelda” and “Breath of the Wild.” “Splatoon 2" launches this summer as a much-improved version of its first launch but the hype on this one is as much about the new Switch console on which it’s played.

Confession of a Gamer My name is Patrick Gamble and I confess that I’m a gamer – I love video games! While I played lots of games when I was younger, I decided to take it up again in my adult life and video games have once again become a passion in my life. They serve as a central stress reliever in my daily world. I started playing video games back in the 1980s with my first console, the Nintendo Entertainment System. My favorite games from that decade were the “Legend of Zelda” and “Tetris” that I played on my GameBoy. Today I’m still partial to Nintendo games but now my favorite console is the “New” Nintendo 3DS. Many titles I have on my 3DS look incredible in 3D like “Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon,” a must have 3D title if, like me, you are a fan of Mario games. As part of my gaming confession, here are my five personal favorite games.

5. “Pokémon GO” iOS My favorite get out and get moving game is “Pokémon GO.” Taking walks in the park has always been pretty boring until last summer when “Pokémon GO” appeared. The goal in this game is to catch ‘em all. These cute little monsters, pokéstops and gyms appear as you walk around so you can use your smartphone to capture them, making this the most popular augmented reality app today. In a recent update 80 Pokémon monsters were added as well as Apple Watch compatibility.

4. “Asphalt 8 Airborne“ tvOS (AppleTV) Nothing is easier than turning on an AppleTV to play an incredible racing game. With the optional controller, you really get the feel of big title racing games like “Gran Tourismo” or “Forza” but instead, you can play this game on your tvOS. Gamelot does a great updating job by adding the coolest cars, tournaments and tracks. In-game, it’s super awesome with all the jumps and great location views. I do love the excellent graphics and game play on this title. Best of all, you can jam out with its awesome soundtrack that features popular electronic artists like Deadmau5, Martin Garrix and the Crystal Method.

DLC (Downloadable Content). The latest version includes all new levels and more characters you can unlock. Tired of the regular battles? Try the mini games for additional challenges.

2. “Lego Dimensions” Who doesn’t love a good Lego video game? This is one where you can really get your geek on. “Lego Dimensions” comes with a starter pack with a base unit that plugs into your console. You build the Lego set to get started with the game. And to expand your game you can buy packs at local retailers. For me, the Lego sets are quite addictive and have become a collectable. My favorite sets are the “Doctor Who Level Pack” and “Joker and Harley Quinn Fun Pack.” You can collect many of your favorite characters from Ghostbusters in “DC Comics Superheroes.” That game is filled with building Legos you can use to fight your enemies with special powers and solve puzzles. Bring a friend and play in multiplayer mode.

1. Top Pick: “Mario Kart 8” Hands down – this is my all-time favorite game series. It’s the car/kart racing genre I love plus Mario challenges mixed in. This is not your straight-forward racing game where you collect coins and mystery blocks to obtain prizes and weapons to beat your opponents. You can also use the optional Wii wheel to drive with a steering wheel and do magical flips that can give you the edge you need. Customize your cart and wheels and then you can choose from a cast of characters to create your personalized gold-winning combo. Play multiplayer, single player and online. This game never gets old. Again, these games are my favorite picks and not necessarily the most recent or competitive games on the scene. There’s a soft place in my heart for gaming and I’m glad that I picked the hobby back up as an adult. Whether you’re already a gamer or just interested in it, I would highly recommend these titles. Remember, when you need a good stress reliever a “Smash” battle fixes it every time.

3. “Super Smash Brothers” 3DS Need to let out a little frustration in private? Here is my pick for massive stress relief. Play online with friends or alone as a single player. Team up with an optional Amiibo and level up your characters. Amiibos are data storing figurines of Nintendo characters that have a special NFC chip and can be read with your WiiU or "New" Nintendo 3DS NFC reader. “Super Smash Brothers” is a classic title that keeps getting updated with fresh

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| COMPETE | 19

PHOENIX GAY FLAG TURNS THE BIG10

Pictured L-R: Andrew Nelson, John Houghton, Richie Ressel

| COMPETE | March 2017

FOOTBALL LEAGUE BY HARRY LATTO PHOTOS BY DANIEL KOENIG, POWER 10 FILMS

t was in Los Angeles where Shawn Rae was first able to play a sport with a gay team, a new and liberating experience for the closeted kid from small-town Montana. Playing football, basketball and running track in high school were difficult because he was afraid people would discover he was gay. But his first gay flag football pickup game changed his life and made him a passionate supporter of the sport. Talking to Shawn Rae now, former Phoenix Gay Flag Football League (PGFFL) commissioner, Hall of Famer and the person responsible for bringing gay flag football to Phoenix, it’s easy to see that today’s Phoenix league has come a long way in its official 10-year existence. The years have gone by quickly; it’s hard to conceive that this much time has passed since he moved here from Los Angeles in 2003. Rae and his group of friends would play pickup games here and there in the Los Angeles area but nothing was official at that time. There was no National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL) then: it was really due to the foresight and guidance of Jim Buzinski and Cyd Zeigler, co-founders of the Outsports website that the first Gay Bowl was played in Los Angeles in 2002, the national organization later forming as a result of the growing national interest in the game. Talking about his first experience playing with other gay athletes, Rea says that “We were just a group of guys who bonded over playing football. We were family in a way that we were good friends and we weren’t hiding who we were because we were all gay. That alone made playing with these guys easy.” Even though the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League (PGFFL) is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, it took Rae and the many other people who volunteered their blood, sweat, tackles and tears to grow it to a point where there were enough players to first make a traveling team and later, a local league. Using word of mouth, hitting all the bars, putting up fliers and creating a rudimentary website, they began recruiting others in the Phoenix metro area who wanted to join. It didn’t take long to gain the attention of other athletic-minded guys who were looking for the same thing and so the original Phoenix team, the Hellraisers, was officially formed. The current Phoenix commissioner is Joel Horton, a transplant to the area a little over three years ago from New York City thanks to a job transfer. He first played flag

football with the New York local team and like Rae, he fell in love with the game. When he arrived in Phoenix he was thrilled to find the PGFFL alive and well in his new hometown and immediately became a member. Horton’s two-year term as commissioner will end on May 1 when the PGFFL elects a new board but he’s been actively involved in growing the Phoenix league during his tenure. They’ve acquired enough new members over the past two years to create two new teams, bringing the league number to four teams. And the continued goal is to add another two teams next year, raising the total PGFFL teams to eight. While some sports teams report trouble recruiting millennials who don’t see much need for separate sports teams for the LGBTQ community, Horton hasn’t experienced that problem. Although he said that just as he arrived

Pictured: Jared Gonzales

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| COMPETE | 21

in Phoenix there were some people questioning if the Hellraisers should continue as a gay team. That discussion resulted in a name change that was made official two years ago – the members eliminated all doubt by choosing to become the Phoenix Gay Flag Football League. It reflects the fact that for many who have experienced terrible bullying, being disowned by family and friends and even considered suicide, a team that is specifically for LGBTQ individuals and yet ally-friendly is still an important lifeline for them. The biggest problem the Phoenix league has encountered in recruiting new members is convincing ordinary people that they don’t have to be All-Star material to play flag football. Their games are set up so anyone who wants to play actually can play. Horton says that once people see that their players represent all shapes, sizes, colors and experience levels it cuts through the misconceptions. Friends who come to watch their friends play one season are often the newest players the next season so the league uses its open play games as a recruiting tool. In terms of a tenth anniversary celebration, Horton says that plans are underway but not yet complete. It will take place in May at the end of the PFGGL season, probably in the second or third week, somewhere in downtown Phoenix. And since the league has grown significantly larger, it will probably be at one of the larger hotels. Stay tuned for updates. Reflecting on the growth of the Phoenix league, Shawn Rae’s life has changed for the better over the last 10 years along with the fortunes of the PGFFL. Thanks to his ongoing involvement in flag football he is now comfortable in his own skin, all his close friends were and are fellow team members and he met the love of his while helping new leagues form. And thanks to marriage equality, they were able to marry and are now raising 16-month-old twins – all proving that it’s great to be alive and playing flag football in Phoenix!

Pictured L-R: Jared Gonzales, John Houghton, Andrew Nelson, Richie Ressel

| COMPETE | March 2017

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GREATEST ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT: I made it to the state tournament for wrestling in the 135-pound weight class and placed in several regional tournaments. I also got 10,000 steps on my Fitbit once.

GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Growing up where I did, going to college was not an expectation. But I was the first person in my family to attend and graduate from a university â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Go Devils!

SPORTS PLAYED: Wrestling, swimming, flag football and golf. I went to the batting cages once. Does that count?

WHY DO YOU LOVE SPORTS? I love sports because of the camaraderie developed with my teams and other players. Sports have been a great way for me to meet new people and make new friends outside of my normal social circles. They also allow me to stay active and competitive.

INTERESTS: I love staying active, whether playing with my dog, hiking, lifting, swimming laps, playing flag football or tending to my herb garden. I also really like to cook and I'm a pretty good baker. BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE: I catch a lot of compliments on my chest but I think my beard can be pretty impressive when I grow it out.

FAVORITE TEAM: In all honesty, the Phoenix Mercury. Their games are so much fun and those women can play!

TEAM(S) YOU PLAY FOR: Phoenix Blast and Black Sevens.

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Paul Goldschmidt, first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Taken.

SPORT: Flag Football.

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Phoenix, Arizona.

HOMETOWN: Union City, New Jersey.

AGE: 28.

To be included in our MVP section, e-mail: MVP@competenetwork.com

Photos by Daniel Koenig, Power 10 Films

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INTERVIEW

MCKENZIE LYNG IS GIVING BACK THROUGH GOLF BY MIRIAM LATTO MCKENZIE LYNG’S LOVE FOR GOLF PROMPTED her to turn professional in 2012 and, following an appearance on the Golf Channel’s hit “Big Break” series, it also led to her becoming an entrepreneur. She is co-founder of BackSwing Golf Events with friend and fellow golfer Amanda Robertson. The business has a group of lady touring professionals who bring something unique and fun to corporate and charity golf events. She is also a new mom to eight-week old Brayden and she and her husband can’t wait to teach him golf. Compete: When did you start playing golf, McKenzie? Did you start as a young child? McKenzie Lyng: No. I was 16 years old when I started to play. I never liked golf growing up. I actually played competitive softball and traveled all over the country competing in tournaments. C: Then what was it that got you interested in golf? ML: Honestly, I chose to play golf more as a joke with one of my other friends. We both played softball and thought we’d do something in the fall since softball season was in the spring. It wasn't until after college that I really fell in love with the game and knew it was something I wanted to do long-term. C: Was your family supportive of your decision? ML: My family was very supportive. I have two younger sisters and my dad had always wanted us to play golf. We just never had any interest in it until we got older. My parents always let us play whatever sports we wanted and never pushed us, which was nice. C: What were your early golf experiences like? ML: I started playing golf as a high school sophomore so I was definitely behind in the golf world. I was just trying to do something fun on the side. I was pretty good when I started which motivated me to keep practicing. C: Once you went to college did your golf experiences change? ML: At age 17 I had been playing for only one year but I was approached by a couple of different colleges. I had always planned on playing softball in college until this point. Basically, what I heard from the college coaches was, “You’ve come this far in just one short year; we want to work with you and give you the opportunity to really excel.” They told me that I would have to be a walk-on to start but could potentially earn a scholarship. They said that even if it would be hard to do, they were happy to have me on the team.

I decided I wanted to go to a Division I school where everyone was better than me because I knew that would only push me to work harder. If I went to a smaller school where I was the number one player, I wouldn't have anything to work for or towards. So I chose to attend Kent State University in Ohio and competed for four years on their golf team and also earned a degree in marketing. I didn’t compete in one golf event in my freshman year – the talent was stacked. Kent State had recruited girls from Argentina, Canada and New Zealand while I was just this girl from Akron, Ohio. It frustrated me that they were all better than me. So in my freshman summer I moved to Arizona to work on my game and give it 100 percent. When I returned, I qualified for my first college tournament at Michigan State which shocked everyone. I then made my way to earning a scholarship and participating in many college golf events. C: How have your professional golf experiences stacked up, McKenzie? Are they all you expected? (Contiunued on page 28) www.CompeteNetwork.com

| COMPETE | 27

INTERVIEW ML: I attended the LPGA Qualifying School in 2012 and ended up missing the cut by one shot; you can only attempt qualifying school once a year so then it became a grind. After missing the qualifier, I competed on the Cactus Tour based in Arizona as well as the Canadian Tour. I also participated in many state opens across the country, playing in anything to help better my game and strengthen my mental mindset. My best finish was second place. I had been close to winning but just hadn’t gotten there yet. C: Then how did you get cast in “Big Break Mexico?” ML: In 2012 the Golf Channel was holding auditions in Arizona for their hit “Big Break” series. Some of my friends were trying out so I figured why not. There are about 10,000 people who audition for this show – the season I was auditioning for was going to be using six guys and six girls. The producers interviewed me and then videoed my swing; that was it. They said they’d be in touch “if we like you,” so I didn’t expect to hear from them. When I got the call saying I’d been chosen, I had no idea where it was going to be filmed. All I knew was we were leaving in January. C: What was it like being on the program? ML: “Big Break Mexico” was awesome but I was SO NERVOUS. The show is a team competition but each season is different. This one was three teams of four and we competed for money and prizes. It gave me the confidence to compete on a big stage. Although this wasn’t a tournament, I knew that everyone was going to be watching it live on TV. I ended up getting eliminated on the sixth episode. Our team was great but we sure didn’t compete well together. It was one of the best times of my life, though and it jump-started my career. C: In what way? ML: I continued playing on the same tours and returned to qualifying school three more times. I came up shy all three times. At this point Amanda Robertson and I had already created BackSwing Golf Events and I decided to move full force into making it a success. It’s not that I was quitting golf; I just needed some space from it. Playing 25 events a year and traveling non-stop across the country

| COMPETE | March 2017

gets tiring. After getting married in 2014 my priories had changed and in 2016 we decided to start a family. My golf career isn't over; it’s just taken a turn in a different direction for the time being. C: Why did you start your BackSwing Golf Events and what is its mission? ML: Amanda and I started BackSwing Golf Events to help ourselves and our friends make side money to help with tour costs. We also love adding value to golf events and helping charities raise extra money but we didn’t think that it would turn into a thriving business. Our mission is to bring something fun and engaging to corporate and charity golf events. Not only are we personable, we also share stories and insights about our mental and physical golf skills. We love helping charities raise extra money for their foundations and we love bringing smiles to golfers’ faces as they interact with us. C: What are some of the charity groups you have worked with? ML: We have worked with a lot of worthwhile groups: the Boys and Girls Club; UMOM New Day Centers; Military Assistance Mission; Sons of Arizona; Compadres; Silent Witness; ICAN; Children's Hospital and Dignity Health to name just a few. For more, check our website at www. backswinggolfevents.com. C: What words of wisdom do you have for would-be professional golfers just starting in the sport? ML: I would tell an up and coming professional to work harder than you think you need to. If you aren’t committing 80 percent of your day to golf then you’re not in the right sport. It is the hardest sport to compete in, mostly because it’s so mentally challenging. Committing to this lifestyle has to be your full time job, so work hard and practice every day. C: What is on the horizon for you and for BackSwing Golf Events? ML: I am fully committed to growing Backswing Golf Events and my plan is to help grow the number of events this year to 100. I also plan to play my first competitive event in May. I am not giving up on playing professionally even though my priorities have definitely shifted. I became a mom on January 4, 2017 so I am going to be the best mom, business owner and golfer I can be! As far as the business is concerned, we have hired a Vegas rep and are continuing to grow. I truly believe we can achieve our goal of 100 events this year and in the process, help more charities not only raise extra money but also make sure their players are entertained and having a great experience. C: Thank you for sharing your story with Compete readers, McKenzie. We wish you much continued success as “the best mom, business owner and golfer” you can be.

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RICK ZUNIGA WALKS HIS TALK BY HARRY ANDREW MEET TECHNICAL SERGEANT RICARDO “RICK” Zuniga, weapons load team chief with the 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron based at the Warrensburg Missouri Air Force Base – weapons loader by day, competitive bodybuilder and personal trainer by night and weekends. But Rick wasn’t always a bodybuilder and trainer. If you look at the tattoo on his back you’ll see a pair of angel wings encircling a heart, a physical representation of the angels who surely were protecting him during a terrible motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his life and at age 23 required him to learn how to walk again. If you look closely, you’ll see that the tattoo partially covers the scar from multiple back surgeries.

An active duty airman from 2000-2013, Rick was stationed at Aviano Air Base in the mountains of northeastern Italy in 2006 when he took that fateful motorcycle ride. As a van came around a curve, it swerved into Rick’s lane and crashed into him head on. Flying off his motorcycle, Rick was thrown through the van’s windshield. Life-flighted by helicopter to a hospital an hour away, doctors determined that Rick had broken four ribs, three vertebrae and his sternum. They also realized that his spinal cord was pinched and did emergency surgery to release the weight on it, the first of multiple surgeries he’d endure. Unable to walk, he was bedridden for weeks, spending a total of 25 days in the hospital and doing physical therapy

If you don’t start taking care of yourself, you may never walk again,

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Halley Burgess (Continued on page 32)

| COMPETE | March 2017

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two-to-three hours daily for three months. But his weight was hindering his recovery – it was putting too much pressure on his spine. When the doctors finally said to him, “If you don’t start taking care of yourself, you may never walk again,” that got Rick’s attention. Rather than feeling sorry for himself, he accepted it as a personal challenge. In spite of the pain he was suffering, he used a walker to relearn as an adult the basics of walking. In a 2016 interview by Senior Airman Nathan Dampf of the 131st Bomb Wing, Rick said he was almost medically discharged by the Air Force but he wasn’t ready to give up on his military career. He was told that to prevent a discharge, ‘I needed to pass a PT (Air Force physical fitness test) test with no waiver. So I quit drinking and started working out and eating right.’ His determination kept him in the Air Force – Rick lost 30 pounds and scored an 85 on his PT test. But the doctors told him once again that if he let himself get out of shape, it would be very painful, possibly preventing him from walking again. Every year since his accident he’s consistently scored an excellent on his annual PT test. Using bodybuilding to get back into shape, Rick is now a competitive bodybuilder and has already placed first in bodybuilding and second in physique at the Whiteman Classic held in November 2016 at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. He’s also taken second place in two separate categories as part of June’s Muscle Mayhem event in

Kansas City, Missouri. Rick’s next show is June 10 in Kansas City and his goal is to win first place. Impressed by his turnaround, other airmen now come to him for advice on how to achieve the same results, something he really enjoys. As someone who always needs to stay busy, Rick now has his own personal training business on the side. His long-term retirement goal is to open his own gym and have his own competitive bodybuilding team. Although he transferred from active duty to the Missouri National Guard in 2013, he still wears his uniform Monday through Friday just like active duty personnel but he gets paid as a full-time civilian Guard member. Rick says he works hand-in-hand with active personnel in the same office; “You can’t tell us apart except that we are older. LOL” Loving the challenge sports provide, in addition to bodybuilding, Rick has also played baseball and soccer. As a life-long military man, I asked his thoughts about LGBTQ inclusion and diversity in sports. He says he thinks it’s a good thing. “Everyone deserves a chance to showcase their talent no matter their background. Your work should do your talking and not your history.” When asked what he might now tell his younger self or those younger airmen looking up to him, Rick’s response at age 35 is to never give up. “No matter your past don’t ever give up. What you do day in and day out will mold your future. Instead of making excuses, make reasons why you will get it done.” Rick Zuniga is definitely a man who walks his talk!

U. S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Nathan Dampf

| COMPETE | March 2017

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14 NATURAL WRINKLE REDUCERS BY MIRIAM LATTO IT’S ONLY MARCH BUT DON’T NEGLECT GETTING your skin ready to meet increasing time spent outdoors. From author Gerrie Summers of About Style, here are 14 natural foods that promote good skin care and some tips on how to use them. 1. ALMONDS are really edible seeds (not nuts) loaded with vitamins and minerals; they also have antioxidant and anti-aging properties which nourish the skin while preventing cell damage and protecting against UV radiation damage. Using almond oil and almond-based masks help delay the aging process and treat wrinkles. •

Make a paste with one tablespoon ground almonds and one teaspoon honey with warm water. Apply mixture to face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

2. ALOE VERA is rich in silicon which is important for collagen production that helps promote new tissue formation. Aloe vera is great for mature skin, slowing the effects of aging, improving elasticity and reducing wrinkles. •

Dab aloe vera gel on affected areas. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

water run through a coffee maker. Allow to cool and use as face wash. Leave on face for 10 minutes and then rinse. Nutmeg turns off pigment cells and lightens age spots. Note that cinnamon can be irritating.

8. CUCUMBER contains vitamin C, an antioxidant useful for building collagen and elastin. It also has caffeic acid that protects against UV damage that breaks down collagen and elastin, leading to skin damage and wrinkles. •

9. FENUGREEK contains niacin (vitamin B3) that helps repair damaged skin cells and regenerate new ones, making it great for treating fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. •

Mix amla powder and lemon juice into a paste. Leave on face for 10 minutes then rinse with cold water.

4. AVOCADO and its oil contain vitamins A, D and E and antioxidants which boost collagen production that reduces aging effects. It also contains sterolins that help heal sun damage. This is especially good for decreasing eye wrinkles, diminishing expression lines and reducing deep lines. •

For a creamy moisturizer, mash about a tablespoon avocado and mix with 1/2 teaspoon plain yogurt and 1 teaspoon each of lemon juice and coconut oil. Massage the mixture into your face. Leave on 10-15 minutes then rinse with warm water.

•

Mix half a small banana with 2 teaspoons plain yogurt and 1 teaspoon honey. Mix well and apply to face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes then rinse with warm water.

6. CARROTS contain vitamin A that helps in collagen production and smoothing the skin. •

Apply carrot juice with added coconut oil to wrinkles. Let dry for 5-10 minutes then rinse with cold water.

7. CINNAMON plumps the skin, filling in fine lines and minor wrinkles. •

Dr. Oz’s recipe combines 6 teaspoons each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg placed in a coffee filter with hot

| COMPETE | March 2017

Apply mixture of ginger juice and aloe vera juice or gel and apply to wrinkles. Or grate fresh ginger and mix with honey for 20-30 minutes. You can also eat the ginger and honey mix or make ginger tea. Ginger might be more beneficial when consumed.

11. HONEY is one of the best ingredients to use in facial masks and other homemade facial recipes. It rejuvenates the skin and has antioxidants that smooth wrinkles and promote skin elasticity. •

Take peeled apple and chop and boil pieces until soft. Drain, mash apple and mix with 1 tablespoon honey. Apply to face for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

12. LEMONS contain citric acid, an exfoliant that helps fade wrinkles, fine lines and dark under-eye circles. •

5. BANANAS also help reduce deep lines and wrinkles. •

Boil fenugreek seeds in water and use as facial wash (or grind leaves into a paste and apply to face for 30 minutes). Rinse with lukewarm water.

10. GINGER contains antioxidants which suppress the breakdown of elastin and provide protection against free radical damage.

3. AMLA POWDER OR INDIAN GOOSEBERRY is a source of vitamin C that protects against skin aging. •

Apply cucumber slices on wrinkles and wrinkle-prone skin, or apply cucumber juice to affected areas.

Dab lemon juice on lines and wrinkles, leave for 5-10 minutes then rinse with cold water. Note: lemon juice will make your skin sensitive to sunlight; you’ll need to apply sunscreen even after you’ve rinsed off lemon juice.

13. PINEAPPLE has enzymes that promote skin elasticity and eliminate dead skin cells. •

Rub pineapple core onto wrinkled area and let dry for 20 minutes then rinse with cold water.

14. WITCH HAZEL is an astringent extracted from the bark and leaves of the witch hazel shrub. Tannins in witch hazel tighten the skin to smooth out wrinkles. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which protect skin tissues from free radical damage. •

Massage witch hazel into wrinkled areas and leave on overnight.

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SPORTS

HONORING GOLF’S LPGA PIONEERS BY IAN COLGATE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LPGA

THE LADIES PROFESSIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATION (LPGA)

has a rich and diverse history. Founded in 1950, today the LPGA is one of the longest-running women's professional sports associations in the world. Since its founding, the organization has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. The LPGA Tour and the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals (T&CP) comprise the backbone of what has become the premier women's professional sports organization in the world today. The LPGA maintains a strong focus on charity through not only its tournaments but also its grassroots junior and women's programs and the formation of The LPGA Foundation. With more than 2,300 members representing 30 different countries, the LPGA celebrates its diverse and storied membership. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA tour professionals compete across the globe while dedicated LPGA teaching and club professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The LPGA Hall of Fame membership includes a select group of honorees that since its inception in 1951 numbers

Pictured Sei Young Kim 2016 Winner only 25 inductees. One of the 25 includes honorary honoree Dinah Shore. A popular entertainer and avid golfer in her day, Shore lent both her name and money to the then-poorly funded organization. But the LPGA has grown significantly since then. In 1970 total prize money awarded was under $500,000 and in 2016 that amount reached over $63 million. In 2011 the LPGA Founders Cup was created to honor the 13 groundbreaking woman who banded together to form the LPGA. “The Founders Cup was developed to remember and reinforce the philosophy of making the game better for the next generation of female golfers,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. In 2016 the tournament was renamed the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup. It is the only LPGA tournament played in Arizona. This year the tournament will take place March 14-19 at the Wildfire Golf Club located at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The tour, which features a full field of LPGA players competing for a $1.5 million purse, will be broadcast in 151 nations across the globe. This is also the first year Korean-American Bank of Hope is the title sponsor. Notable golfers attending include 2016 winner Sei Young Kim, Cheyenne Woods and Stacy Lewis. Last year Kim earned her fourth title on the LPGA Tour and finished 27-under par winning the 2016 Founders Cup Championship title. Kim's 27-under par finish matched the LPGA’s lowest 72-hole scoring record set by Annika Sorenstam in 2001. Cydney Clanton hit the only hole-inone at the tournament earning her a 2016 Kia K900. WHAT: WHEN:

Pictured Cheyenne Woods

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LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup Tuesday, March 14th; Professional Practice Rounds, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 15th; Official Pro-AM, 7:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, March 16th – Sunday, March 19th; Tournament Play, 7:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa 5350 Marriott Drive Phoenix, Arizona 85054

SPORTS

WHEN MONEY AND WINNING MEAN MORE THAN PEOPLE BY BRIAN PATRICK OTHER THAN JERRY SANDUSKY’S 2011 CHILD SEX

abuse outrage that rocked Penn State and got iconic coach Joe Paterno fired, there’s been no bigger disgrace at the collegiate level than the recent sexual assault scandal attributed to football players, coaches and high-level administrators at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. A topranked private Christian school, Baylor is associated with the Baptist Church.* A Philadelphia law firm hired by Baylor to investigate the matter wound up identifying at least 52 ‘acts of rape,’ including five gang rapes, by at least 31 football players from 2011 to 2014. These numbers may continue to grow. One lawsuit filed by a Baylor graduate who claimed she was raped by two football players in 2013 alleged the school had a “culture of sexual violence within Baylor’s athletics in which the school implemented a ‘show ‘em a good time’ policy," using sex to lure prospective football recruits. An article in The Comeback by Alex Putterman says that “Perhaps most damning, as far as the administration’s culpability goes, is the allegation in the suit that

Baylor once (agreed) to pay the tuition of a rape victim in exchange for her signing a nondisclosure agreement. If that is indeed the case, the university knowingly hid an assault committed by one of its players. That’s not negligence, it’s an active cover-up.” Head football coach Art Briles, athletic director Ian McCaw and school president Ken Starr all lost their jobs as a result of the scandal and resignations were tendered by Title IX coordinator Patty Crawford, school trustees Christopher Howard and Kathy Willis as well as Edwin Trevathan, the school’s provost and executive vice president. In a 2013 interview with ESPN The Magazine and espnW, WNBA star and Baylor graduate Brittney Griner said the women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey told players not to be open about their sexuality since it would look bad for the program. According to several reports, protecting the sports program was the reason some Baylor employees ignored reports by female students that they had been raped.

Pictured above, Henry Beam, Beam Law, PLC

| COMPETE | March 2017

In what seems the ultimate act of hypocrisy, if female students admitted they had been drinking prior to the rape, some employees would say the drinking violated the school’s student conduct policy so no action could be taken. That sleight of hand kept serious violations from being filed against Bears football players and the athletic program. Baylor’s student handbook touts its strong Christian values yet in cases of rape, it seems the women were considered most responsible for the violence inflicted on them, e.g. hanging out with the wrong people, wearing the wrong clothing, drinking, going to the wrong places, etc. It appears that Baylor’s athletic culture supported winning at any cost to keep the wins and the money coming in. In an ironic follow-up to Baylor’s athletic department house cleaning, Brandon Washington, recently hired as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the football program has already been fired. Arrested in a prostitution sting early last month, his job was terminated by Baylor the same day the school was made aware of his arrest. Washington came to Baylor from Temple University along with new football coach Matt Rhule. Speaking about the incident, Rhule said “When we arrived at Baylor, we made a commitment to character and integrity in our program. Brandon’s actions are completely unacceptable. We will not tolerate conduct that is contradictory to these values.” At least Rhule’s values seem to be working.

Moving from crime to punishment, the NCAA says it’s still investigating the matter. But why? It’s certainly not going to get any better. As for the Big 12, if it weren’t such a serious matter, their penalty would be a joke. According to David Boren, Big 12 board of directors chairman and University of Oklahoma president: “Effective immediately, the Conference is withholding 25 percent of Baylor’s share of any future revenue distribution until the proper execution of controls is independently verified. By taking these actions the Board desires to ensure that the changes that were promised are actually made and that systems are in place to avoid future problems. The proportional withholding of revenue distribution payments will be in effect until the Board has determined that Baylor is in compliance with Conference bylaws and regulations as well as all components of Title IX.” The money will be placed in escrow, according to Dan Wolken of USA TODAY Sports, eventually to be returned to Baylor pending review results. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby estimates the 2016-17 total revenue at $34 million, meaning that approximately $8.5 million of Baylor’s money is on the line if they don’t clean up their act. Was the money really worth more than these women? * For a comparison of how two prime institutions of higher learning blackened their reputations, go to: http://thecomeback. com/?s=baylor%2C+penn+state

FITNESS

6 WAYS TO KILL A SPORTS SLUMP BY BRYAN LEE IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE A professional athlete, minor league player or a weekend warrior, at some time or other in your sports history you will undoubtedly encounter a slump, a period of time when you just aren’t playing your best. A majority of the time a slump is due to a lack in mental concentration rather than a problem with your talent and ability. There are many different things that can suck the mental energy and concentration out of you. So if you find yourself in the middle of a sports slump, try one or more of these slump killers to put you back in the winner’s circle.

1. LIMIT YOUR TIME AROUND NEGATIVE PEOPLE If you are surrounded with negative or unsupportive people and you wind up dealing non-stop with them before and after your games or matches, there is no doubt that you are bringing those negative vibes onto the court or field with you. You can’t eliminate all the negative people in your life but you can definitely limit the amount of time you spend around them. Surround yourself with like-minded and supportive people and you will notice an improvement in your focus.

2. BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT Stop worrying about the loss you had last week, and don’t be worried about making it to the final when you’re only in the first round. Have your head in the current match you’re playing RIGHT NOW. Take it point-by-point if you have to. If you find your mind wandering, come back to the present and focus on the current play or the next point. Being depressed about yesterday or anxious about tomorrow does nothing to improve your present situation.

3. TALK TO A SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST Sometimes just talking to someone else about what is going on in your head will help bring you better mental clarity. Back in 1997-98 tennis champion Andre Agassi slumped so low in the rankings (No. 110) everyone wrote him off as a has-been. After meeting with life coach Tony Robbins not only did he rise to number six in the rankings, he also won the French Open,

U.S. Open and the Australian Open. Keeping your emotions bottled up can destroy your game. So be open to talk to someone who will listen with an open mind and help you work it through.

4. BE FEARLESS One of the biggest reactions by people in a slump is to play it safe. Although there can be times to play it safe, there are also times when you need to go out on a limb – take a risk and don’t worry about the outcome. Just when it looked like the Patriots were out of the game in the 2017 Super Bowl, they started taking more chances and bigger risks. The result was they came back from the brink of disaster to win another Super Bowl. Wouldn’t you rather lose a game by taking risks than knowing there was more you could have done?

5. KEEP YOUR MOTIVATION UP Why do you play sports? Do you play it for fun, to honor someone or maybe for self-improvement? No matter your answer, it’s correct; each one of us plays our given sport for a particular reason. Sometimes while playing, however, we seem to lose sight of what motivates us to play. Whatever keeps you motivated to play, keep that vision in front of you every single time you play. Know why you are playing, and how it makes you feel. Although winning is nice, it shouldn’t be the only reason you have to keep playing.

LEARN TO SAY NO

Most of us have way too many daily items on our plate and we often don’t find enough time to accomplish them all. Have you ever given up a practice just so you could do something else you wanted? If you ONLY play on game day then chances are this could be why you’re in a slump! Make time for practice even if it means skipping an evening out with your friends. You may be naturally talented but to keep your skills in top shape you need to practice. Know when to say NO!

BRYAN LEE is a National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) certified personal trainer, life coach and author who has lost over 130 pounds. Please check with your personal physician before using these health and fitness tips.

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HOT ITEMS YOU SHOULDN’T DO WITHOUT

Golf is one of our favorite sports obsessions. March is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb according to the old saying. But no matter the weather in your neck of the woods, this is the perfect time to update your golfing wardrobe with some classy new looks from Callaway Apparel for both men and women. Whether you’re golfing in warmer or cooler climates, there are sure to be wonderfully comfortable outfits to keep you focused on having your best game.

YARN DYED GRID SHORT Callaway's women's golf shorts are created for the woman who knows she doesn't have to sacrifice comfort for style. Get the best of both worlds with the Callaway Women's Optistretch Golf 19-inch Plaid Short. Stretchy fabric, moisture-wicking properties and built-in fabric ventilation set this women's golf short apart from the competition. Technical Features: • Opti-dri: moisture wicking fabric that pulls sweat away from you for a dry feel • Opti-stretch: engineered elastic waistbands for a comfortable fit • Opti-vent: engineered ventilation properties into the fabric that allows air to cool you off

callawayapparel.com FULL WIND ZIP JACKET Brave the elements in style in the Callaway Women's Golf Performance Long Sleeve Wind Jacket with back ruching. A feminine, flattering fit with two front pockets is enhanced by ruching details along the back and an Opti-Repel barrier against wind and water. • 100 percent Polyester • Long Sleeve • Ruching on back • Silver Chevron on back collar • Machine washable

www.callawayapparel.com MICROWEIGHT STRETCH FLEECE 1/4 ZIP PULLOVER Stay warm on the course with Callaway Men's Microweight Fleece Pullover with OptiTherm fabric designed to withstand the cold and provide a layer of thermal comfort. • 69 percent Polyester / 23 percent Poly Hollow Core / 8 percent Spandex • Long Sleeve • 1/4 Zip • Mock Collar • Callaway Tour Embroidered Logo on Left Sleeve • Machine Washable

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| COMPETE | March 2017

OVERTIME

EVENTS

FOR A FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS PLEASE VISIT COMPETENETWORK.COM/EVENTS

CURRENT EVENTS IN MARCH AQUATICS TYNA Swim Camp Fort Lauderdale, Mar. 19-25

BOWLING Second City Open Tournament Chicago Chicago, Mar. 3 Silicon Valley Invitational Tournament San Jose, Mar. 17 Winter Express Trio Tournament Ann Arbor, Mich., Mar. 18 Dallas Area Masters Invitational Tournament Richardson, Tex., Mar. 25

RODEO A Texas Tradition Rodeo Denton, Tex., Mar. 31 - Apr. 2

2017 ChATTAhoochee Doubles Classic Atlanta, Mar. 10-12 Orange Blossom Tennis Championships 2017 Orlando, Mar. 31 – Apr. 2

AIDS CRISIS IN AMERICA: 30 YEARS OF ACT UP EXHIBIT THE WORLD AIDS MUSEUM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER (WAM)

in Wilton Manors, Florida has set March 8 as the start of their new exhibit, “AIDS Crisis in America: 30 Years of ACT UP – A Convergence of Disease, Art and Human Resilience.” They have also announced that Academy Award-winning performer Larry Kramer, co-founder of both the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in 1982 and ACT UP in 1987 will be part of two of the three opening events taking place on March 9 and 10. Throughout the two-day opener Kramer will speak to the history of the HIV/AIDS crisis and the corresponding evolution of the LGBTQ movement, detailing its impact on the LGBTQ community over the last 35 years.

RUNNING Run Deo Run Trail Races – Marathon, Half Marathon Los Angeles, Mar. 12 Los Angeles Marathon Pasta Feed Los Angeles, Mar. 17 Pride Run Phoenix Phoenix, Mar. 25

SOFTBALL Lone Star Classic Houston, Mar. 18-19

TENNIS Palm Springs Doubles 2017 Rancho Mirage, Calif., Mar. 4-5

Sports Club at

Your Uptown Fitness Experience! www.sportsclubatcitysquare.com (Indian School Rd and 2nd Ave)

602-285-2929 44

| COMPETE | March 2017

Author of the critically acclaimed play turned Broadway show turned HBO film, “The Normal Heart,” that looked at the early days of the AIDS crisis, Kramer is also known for being outspoken and, at times controversial. However his work educating the LGBTQ community on the AIDS epidemic is widely respected. Kramer’s work with ACT UP is largely considered one of the reasons public health policy and the perception of people living with AIDS changed over the years as people began to remove the stigma behind the disease. Set to run into mid-April, the exhibit itself will feature artwork, film and photography to help detail the 30-year history of ACT UP, the primary organization behind the political and social responses to the AIDS pandemic.

STYLE

BY BOBBY CILETTI, STYLE EDITOR

SELECTING A SIGNATURE SCENT BOBBY IS A TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE EXPERT AND FOUNDER OF THEDAYSOFTHECHIC.COM. TWITTER @BOBBYCILETTI

HUMAN BEINGS PERCEIVE THE WORLD around them based on the traditional five senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. Because our sense of smell works in tandem with our minds and our sense of taste, scents are powerful. They can simultaneously evoke memories and enhance our moods as well as help us define our style and accent our personality.

The endless combinations of scents and individual fragrance notes used by fragrance chemists have produced untold numbers of popular fragrances over the years. It is estimated that 63 percent of men wear a personal fragrance while almost 83 percent of women wear a scent, making the personal fragrance industry a $38 billion industry. But there are perfuming pitfalls which can make selecting your signature scent overwhelming. Here are some tips to consider when selecting your signature scent.

THE SELECTION PROCESS 1. LIMIT IT

You really can overwhelm yourself when you start smelling everything. Speak to someone in the fragrance department if you are starting from scratch. Mention some scents you like and then start with only three-to-six fragrances. Anything beyond that will exhaust you.

2. SIGHT Rather it’s keeping it out of sight. Have a sales person keep the bottles and packaging hidden. By avoiding the visual aspects, you can focus on the scent instead of being influenced by the product marketing.

3. SNIFF Once you have narrowed your samples, start by sniffing the inner cap; then spray some on a blotting paper. Note a difference.

4. CLEANSE If the store has aids like coffee beans, take advantage of them by smelling the coffee beans between each fragrance; it clears the nose to "reset" your sense of smell.

5. APPLY If you’re able to narrow it down to one or two, apply the fragrances on your skin. Ultimately, the true scent of the fragrance is activated when it interacts with your skin chemistry and body temperature.

6. TRIAL SIZES If available, consider taking home a sample or buy a trial size and live with it for a little bit. Fragrances can be expensive and can take a long time to use up so you don't want to be stuck with something you truly do not love.

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN … Eau du fraiche, cologne, eau du toilette, eau du parfum and perfume all fall under the personal fragrance umbrella. Some of us may mistakenly call someone’s fragrance a perfume or cologne, not necessarily paying attention to the difference. After all, cologne is for men and perfumes for women, right? Not exactly. What differentiates the various fragrance types is the percentage of concentrated perfume essences used. • Eau du fraiche is the lightest with 1-3 percent concentration and generally lasts an hour or less. • Eau du cologne has 2-4 percent concentration and lasts for a couple of hours. • Eau du toilette has a 5-15 percent concentration and lasts around three hours. • Eau du parfum has a 15-20 percent concentration and lasts up to eight hours. • Perfume has the highest concentration, containing up to 30 percent pure perfume and can last upwards of 24 hours.

It is worth noting that eau du parfum and perfume are typically more expensive because of their higher percentages of perfume concentrates. While you may be spending more for these, you ultimately need to wear less of the fragrance.

BOBBY SAYS … Sometimes spray, always roll, never splash. You can save yourself the embarrassment of wearing too much scent by adhering to this theory: it is fine to modestly spray a scent, being sure to calibrate the correct amount for the situation and strength of the scent. It is always fine to use a roll-on fragrance because it is generally easier to sparingly dot it on. But never splash on a fragrance because you can easily over do it. If you find that you have applied too much fragrance you can use rubbing alcohol to cleanse the area. If that is not nearby, most hand sanitizers have a high alcohol content. Also, like the perfume counter you can use coffee to neutralize it. Use some coffee grounds to gently scrub the area where you applied too much.