Gc101

DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014 ISSUE • 1.01

GC

PRE MIE RE I SSU E

GAME CHANGER MAGAZINE

Bronx Bombers BROADWAY’S NEWEST PLAY IS ABOUT MORE THAN THE YANKEES. IT’S ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS ON THE GREAT WHITE WAY.

RICK MINTER NEW DREAM TEAM

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

US WOMENS SOCCER

HARLEM RBI

CHANGING LIVES IN NYC GAME CHANGER 1

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GO TO THE GAME CHANGER WISH LIST ON PAGE 24 FOR A PROMO CODE FOR A DISCOUNT ON YOUR PURCHASE.

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GC GAME CHANGER MAGAZINE

Editor-in-Chief Gary Shackleford Copy Editor Mark O’Hara Design Consultant Ryan Brinson Cover: John Wernke as Lou Gherig (Primary Stages) Cover Photography by James Leynse Contributors: Caleb Bollenbacher Christopher Heath Kelly Kaylan Matthew Johnson Harris Laura Vansickle Ryan C. Zerfas Featured Photographers: Ryan Brinson All articles and photos are the property of the writers and photographers.

All rights reserved.

Special Thanks to Dr. Justin Greisberg, Hilton, Brandi, Megan, Josh, all my contributors, Mom, Dad, Skyeler and most importantly Ryan.

This issue is for Nana, who was always my biggest fan.

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The New Dream Team We take an in-depth look at the US Women’s National Soccer Team as they close out 2013 and look forward to the World Cup. This team has the potential to bring women’s soccer to the forefront of sports once again.

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ON THE COVER We talk to Fran Kirsmer and Tony Ponturro about the new Broadway play Bronx Bombers.

Before their big Broadway bow in January they chat about the importance of sports legends and why their stories are relevant on the Great White Way.

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The Change-Up

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The WishList

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Rick Minter

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Harlem RBI

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Foot-’bowl’ Party

In our recurring wellness feature, a top NYC fitness instructor will take us on an interactive journey into new classes we should all be taking.

Holiday gifts for the season for any fan that last all year long.

Q&A with the new Inside Linebacker coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Our feature GC MVP non-profit that uses the fundamentals of baseball and softball to help kids win in the classroom and on the field.

Our party planner shows you how to take those boring old recipies and kick them up for the hottest Bowl Party this season.

GAME CHANGER 7

Letter from the Editor

August 17, 2013, we were down by a few runs. In my head, I planned I was going to go home, but I heard my coach and slid back into third. It was at that moment, GAME CHANGER was born. I broke my leg and spent the next few months laying in bed, wishing I was playing in the World Series, or at a tournament in Providence. Blessings come in disguise and this was one of them. I laid there feeling bad I missed all of these events until I realized I had all of this time to make something new happen.

I’m not the normal sports fan. I’m obsessed with sports but I don’t know every player’s stats for the last year, let alone the last game. There seems to be a lingering stigma that only REAL sports fans know all of the numbers and the rest of us aren’t “die hard fans.” Well guess what? We are. I love watching sports, I understand the game (many of them), I love my teams, I have the gear and I play in my own leagues. We come in all shapes and sizes and from different backgrounds, but when it comes down to it, we’re all united by our passion for the game.

We have different reasons we love the game. From tailgating to the underdog battle, there’s something that keeps us coming back. That’s why I bring this magazine to you, because there’s diversity among the fans but the same passion runs deep and true in all of us. While other magazines look at top headlines and lead stories, we’re interested in what life’s like off the field, the culture surrounding the lifestyle, and celebrating the diversity during the one time we’re all equals, The Game.

I have to be ever thankful to the people who have helped make this first issue not only happen but fill the gap I saw missing in the sports field. My contributors, friends, family and strangers I’ve met traveling the east coast while attending sporting events. I was lucky enough (with my broken leg) to be able to see NFL, MLB and NHL events. I spent time watching everything from fans high-fiving, to dads teaching their kids as the games happened. I knew I was ready for this magazine to launch. There are two people that I have to thank more than everyone else, Ryan for always asking “how does this fit into your vision?” and NASCAR artist Sam Bass who told me when he designs he always thinks “does this excite me as a fan? Remember you were and will always be a fan first.”

Gary Shackleford Jr. Editor-in-Chief 8 GAME CHANGER

GAME CHANGER 9

Concussions, the End of College Football?

by Kelly Kaylan Football has come under scrutiny due to lack of concussion preventions and education. The NFL just recently ponied up $765 million in an injury settlement. The NCAA has several federal suits filled against them claiming the governing body of college sports ignored concussion problems for decades.

Many will argue that the NFL will get off easy compared to the NCAA. Why? The NFL has a collective bargaining agreement with the players union. The NFL players are considered employees, while college athletes are not.

College players are students and universities are not companies. Most universities are public institutions.

They therefore, have a greater moral and ethical obligation to protect those that fall under their alma mater. There is a greater potential for a class-action suit. The damages claimed would not be limited by a worker’s salary. Funny enough, the compensation laws that the NCAA amateurism have been avoiding could have saved them.

It is estimated that in the past 50 years, more than 50,000 men have played college football. Keep in mind; most data on concussions are pulled from football. However, it is not the only NCAA sport that has concussions. The magnitude of pay-outs from law suits is not limited to just one sport.

What would this mean for college football? Ty Duffy, writer for USA Today Sports, speculates that it could be the end to college football. In his article, ‘What becomes of Athletic Departments?’ he cites that public opinion could be swayed to end the beloved sport. Liability and insurances demands become higher. Schools not in the in big five conference may not be able to justify the expense. Universities will likely try to ‘create money’ elsewhere; like college tuition. The cost of attending college has already sky rocketed out of control. The average student loan debt is already $35,000.

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The psychological loss of losing football would be damaging for most schools. The selling point for large universities is the football program and culture it creates on a college campus. The SEC would be effectively lost without football. What happens to Texas A&M’s 12th man? Who is LSU without games being played in Death Valley? Could Arkansas even survive without calling the hogs in fall? We know Kentucky will be fine but what about the rest?

Likely college football is here to stay but it will likely be changing in the future. The NCAA has to do more for concussion prevent, period. The current 2010 NCAA concussion plan and the targeting rule penalties are essential all the protection they have put into place.

The 2010 NCAA concussion plan is too vague and open to interpretation. It calls for schools to adopt their own plan for head injuries. The only requirements were the following: 1. College athletes are trained on signs and symptoms of concussions and sign a statement 2. All athletes that show signs of concussion are evaluated. 3. Athletes diagnosed with concussion are to be held out of competition for a least the remainder of the day. 4. Athletes diagnosed with a concussion are cleared by physician or physician’s designee before returning to competition.

Fox Sports reported that many schools had different procedural plans. In one they reported, an athletic trainer is in charge of evaluating concussion symptoms. Anther school actually had a student trainer to evaluate players. Without a clear protocol, schools are left to their own devices.

With the exception of initiating the targeting rules (see last weeks article), the NCAA has allowed the schools and universities to dictate their own path.

While the SEC has put together a Working Group on Concussions, they are still relying heavily on the NCAA to take the lead.

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive stated, “There is much work to be done, and while the Conference has a role to play, prevention and treatment of concussions is a national concern that needs and deserves a coordinated national effort. For this reason, the Presidents and Chancellors will make a formal request that the NCAA take the lead in organizing and spearheading a national research effort and examining possible revisions to playing rules in football and other sports.” The May statement

suggests that the SEC doesn’t want to control policy or protocol.

Concussion research is the main focus for the NCAA at present. Especially, the effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with head trauma.

The sample size of the research is small and limited.

Diagnosis can only happen post-mortem.

Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA’s chief medical officer stated he believes evolving evidence that multiple head injuries in football can be linked to brain injuries, such as CTE. Hainline said, “I think the overwhelming majority of athletes who have a concussion, they recover from a concussion. I think there’s a sub-group of athletes who either have a genetic susceptibility or they repeated concussions or subconcussions and the brain has not gone into recovery mode and they become susceptible to long-term brain issues.”

According to a Journal of American Medical Association ‘NCAA Concussion Study’, 1-15 players with a concussion may have additional concussions in the same playing season; and previous concussions may be associated with slower recovery of neurological function. The NCAA’s injury surveillance system reports there were more than 29,000 concussions reported in college sports between 2004 and 2009. The same report suggests that the number of concussions was increasing 7 percent a year.

One thing is abundantly clear, concussions are happening and they have damaging long and shortterm effects. Rule changes like targeting are here to stay. Player safety will/has become a priority. The game of football will be forever changed. The era of concussion prevented football has commenced.

August 29, 2013. Vanderbilt met Ole Miss at home in Nashville. Jordan Matthews took a solid, clean hit from Ole Miss but we can see immediately something is wrong, neither the refs or coaches noticed.

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Change the Locks

by Caleb Bollenbacher

“All I want for Christmas is for the lockout to end.”

Everyone thought I was joking when this became my constant refrain starting around October of last year. But when it comes to moratoriums on my favorite sport of hockey, there is no room for jokes of any kind. I would wake up every morning and immediately refresh a half dozen sites dedicated to NHL news, praying that something might have changed. I salivated at the rumors that the two warring sides might reach a deal, even if reason told me that it was only wishful thinking. Christmas came and went and my mantra shifted to “all I want for my birthday…”

And I got my way. I was watching hockey by my birthday, and I could hardly contain my excitement.

But something nagged at me the whole time, even as I watched nearly every Detroit Red Wings game of the shortened 2013 season (I think I missed four maybe).

I couldn’t, and still can’t, help but worry about what happens next time the league needs a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

What happens after the 2021-2022 season when the current CBA runs out? What if we don’t make it that long?

The National Hockey League has a long and not-so-glorious history when it comes to lockouts. Last year’s model was the third in my lifetime, and I’m not even that old. The NHL is the only major sports league to lose an entire season (2004-2005) to a work stoppage. I get tired of my sport ending up as a punch line, but with a track record like this the league is sort of asking for it.

Of course anyone who really watches sports – not just the competitions, but the entirety of the experience – knows that it’s all about money. Sports are a business, it’s plain and simple. And therein lies the problem. I don’t tune in to watch a business meeting, nor do I care to watch men in suits haggle, but the behindthe-scenes reality of the situation is inescapable.

Without all those meetings and negotiations, nobody gets on the ice/field/court. So why can’t the suits get their act together?

Plenty of sporting publications laud NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for being a shrewd 12 GAME CHANGER

businessman and guiding the league to greater exposure/revenue during his tenure. However, greater exposure and increased revenue are all well and good, but those three lockouts are mighty dark blots where I’m concerned. I’d like to hold onto hope that there will be a new commissioner by the time 2022 rolls around, but it seems that villains always end up nearly immortal, so it’s best to have a contingency plan. And that’s why I’m prepared to offer my advice at any moment, assuming I cross paths with the commissioner.

So here’s the thing, if it’s all about money, let’s make some money. They say you have to spend money to make money, but in some instances that turns into throwing pearls before swine. Having an ice hockey team in the desert may well be a colloquialism interchangeable with the pearls and swine thing.

It doesn’t make any sense. There’s no market. Say goodbye to Phoenix. Let’s toss Dallas while we’re at it too. As someone who has been to plenty of games in Dallas I can vouch for the fact that it would not be a major loss. The teams out in California and Florida are iffy, but those areas at least have some degree of hockey culture. But let’s not make this about the Mason-Dixon line. Ohio? You may come by ice naturally, but I think you’ve proven as a state that you’re incapable of earning your pro sports privileges. Contraction rather than expansion makes more sense.

Supply and demand. Simple. America is a capitalist country, not a socialist one, so it makes no sense that the NHL should be a system of the richer markets bankrolling the poor markets.

If you have to expand, go places where people “get it”. Seattle can have a team.

Give Canada another team, because if anyone will pay to see hockey it’s Canadians.

Salary caps? Boring. Parity is a buzzword that I want nothing to do with. Teams make money by winning. If they make the money, let them spend it. It’s the nature of competition, and it’s healthy.

And one final thing, if it’s all about money, if we really need a way to keep the league running, then let’s just give Mr. Bettman a pay cut. Maybe we can call it down-sizing.

Whatever the league decides to do, there needs to be some sort of plan so another lockout doesn’t “sneak up” on everyone. Somebody prove to me that sports aren’t just a business littered with villains waiting to pounce. Do it for the love of the game!

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Anaheim Ducks

Columbus Blue Jackets

Colorado Avalanche

Winnepeg Jets

Carolina Hurricanes

Minnesota Wild

Montreal canadiens Nashville predators vancouver canucks

ottawa senators buffalo sabres phoenix coyotes

test your sports knowledge this month with these team logos from the national hockey league.

PUCK?

what the

THE CHANGE-UP

From Built to Fit “I pick things up and I put them down. I pick things up and I put them down.”

should try in order to become the most “fit” guy and not just the biggest guy.

There is a TV advertisement for a gym that famously features a body builder with cartoonish looking muscles repeating this exact sentence. Sadly enough it is a routine that men are stuck in all over the world. We are in a constant competition to build the biggest and strongest looking bodies. Though these bodies exemplify what our society has dubbed as masculine, they are not fully functional or healthy. Don’t let your big biceps fool you, there is a difference between being “built” and “fit.”

Pilates is a low impact exercise created by Joseph Pilates of Germany. Don’t let the words low impact fool you. Pilates is a true body conditioning class that focuses on making strong and flexible muscles. The exercise targets the arms, hips, back, abs and legs but is famous for building incredible core strength.

Your first class may be challenging due to the high number of repetitions, but barrel through. The idea is to attack muscles that are ignored in our regular exercise regimen. Pilates will make your core strong enough to the take pressure off of other areas of your body in day-to-day activities. People who take Pilates experience less back pain due to their core picking up some of the work that their back would carry on its own.

by Matthew Johnson Harris

If you’re in New York and want to join in on one of Matthew’s classes, go to

www.matthewjohnsonharris.com

PILATES

Ways to test if you are “built” and not “fit.”

1) Can you touch your toes?

2) Can you run a block or walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded?

YOGA 3) Can you stand on one foot for 10 seconds without The benefits of yoga include better posture, falling over? increased flexibility, stronger core, and a more relaxed state of mind. If you find yourself having a hard How do I fix this problem? The easiest way is to take time focusing like the rest of the world in an ADD a Group Fitness Class. Lucky for you most gyms offer society, Yoga is the class for you. Yoga is consistently classes along with your membership. Though ladies diagnosed to patients with schizophrenia. Choosing dive into their group fitness experience, most men your first yoga class can be a daunting experience shy away from classes. They instead try to recycle the based on the many options that are presented. There same weight training exercises that they learned at is Vinyasa, Hatha, Anusara, Kundalini, Restorative, some point in their lives. Classes are an awesome way Jivamukti and the ever intimidating, Bikram Yoga. to learn new exercises and be motivated by a group Bikram Yoga is performed in a room over 100 degrees of people. If classroom environments freak you out, and usually lasts 90 seconds. Don’t fret! Most gyms you can test drive almost any type of class via the offer beginning Yoga classes for newbies. There internet for free. These are the top classes that men will be some positions that your body will have to 14 GAME CHANGER

adjust to being in. Don’t knock yourself if you have problems holding onto certain poses. Stick with it!

Yoga is designed to shoot your flexibility and balance to new heights. The idea is to challenge our bodies and become the fittest guy at the gym and not just the biggest, remember?

Let go of your inhibitions of being judged and dive fully into the exercises. If you can drop it all the way to the floor at the bar, then you can drop it in class. ‘

I will be joining you on this journey and will share my experiences. Go the GAME CHANGER Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gamechangermagazine) BARRE and share your experiences. I will include your finds There is a new wave of classes based on ballet in my next feature. technique floating around. Dancers are known for having the most defined leg and glute muscles. They NOTE TO READER: Cycling, Body Conditioning, High are also known for being able to jump extremely high Interval Training,and Boot Camp classes were omitted because of the nature of their conditioning. Football from this article because they are classes men regularly coaches have been advising their players to take attend. I will point out that men only make 30% of the ballet style classes for years to improve coordination class makeup even in those classes. and help build a strong base. These classes can build super strong leg muscles that help guys avoid having a large upper body and chicken leg syndrome. When women and guys approach me they don’t compliment me on my biceps, shoulders, or chest. Instead, they go directly to complimenting my ass and legs. The ass is the new abs ladies and gentlemen. Some barre classes even include sculpting with weights for a full body toning experience.

Dance Cardio (ZUMBA, Hip Hop Sculpt, etc)

Dance cardio classes get an awful reputation for being easy, fluffy, and not challenging. Have you ever been at a party and danced to a few awesome songs in a row? Eventually you have to stop because you heart feels like it is about to jump out of your chest.

With the right teacher, music, and environment that feeling can be stretched from 15 minutes to an hour and give you one of the best cardio classes of your life.

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Targeting or just a good hit?

by Kelly Kaylan The NCAA has come under recent heat over newly enforced targeting rule. Coaches and analyst are outraged over recent calls in games. The problem is not in the officials calling the play but how the rule it self reads.

Lets break down this highly controversial rule.

The rule was passed in February by the Football Rules Committee and then approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel in March. The rule is meant to address concerns over play safety. The committees wanted to element targeting or above the shoulder hits on defenseless players.

The Targeting Rules are named Rule 9-1-3 and 9-14, they read as following; no player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul. No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow, or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul.

The punishment will be enforced as follows; If the foul occurs in the first half of a game, the player is ejected for the remainder of the game . If the foul occurs in the second half or overtime of a game, the player is ejected for the remainder of the game and the first half of the next contest. The ejection portion of the penalty will be reviewable through video play.

The replay official must have conclusive evidence that a player should not be ejected to overturn the call on the field. If the replay official reverses the call, player will not be ejected but the 15 yard penalty will still be enforced.

Lets break down what targeting means. According to American Football Coaches Association, targeting is to take aim at an opponent for the purposes of attacking with an apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle or playing the ball. AFCA state key indicators that show there is a high risk of a foul are the following: 1) launching (aka a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by upward and forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck.) 2) A crouch by an upward and forward 16 GAME CHANGER

thrust to attack with contact at the head or neck area.

3) Leading with helmet, forearm, fist, hand, or elbow to attack with contact to the head or neck area. 4) Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet.

On the surface the rules seem reasonable. Lets eliminate the most dangerous aspects of the game and protect defenseless players. The rule would be a safeguard for NCAA Football critics that say the sport is too dangerous. It shows the sports community that player safety is of the upmost importance.

Unfortunately, most good deeds do not go unpunished. The way the current rule reads gives way to judgment calls for the officials. This is nothing new, they do it all the time. However, in this case, if the foul is in question you have to call it. Officials have called for the penalty because the current reading requires that they do so. Replay officials cannot always overturn because there is not always concrete evidence to show it wasn’t a penalty. Even if it is overturned, the team still gets a penalty.

The gray area of this rule is where most fans, coaches, and players are confused. When a call is made, watch Twitter and other social media sites blow up with comments. Most of the time, we see that the hits in question are good clean hits but were called anyways.

Don’t blame the officials, blame the rule makers.

Nick Saban, Head Coach for University of Alabama, called for a look into the rule when Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was called for targeting in the Texas A&M game. The ejection was overturned but the penalty was still enforced.

He said later in a news conference, “Personally, on the rule itself, if you can review a play to say a guy should be ejected or not be ejected, to me, you should be able to review it was a penalty or not a penalty.”

SEC coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw also shares concerns with how the current rule reads as well. He is said to believe that the rule should look into reversing the 15 yard penalty if the instant replay official has overturned the call.

There have also been questionable calls on targeting where the player was rejected, despite the review. One of the most controversial was Georgia defensive lineman Ray Drew’s ejection in the Vanderbilt game. The call was confirmed in the booth and Drew was ejected, despite having not lead with the helmet. Drew was ejected from the game in the second quarter. Vanderbilt went on to win the game by scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter. Would

Photo by Ethan Hyman

the Commodores have been able to score if the star lineback was playing? Would Georgia’s ranking be higher with only two loses and not three?

Questions will soon arise for most fans, coaches, and players, on how the rule enforcement will ultimately affect championship vies and bowl hopes. Georgia Bulldogs are not the first and will likely not be the last team, whose outcome of a game is affected by this rule.

The SEC is the most vocal on questioning the targeting penalty but they are certainly not the only conference it is affecting. The rule will not be overruled or changed in this current season. Everyone will have to suffer through the end of the season and into the bowl season. The hope is that the rule will be adjusted in the off-season and there is already plenty of evidence to suggest a change.

On Saturday September 14, 2013, Alabama took on Texas A&M in one of the biggest games of the year.

We also got a first hand look at how the confusing and sensitive targeting foul has changed football.

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GAME CHANGER 19

GAME CHANGER BAR OF THE MONTH

THE AUSTRALIAN

This month’s FAN CAVE is located in the heart of midtown in New York City. THE AUSTRALIAN is a soccer and rugby bar that has been converted every gameday during NFL season as the place to be for all Washington Redskins fans. Tucked away on 38th between 5th and 6th Avenues, this two story bar packs them in every week to “HAIL” the nation’s team.

Being based in NYC, The Australian didn’t find a need to try and compete with all of the other “home team” bars. With New York being such a diverse cross-section of people, The Australian found this as an opportunity to capitalize on creating a home for fans from other parts of the nation. Their ability to step outside of the box and open themselves up to the ‘Skins crowds, has allowed them great success during the football season. During the Dallas Cowboys match up earlier this season, The Australian was packed with people from all over, one fan was here to visit her son and this was one of her destination stops for the trip. She had heard about the fan club here in New York and

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wanted to make sure that she was planted in a booth for the big Sunday night game.

Why the Washington Redskins? In 2011, the Redskins picked up a free agent by the name of Sav Rocca from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rocca was known for his skills in the Australian Football League (AFL) and was brought over to the United States in 2007 to play for the Eagles. After a few years there, he made the switch to the Redskins in the beginning of the 2011 season, which timed perfectly with The

H

Australian looking to become an NFL team bar. The owner of The Australian happened to be good friends with a leader of the Redskins fan club here in NYC and together have worked to support their fellow Aussie and his new found NFL team.

Since the inception in 2011, the bar has grown to become a hotspot for Redskins action. The best way to guarantee a seat, call a week ahead and make sure you have a table reserved.

The bar can get pretty packed, the staff dons Redskins gear, they hang Redskins flags and you can never miss the bar with the giant inflatable Redskin welcoming you in the door. The bar also includes some delicious specials, including appetizers, cocktails and beer. The fan favorite is the house nachos which are, “Off the Hook!” and come with a special glaze that’s both sweet, sour and definitely sure to hit the spot. They also have a full menu which includes everything from burgers and ribs to kangaroo (of course).

When they’re not showing the Redskins games, they also host Cal, K-State, Illinois and Villanova Alumni groups. Rugby, Australian Rules Football, soccer and cricket matches can also be found on the big screens year round at the bar. So, if you’re ever in NYC and are looking for the place to cheer on the Redskins, head over to The Australian. You never know what kind of team swag you’ll find being passed out but one thing is always for sure, if the ‘Skins score you’re getting a free Washington Apple shot to celebrate!

!

L I A H

$3 Bud L $12 PIt ight and Bro nz ch $5 Spe ers of Bud Li ed Aussie Dr afts ght cialty C o Appeti zer Sp cktails eci FREE S HOTS E als $5 and u p VERY R EDSKIN TOUCH DOWN !!

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WISHLIST

the

MUST HAVE ITEMS FOR EVERY FAN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

NO MORE BEER CAN RINGS www.studiovertu.com Perfect for gameday, these italian marble coasters can be personalized for any sports fan on your list. All MLB teams available including mascots.

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IMPROVE YOUR GAME www.94fifty.com More than an average basketball, this ball connects to you smartphone and becomes a personal coach.

Too much spin? Not enough pressure? This ball will let you know how to recalibrate your shots. You can also connect with other users globally.

THE ULTIMATE FAN FINGER www.ultimatehands.com Let your team know who’s number 1. So awesome, even Miley doesn’t have one of these foam fingers.

THE ULTIMATE FAN-TASY www.jaybuckley.com Have you ever wanted to take a roadtrip and see as many baseball games as you could?

With 30 trips to choose from, you can now attend up to 10 games, seeing up to 17 teams and in 10 different ballparks.

This is the perfect way for a baseball fan to spend their summer vacation.

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FINALLY, BE CHIC AND SPORTY AT THE SAME TIME Whatever sport you’re into, Touch by Alyssa Milano has the ladies covered: NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and even NASCAR. Head to your favorite sports web pro shop to get yours.

CATCH A PIECE OF HISTORY www.sportscollectorprints.com Modern prints of vintage baseball gear.

Perfect for the living room or the man cave.

USE PROMO CODE GC15 FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER! THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING The perfect gift for a sports fan? Season tickets for their favorite pro or collegiate team. Easy.

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WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN www.allenedmonds.com More than functional, these gifts are a part of sports history.

Wallets made from jerseys, bottle openers made from hockey sticks and basketball courts, and cufflinks made from hockey pucks, basketballs and baseballs.

GAME GAME CHANGER 25

2013 Jason Collins set the stage in 2013 to be the year of the gay athlete. Unfortunately for Collins, he didn’t get picked up by a team and left the door open for other athletes to cement themselves in the spotlight.

We’ve chosen the seven athletes that have shown their true colors on the field first, and as Game Changers second.

From Left to Right: Tom Daley Olympic Bronze Medalist and Diving phenomenon. Megan Rapinoe US Women’s soccer player and key asset to the “new” dream team. Darren Young turned WWE around when

THE PLAY

There’s nothing like rivalry to shake up the BCS standings. In what could be considered the play of the year, Auburn topped Alabama with a missed field goal attempt that was returned for a touchdown.

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he announced his sexuality, the guy even has action figures. Liz Carmouche has fought her way to the top of UFC and continues to battle in the ring. Boxer Orlando Cruz traded the boxing ring for a wedding ring this fall marrying his now husband in NYC. Brittney Griner has been a power house on the NCAA and WNBA court, towering over the competition she hit a slam dunk this season by announcing her sexuality. 2013 was a dual coming out for Robbie Rogers, as he left retirement to play for the LA Galaxy as the first MLS athlete.

THE RIDE

Bushwacker set a PBR record by bucking of 42 riders in a row. J.B. Mauney wasn’t about to be the 43rd. As shown by the reaction of the fans, Mauney set his own place in the record books by hanging on for the full 8 seconds.

With the new helmet rules in the NFL, teams chose to abandon the much loved “throwback game.” Lucky for us, the NCAA however still allowed their players to wear more than one helmet this season. We’ve picked our top 5 favorites of 2013.

Left, Top to Bottom: Virginia Tech’s ‘Hokie Stone’ Helmet, if you have been on campus, you’ll understand. Oregon’s ‘Breast Cancer’ Helmet, on top of all black uniforms this helmet really made an impact on and off the field. TCU’s detailed chrome purple helmet actually makes Horned Frogs look pretty tough. Notre Dame took our breath away with this simple helmet (Note: You can even see your reflection in the chrome shamrock).

In the top spot: Baylor Bears! They didn’t bore us at all this season with a new helmet almost every week. We’ve chosen our favorite 4. Clockwise: The ‘Matte’ classic helmet gave us the base for the season, both in green and white. The ‘Blackout’ helmet was striking and strong, oddly fitting since the “Imperial Death March” from Star Wars is a game tradition.

The “Chrome’ helmet simple, but the power of reflection was superior to all other chrome helmets this year.

Winning their first Big 12 championship and playing their final game in Floyd Casey stadium, we can only assume that the power of the ‘Throwback’ helmet lead them to victory, which is why it was our favorite Baylor helmet of 2013.

Sic ‘em!

THE LEMON

Danica Patrick started her NASCAR Rookie season strong. The Daytona 500 pole winner set historical landmarks this season for women in sports.

Unfotunately, after that pole postion, the rest of the season fell apart. Here’s to 2014 and turning it around.

THE MOMENT

Mariano Rivera retired and left his lasting mark in the MLB. As the Yankees traveled around for their final games, fans and teams paid tribute to the legend. No moment was more touching than his last pitch at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

GAME CHANGER 27

s a t n a f e n o z y s a t n y zone fa The GC Mag Fantasy Basics

by Ryan C. Zerfas

It’s Fantasy Football Playoff season, typically Week 13 to Week 16 depending on the size and rules of your league. NBA leagues are in approximately Week 6 of 25. The NHL season is hot n’ heavy…

Let’s take a look at some basics of fantasy sports to make sure next year you’ll be at the top of your game.

boards and if you’re really lucky, in person. This is what it’s all about. This isn’t a Science Olympiad math competition. Shout your trials and tribulations from the rooftops people! Most important lesson: kick the people that drag your league down with lack of participation out.

BEST MEDIUM Yahoo! This has been a slow burn, but in this case, slow and steady is winning the race. I’ve always been an ESPN guy, but the fact remains, Yahoo! sunk some serious time and money into their apps and website user-ability. By far, the most entertaining feature is the automatic bots that profile every move from Mel Kiper style draft grades to Berman style recaps of the week’s happenings. This is all in a formula, but the numbers and bullet points week to week are enough to move mountains and entertain the masses. Still, if I need a good blurb, I read ESPN.

WORST PEOPLE TO PLAY WITH There’s been a great deal written about bad people to play with. Jim Rome does a great rant on “fantasy football guy” that’s definitely worth listening to. When it comes down to it, the people that annoy you the most, aside from people that don’t participate, are what creates the greatest tension in the league. I’ve always felt in any competitive setting, if the people are you beating are not upset, and then the game isn’t any fun. If message boards and talk amongst the group lacks tension, then I would say it lacks passion, therefore, the league isn’t any fun. So, anyone that really sucks to have in your league, is probably a great asset to your league in providing villainous dissent.

WORST MEDIUM Sites of the sport. Like for instance, NFL.com. What a clunky snow beater that thing is. It’s almost too easy to be good, like AOL in 2013. It’s made for senior citizens with big pictures and big moveable objects. This is the nine-piece jigsaw puzzle of fantasy mediums. It’s like they feel obligated to have the players’ pictures involved with every move. Marketing, yes. But, far too clunky to be efficient. Use these sites if you take your car to the dealership for simple repairs. $50 for an oil change, where do I sign up?

THE BEST COMMISSIONERS... ...are like gardeners: Have a heavy hand planting the rules and organization of the league, but then do almost nothing while watching it grow. There is a fine art to being a commissioner, but it rarely has anything to do with due process during the season. Gather your people, tell them what’s up firmly to begin your season, and let ‘em play! Every trade will be protested, but pretty much none should be overturned. The discussion is fun, but you can’t stunt the creative BEST PEOPLE TO PLAY WITH freedom of your league with unnecessary toying One word: Participation. That is the most telling around. If all else fails, have someone who can quickly factor of a fantasy league, what percentage of people gather the pulse of the group on an issue, and let it actually, and factually, participate. There’s nothing be. worse than winning a week because the person you are playing is still starting Rajon Rondo in Week 6 THE WORST COMMISSIONERS of the NBA season he hasn’t suited up for yet. That’s Are like bad DJ’s: Take too many requests, twist the the basic, survival level. People that set their lineups. league with awkward transitions and fall asleep at the From there, it’s nice to have people that will talk trash wheel at crucial times. You definitely don’t want the via Facebook, Twitter, Message boards, smack talk busiest of your crew manning the ship. Often times, 28 GAME CHANGER

TIPS YOU

ne AND BUSTS syNBAzoSLEEPERS SLEEPERS

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Trey Burke, PG, Utah Jazz – Could be rookie of the year, he’s still available in 28% of leagues. Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo are getting the early press, but Burke fresh off injury, is going to make up ground quickly in Utah.

Dwight Howard, C, Houston Rockets – He’s off to a relatively slow start in Houston but the key thing is, he’s healthy. As he gains confidence and the Rockets trade Asik, who is eating up some of his stats, he could be a gold mine. We’re talking 20-20 threat every game.

John Henson, PF, Milwaukee Bucks – Available in 55% of leagues. A quiet rookie campaign last year, but the Bucks are very curious to see what they have in this lanky big man. His minutes are going up, and his production is rising exponentially.

Could be an impressive coup.

Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, Utah Jazz – A versatile player with a lot of size. At 6’10, he can rebound with bigs, but he’s also blessed with the ball handling and dexterity of a guard. He can shoot.

Basically, he can fill it up in all categories.

John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards – Off to a stupendous start. Putting up 20-5-10 type numbers. Second in the league in assists.

Kobe Bryant, SG, L.A. Lakers – You can never count out the Mamba. Many drafted him high, hoping for some vintage Mamba. If he starts off slow, he could be a great buy low candidate. Too much pride to slow down now. Haters will bail fast, keep an eye out.

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The Brooklyn Nets – They might get it together, but it looks like Kidd is already unraveling. Deron’s health is unnerving, and it’s hard to believe any of these superstars will push themselves to be in the basement. It’s glorious to watch, unless you paid big for any of these bums.

Jeff Green, SF/PF, Boston Celtics – An opportunity blown thus far. He’s been OK. And all indications were he was only going to be OK. The problem is, as the season goes on, there will be some changes in Boston. Not sure any of them are helpful to Green.

Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls – This is an unnecessary jab, but, really? Couldn’t give us hope for like a month? And, already we’re talking about coming back for the playoffs? REALLY? Greg Monroe, PF, Detroit Pistons – Hampered by convulsion in the Pistons front line. Josh Smith, Andre Drummond and Monroe are still learning how to all coexist, in a world where they all do similar things. Drummond worked HARD in the offseason and his 18+ rebounding games are taking away from Monroe’s numbers.

Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs – Vintage one game, being the oldest player to have a 20-20 game, but, for the course of the year, he’s been laying bricks. Shooting 44 percent thus far, with vicious gouges in scoring, rebounding and minutes, Duncan is off to a slow start. It was expected, but even this is worse than expected.

changing hands can be a good idea too. Granting when in a league with everyone vying for these the winner of the league the previous year is a good bountiful coups. way to make it an earned right, rather than the job “someone has to do.” Though, someone does have to THE WORST BUSTS/SLEEPERS do it.

We’ve all had it happen to us. You fall into the trap.

You drafted the guy everyone was raving about. You THE BEST BUSTS/SLEEPERS said to yourself, “everyone is raving about this guy, I Typically come from your favorite players. There is will even reach for him, and he’ll cover me.” For me, nothing like the delight of having an unknown from this year, that guy was David Wilson. Reached for him your real team lead your fantasy team to title town in all four of my fantasy leagues, expecting a season glory. It’s like a ménage a trois with the Doublemint much like what Sproles had in 2011 or David Meggett Twins. This scenario is especially effective if you are in every season I played Tecmo Super Bowl. a league with people playing from all over the nation, with different favorite teams, though most satisfying,

zone fant GAME CHANGER 29

after 30 years of coaching in the ncaa, he takes his first step into the nfl and answers a few of our questions.

Rick minter 30 GAME CHANGER

THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NEW INSIDE LINBACKER COACH ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FIRST SEASON, CONCUSSIONS HIS HEROES AND MORE.

GAME CHANGER 31

WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH FOOTBALL? I fell in love with football at a very young age, playing flag football in the beginning, then progressing to tackle football in the 7th grade. We practiced in the early mornings during that first year and then afternoon football from the 8th grade on. I enjoyed the physical aspect and the team concept of football.

with previously at Marshall. I had met Chip on prior occasions and was very excited to be joining him here in Philly. For me, it was a dream come true, as I have always aspired to coach in the NFL.

WHAT WERE THE KEY ELEMENTS THAT DEFINED YOUR TRANSITION FROM NCAA TO NFL? The transition was evident on different levels. It’s the first job, since 1985, that I was not in charge of WHO WERE YOUR HEROES? the defense or the total program. Joining the staff My heroes were my coaches who I admired and as simply a position coach was a new adventure, but aspired to be like. I, like many kids, watched football one that I am excited about experiencing. To be in on TV and had my favorite teams, but the coaches charge of only two linebackers, allows me to focus were the ones I admired most. on very specialized teaching and not have to worry about other aspects of the program. I no longer had WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU REALIZED THAT to deal with recruiting, parents and alumni relations.

YOU HAD A PASSION FOR COACHING? By the time I reached the 9-10 grades, I was really IS THERE ANYTHING YOU MISS ABOUT COACHING understanding the game better. While I had three AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL? younger brothers at home, I would find myself coming The pageantry of college football is difficult to top. home to teach [them] what I had learned that day At times, I miss the collegiate atmosphere, the bands at practice. I really and the school spirit. I had my share of the college enjoying teaching life and was fortunate to reach all of the goals that I RICK ANSWERS THE the game to others. set out to achieve. I was a position coach, coordinator, and head coach, therefore I am now looking for new GAME CHANGER QUIZ CAN YOU DESCRIBE challenges on the next level.

THE MOMENT YOU NACHOS OR HOTDOGS? GOT THE OFFER FOR WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF For me a baseball game because P H I L A D E L P H I A . AND YOUR PERSONAL COACHING STYLE IN THE I will have both, with a few colds WHAT WERE THE TRANSITION? ones.

DEFINING FACTORS You have to be yourself in any endeavor in life.

OF YOU ACCEPTING However, I feel that your style and demeanor is FAVORITE MASCOT? A POSITION IN THE dictated by your position or rank in the staff. Whenever Bevo. The Texas longhorn. Bad NFL? I was a coordinator, I was intense and coached most looking dude.

I knew I was all positions at times. As a position coach, I can be a being included teacher and know when to yield to the one in charge OUTDOOR VS DOME? in Coach Kelly’s or the head coach. Having worn all the hats before, I Depends on the weather. Footstaff a day after he can adjust to about any style I need to be successful. ball was made to play outside. officially accepted But for me, if is inclement, take the position in WITH THE ONGOING DISCUSSION OF me inside.

Philadelphia.

My CONCUSSIONS, HAVE THE NEW STIPULATIONS connection to Chip INVOLVING TARGETING FOULS HAD AN EFFECT GREATEST PLAY IN FOOTBALL? was our Defensive ON COACHING YOUR DEFENSIVE PLAYERS, HOW The Franco immaculate recepLine coach Jerry SO? tion was pretty good, especially Azzinaro, a really The concussions have certainly been brought to the time of the game and what it good friend of mine, light in recent years with the connections to deaths of did for that organization. who I had worked former players. Studies are ongoing to determine the 32 GAME CHANGER

effects of head trauma. While no one likes to see anyone get hurt, injuries are a part of any contact sport. The rules now being implemented are all about player safety, therefore, the teaching of proper techniques of tackling are very important. You have to continue to educate your players through fundamentals, film study (to show the good and not so good), and unfortunately today the player can be hit with a hearty fine for those personal fouls, and that affects his income and family also.

WHEN COACHING, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU TELL YOUR PLAYERS? In coaching, it matters not what I know, it only matters what I can get my players to know.

They have to play and they have to perform. I come at the game from cerebral point, therefore, I constantly tell my players that “knowledge is power.” The more knowledge they have about their opponent, the better chance of playing well. I try to get them to carry this over into their lives. He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail.

WHETHER ITS LITTLE LEAGUE OR NFL, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR OTHER COACHES? I do think it would vary on different levels. On any level try to make it a fun atmosphere and a teaching oriented atmosphere. Teach great fundamentals, techniques and safety. At the younger levels, instill the values of football and sport and how they parallel life in general. At the level I am on now, I will always continue to try and be a role model and mentor, especially for the younger players.

WHAT KEEPS YOU COACHING? That is my real passion. I enjoy all aspects of the job and would not want to be doing anything else. I have always enjoyed the hours involved, the war room tactics, and being around the young players. It is a great team sport and it requires a good chemistry in the building with all those involved. That process is a thrill to be apart of, I guess you can say it keeps you young.

TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST GAME CHANGERS IN FOOTBALL? On my side of the ball, the defensive side, a coach named Buddy Ryan (former head coach, defensive coordinator in the NFL, and father of Rex and Rob Ryan) really changed the game in the 80’s with the Chicago Bears defense and a variety of blitzes and pressures. Offensively, there have been guys like Bill Walsh with west coast offense, and today the college coaches are more of the innovators like Chip Kelly, Gus Malzahn, Chris Ault, Rich Rodriquez, and others with the spread option attack. Football is a recycle sport that evolves, goes away, and come back again. There will always be someone coming along to change this or that and have others copy it, therefore, they are game changers.

DURING GAMES, WHAT KIND OF A ROLE/EFFECT DO THE FANS HAVE? Fans are why we all have a job. We are in the entertainment business to one extent, yet trying to win championships. Whenever you play at home, you should have a big advantage with support and noise and a distraction to the visiting team. While athletes are taught early on to tune out the noise and never be distracted, they are human and every player loves a great home crowd.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT COACHES/COACHING GAME CHANGER 33

OPINION

Honor and Disrespect?

by Kelly Kaylan The Washington Redskins organization is in shambles. After losing to the Giants on December 1st, the Redskins are no longer eligible for NFC Wild Card contention. The Redskins are also losing the battle to keep their name as well.

The Oneida Nation has formally requested the Redskins to change their name. The nation believes the term ‘redskin’is a racial slur and is demeaning to the Native American community. They have often cited the online dictionary Merriam-Webster’s definition of the term ‘redskin’ as a means to drive their point. The famous dictionary defines it as ‘usually offensive’.

Oneida leader Ray Halbritter has stated, “lets be clear. The name R word, is defined in the dictionary as an offensive term. It’s a racial epithet. It’s a racial slur.”

Halbritter and the Oneida Nation declare the word was born out of hate. The use of the term grudges up the long and ugly history the United States has had with the Native Americans.

“It’s origin is hated, use is hated, it was the name our people- that was used against our people when we were forced off our lands at gunpoint. It was a name that was used when our children were forced out of our homes and into boarding schools. So it has a sordid history. And it’s time for a change.”

Team owner Daniel Synder has been adamant to never change the Redskins name. In a letter to fans he stated, “Our fans sing ‘Hail to the Redskins’ in celebration at every Redskins game. They speak proudly or ‘Redskins Nation’ in honor of a sports team they love.”

Synder has stated proudly in the past that the fans stand with him. He has also had the backing of NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell. At the first of the summer, Goodell stood behind Synder’s statements. However, Goodell is changing his tune now. In true political fashion, he has flopped. He told the press, “if one person is offended, then we have to listen.” We went on to state that ultimately it was up to the owner to decided.

The Oneida Nation, however, have other plans for Goodell and the NFL. After the October 30th meeting with the NFL (note 34 GAME CHANGER

Goodell and Synder were not in attendance), they are redoubling their efforts. They are hoping force Synder to change the name. Citing section 8.13 of the bylaws, which states the commissioner can initiate action against any owner who is ‘guilty of conduct detrimental to the welfare of the League or professional football.”

Synder is losing supporters and fast. On November 5th the Washington District council voted to change the name. While, they are not legally able to force Synder to change the name, it does send a powerful message from the city’s elect. This vote came right off the heels of Synder urging the fans to call their representatives and make their voices heard.

Later in the month, President Obama weighed in on the issue. He said, “I don’t know whether our attachment to particular name should override the real, legitimate concerns that people have about these things.”

Sports writers and publications are vowing to not use the term Redskins, when reporting. For example, the San Francisco Chronicle will only use Washington D.C. when referencing the team. They join countless individual writers and a number of other publications including Slate and Washington City Paper.

I personally will no longer use the word redskin, after this article. I will be honoring my Athabaskan and Cherokee ancestors. A professional sport’s team in our nations capital should not be an image of hate. Not only is it morally the right thing to do, but it would acknowledge and mend the past discretions to the many Native Americans hurt by the United States. There is centuries of evidence that our nation treated Native Americans as a whole, unjustly (to put it mildly). Instead of rewriting history, lets acknowledge and heal.

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GAME CHANGER 35

FAN CORNER

BY GARY SHACKLEFORD

On a lunch break, I passed this little antique store and I stopped in my tracks. I saw old cleats, footballs, trophies and more. After going inside, I realized there was a vast array of collectibles to find in this tiny little shop.

Gargoyles, Ltd., is a 40 year old retail, wholesale and rental antique shop that just happens to have a large collection of sports memorabilia.

High profile clients use much of Gargoyles stock for window displays and photoshoots, luckily for the avid collector this amazing stock is also on sale. Just take a look at the picture below I snapped that day and you can see everything from a French horse racing poster from 1930, to varsity jackets and even an old leather football helmet. The most interesting items are the shadow boxes. These make perfect gifts as they contain memorabilia and equipment for just about every sport. Located in Kingston, NY, this place is a must see for all sports fans. Visit their website at www.gargoylesltd.com

36 GAME CHANGER

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GAME CHANGER 37

the gc

MVP

HARLE

38 GAME CHANGER

EM RBI GAME CHANGER 39

“If you build it, they will come.”

This corner in New York City, at the time, was one of the most unpleasant places in the area, full of crime and garbage this lot was not a place for children.

Today, Harlem RBI has expanded to become more than just a place for youth to meet on Saturdays to play softball and baseball. It’s grown into an organization that is a pinnacle of non-profits, has garnered numerous awards, celebrity endorsements and even a visit from Prince Harry. Harlem RBI and the Dream Charter School have joined forces to create an environment where they can educate the youth of New York City beyond the classroom basics.

The model they have developed allows the coaches and teachers to work together to make sure that the students that attend Dream are well rounded both in the classroom, on the field and at home in their community.

That’s what a small group of volunteers believed 22 So what makes Harlem RBI stand out beyond other years ago when they turned an abandoned parking non-profits? In 2012, they had 93% of their senior class lot into two baseball fields for the youth of Harlem.

40 GAME CHANGER

graduate and of the percentage, every single student was accepted to college. Built into the curriculum is the Legends program, this allows the students to have direct guidance, from a leader at Dream, help each graduate acclimate to university life. The connection that Harlem RBI and the Dream school builds with their students is a strong one, as many of them come back to visit and volunteer regularly. Other programs include the “BASE” program that educates youth on sexual health and behaviors (which just won the World Aid’s Day Commissioners Award), as well as programs for the parents to be involved during the youth’s matriculation.

Nahliah Webber (Associate Director of Team Enrichment), Steven Blitzer (Baseball and Softball Program Manager) and John Rosenberger (Baseball and Softball Administrator) are members of the “team” that work everyday to make sure that each youth can make their dreams become reality.

“Baseball, almost more than any other sport, is a team game,” Blitzer said. “Basketball can be won by a Lebron or in a football game, a quarterback can take you somewhere. But in baseball, you can have a pitcher pitch no hitters and still lose 1-0. Baseball is a team game, and what you can teach as a team in baseball is really nothing like any other sport.”

The transition from the baseball diamond to the classroom is a natural one said Webber.

“One of our life skills, for example, is communication,” she said. “So your ability to talk with your program coordinator (who is like your coach on your academic and life skills side of the program) is the same as how you would talk to you athletic coach. Self advocacy is another life skill, so how you advocate yourself in school is the same way you would advocate with your coach about how to play a position. The life skills section is how we teach young people how to use these skills in different areas of life. Advocate for GAME CHANGER 41

yourself at home, work and school.”

“Additionally, it never hurts to try a reach a kid through multiple approaches. A kid may not be as inclined to listen to their teacher or program coordinator, but they will listen to their coach,” Rosenberger said. “As we continue to grow as a more unified program, the coaches are driving home the same points as the teachers. We’re really driving the same message from all angles, and it’s almost impossible for that message not to permeate on some level.”

Harlem RBI believes that learning is a lifelong process and doesn’t push students out of the nest once they have their graduation caps.

“There are a couple of different ways we engage alumni,” Webber said. “The Legends Program, is when our young people go to college and a coordinator works with them through their first year in school.

That first year can kind of make or break your college career and they help with the transition.

Harlem RBI offers additional support through that year and also leaves the door open for students to return. Alumni can stay involved through the volunteer council, an alumni baseball or softball league, and by fundraising.

“The most important thing about the Legends Program is that they know were not going anywhere

42 GAME CHANGER

that support system is here,” Blitzer said. “We work with them from the time they are 5-6 years old all the way until they are seniors. We’re here for them in case they need us and that support is just a phone call, email or even a visit away. There are some full and part time workers who have been involved with these kids since they were young, and they know we’ll always be here for them” And do they want their alumni to play ball at the collegiate level? Not necessarily.

“Though that’s not our goal,” Webber explained, “we do want to be rigorous enough in what we’re offering so that if that’s a goal of the young person, they will actually be able to a achieve it. Though it’s not an organizational goal, if it’s the goal of the individual to play in the Majors and Minors, we’re all about helping young people achieve their goals.”

“Personally, I have had three go on to play softball at a collegiate level, two Division 3 level players and one Division 1 level,” Rosenberger said. “I think especially in the past few years again as we’ve really streamlined the baseball/softball, life skills and academics into the same program, we’ve been really working with the youth a lot more to the give a better understanding of the dedication it really takes to become a student athlete at the collegiate level.”

Success, both on the field and in the classroom is what Harlem RBI is all about.

“We were founded as a baseball/softball program first and then grew our academic and life skills programs after,” Rosenberger said. “Baseball really encourages accepting and learning from failure. Ted Williams batted .400 which means he failed 60% of the time. He had to take what he learned from those failed opportunities to build a stronger approach. He utilized that to become one of the best there is.”

And that’s what Harlem RBI and the Dream Charter School is doing. They have cities and organizations wanting to replicate their model in neighborhoods across the United States. Webber explained, “We’re the flagship here, ideas get incubated and evaluated. We make sure we have a solid model, full of rigorous programs academically, athletically and socially, to send to other programs whether it is in the South Bronx (the first expansion of the program outside of Harlem) or anywhere else.”

For more information go to www.harlemrbi.org Right: Spring 2013 graduating class.

Prince Harry visited Harlem RBI to launch Project Coach, an American extension of Coach Core, teaching young people how to lead their peers successfully both on and off the baseball field. www.projectcoach.smith.edu www.greenhousecharity.org

GAME CHANGER 43

Bron 44 GAME CHANGER

BROADWAY’S NEWES IT’S ABOUT THE IMPO

John Wernke, Bill Dawes and Chris Henry Coffey

nx Bombers

The Producers of the new Broadway show talk about the Yankees, Lombardi, Magic/Bird and the importance STT PLAY IS ABOUT MORE THAN THE YANKEES. of sports on the Great White ORTANCE OF SPORTS ON THE GREAT WHITE WAY.Way. PHOTOS BY JAMES LEYNSE

GAME CHANGER 45

W

alking in, the audience sees a couch, large rug and table dimly lit. We are transported to the recent past of the 1970’s. Looking around the room, you find an array of people; fathers and their children, ladies in dresses sitting with men in suits, and people of all ages in Yankees jerseys, hats and T-shirts. Before the lights go down, you can hear stories from some of the oldest Yankees fans, reminiscing about the days back on the Polo Grounds (before Yankee Stadium existed), seeing the games at old Yankee Stadium in 1927 for only twenty-five cents, and paying the usher ten dollars to move down front. The audience is mixed but all seem to be there for the love of their Bronx Bombers.

The play, Bronx Bombers, which begins previews on Broadway in January, opens in a 1977 in a hotel room at the Boston Sheraton after what is one of the most famous incidents in not only Yankee history, but Major League Baseball. June 18, 1977 on national television, Reggie Jackson and manager Billy Martin exchanged a heated argument which led to Billy being pulled away from the situation by other coaches. That’s where we join the action; Yogi Berra has called a meeting of the minds to figure out how to fix the situation to save the team.

Bronx Bombers is Frank Kirmser and Tony Ponturo’s third show being produced on the Great White Way. This duo changed the face of Broadway during the 2010-2011 season when they brought the Lambeau legacy to Circle in the Square theatre with Lombardi.

“When we were in the midst of the financial crash, we found that people were looking for stories of inspiration. Fran conceived a sports series for the stage and presented it to me to bring some of these great sports stories of inspiration and teamwork to Broadway,” Ponturo said. “These pieces remind us that success is built on hard work, determination and teamwork.”

Francios Battiste and Keith Nobbs

46 GAME CHANGER

The producers couldn’t be more correct, we grow up with “work hard and train hard.” Our coaches and parents remind us that great results are only accomplished by the work we put in on the practice field. As we get older, we stop playing sports and the lessons that we were taught fade to the background.

Yet they still resonate in our everyday lives both at home and at work.

“Lombardi centers around leadership, coming off of the difficult time with the financial crash, you could hear and feel the speeches of Vince Lombardi lift you up,” Kirmser said. “Here was a man that got people to do things that they didn’t think they could do.”

The importance of this piece resonated with crowds as passionate audiences of both theatre and sports gathered to hear the passion of the coach 244 times that season, making Lombardi the longest running play of 2011.

Kirmser had worked with David Maraniss, author of ‘When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi.’

She brought the idea for Lombardi to Ponturo where he decided to bring the shows to Broadway.

“The idea to bring the NFL into the space where no leagues had ever played gave permission to the sports fan to realize it was an authentic piece and story of a man whose name adorns the trophy,” Kirmser said.

The merging of the two audiences is something that is really great to witness, the usual Broadway crowd mixed in with die-hard fans in jerseys making a pilgrimage to New York City just to see their heroes “live.”

“It was awesome,” Ponturo said. “It was completely exhilarating (to see fans dressed up) and again underlines the passion and how people connect to their sports teams and heroes. Both [sports fans and theatre audiences] are passionate about what they enjoy and spend time with. They are both tied to an emotional connection, both [games and plays] are live and are [forms of ] story telling.”

A Kobe or Elway can carry a team to success but in baseball, unlike any other team sport, a single player is unable to carry a team to the World Series.

The importance of this notion is seen in the incident in 1977 where the smug Jackson saw himself bigger than the team and Martin saw it differently.

This is what stood out to Kirmser and Ponturo as they saw how the importance of celebrity has become such an important player in today’s market.

“The show (Bronx Bombers)

The cast of Bronx Bombers

GAME CHANGER 47

TONY & FRAN ANSWER THE GAME CHANGER QUIZ WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT SPORTS? TP: You never know the ending.

BUD LIGHT SAYS ‘IT’S ONLY WEIRD IF IT DOESN’T WORK.’ DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS FOR GAMES OR PREOPENING NIGHT? TP & FK:In the theater, you are never to say “good luck.” You say “break a leg.”

DID YOU PLAY ANY SPORTS WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG? TP: Football, baseball and basketball.

FK: I was like the little girl on the Fios commercials who the boys didn’t let play ball. Well I’m playing now!

NACHOS OR HOTDOGS? BEER OR SODA? TP: Beer and hotdogs.

FK: Soda and Soda.

WHAT’S YOU R BEST SPORTS MEMORY? TP & FK: Seeing a game in Lambeau Field with the most passionate Packers fans i the most incredible experience one could ever have.

Below Top: C.J. Wilson. Below bottom: Chris Henry Coffey and John Wernke was conceived to take a look at a team.

What is a team? In this age of ‘You Inc’ how does the individual function as part of the whole? We wanted to take a look at this over time. The play kicks off looking at a conflict between the individual and a team…. the way the players move through the dilemma one finds is very much like a family working through a difficult challenge,” Kirmser said.

Ponturo added, “The Yankees are the most successful team in all sports and why is that? Arguably, one might draw the conclusion that familial function leads to greatness.”

Each story they bring to the stage has a focus, Lombardi focused on leadership that was not without sacrifice. Their second attempt at Broadway, Magic/ Bird was centered on competition and rivalry in the sports industry. Bronx Bombers takes a look at the family that makes up a team.

“These stories are really lessons are about everyday life, How you can be successful. How you balance business and personal life,” Kirmser said. “How business evolves and shapes our experience. How we handle challenges and how they define us and improve us.”

Kirmser and Ponturo show no signs of slowing down with their sports themed Broadway plays. They have two additional pieces in developmental stages right now and are looking at other mediums. With the added support of the NFL, NBA and MLB, they have endless access to archival footage that will allow them to continue to create for years to come. A piece of advice they leave with young playwrights looking to change the way we look at Broadway and beyond.

“If you have a vision, see it through,” they said. “Be relentless because that is what it takes.”

Peter Scolari and his wife, Tracy Shayne will play the roles of Yogi and Carmen Berra. The rest of the cast will include Francois Battiste, Chris Henry Coffey, Bill Dawes, Christopher Jackson, Keith Nobbs, and C.J. Wilson. Previews of the play, written and directed by Eric Simonson, are set to begin on January 10, 2014 at Circle in the Square Theater with an opening night on February 6, 2014. Visit www.bronxbombersplay.com for tickets and more information.

48 GAME CHANGER

Producers Fran Kirnser and Tony Ponturo

GAME CHANGER 49

the new

dream

team

by Christopher Heath

50 GAME CHANGER

The US Women’s National Soccer Team. Why everyone should watch, support & love them.

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) completed 2013 with a friendly match against rival Brazil on November 10 and with a 13-0-3 (win-loss-tie) record, Tom Sermanni’s first year as head coach can only be viewed as a success. In addition to Sermanni’s regular shifting of the starting line-up, the team also saw their fair share of player rotation as some team veterans were sidelined with injuries (or pregnancies, which Sermanni jokingly refers to as “self-inflicted injuries”) and new faces were brought in to help build the next generation. With World Cup qualifying being the primary focus of 2014, now is a great time to join the rising tide of support for what is arguably the best team of all time, in any sport, ever.

Ok, so maybe that’s a bit hyperbolic. But at the very least, they’re up there among the greatest.

The USWNT burst into the hearts of American soccer fans by winning the first Women’s World Cup

in 1991, but lost a bit of their momentum with a thirdplace finish in the 1995 tournament. That national pride resurfaced with a Gold Medal win at the 1996 Olympics and fueled the team into the 1999 World Cup. It was at this tournament that the USWNT forced itself into the mainstream and became a topic of water cooler discussions. Led by veterans Michelle Akers, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, and Carla Overbeck, the women dominated the tournament on their home turf with convincing wins over Denmark, Nigeria, and North Korea to reach the quarterfinals, then beat Germany and Brazil to reach the final against China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. An estimated 40 million viewers watched that scoreless final match, which resulted in penalty kicks and ultimately ended with the then-controversial-but-now-iconic image of Brandi Chastain ripping off her jersey after scoring the winning goal. This not only set the USWNT firmly in the public consciousness and inspired thousands of young girls to take up soccer, but also set an achievement bar that the subsequent teams have not yet been able to reach.

But that doesn’t mean the team hasn’t been as good. In fact, the USWNT placed third in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, second in the 2011 World Cup, took home Silver in the 2000 Olympics, and won Gold at the last 3 Olympics. The Olympic achievements (literal and symbolic) are brilliant, but the World Cup is the undeniable Holy Grail of the soccer world. That the US has not won since 1999 only means that other teams have gotten better.

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The team the US takes into the next World Cup will be solidified during the 2014 qualifying rounds and will be a mix of long-term veterans, up and comers, and new faces. And if 2013 is any indication, the team of the next couple of years is going to be the strongest yet.

Not only does the USWNT have Abby Wambach and Hope Solo, who are both consistently mentioned among the best active players in the world, but we have Alex Morgan, Christie Rampone, and Megan Rapinoe, who were recognized by ESPN as three of the eleven most influential players in US history (along with Wambach and Solo, naturally). There’s also Shannon Boxx and Lauren (Cheney) Holiday, who were named (again, along with Wambach and Solo) to the 2011 World Cup All-Star Team. And don’t forget Carli Lloyd, who was picked by The Bleacher Report as part of the 2012 Olympic Dream Team (along with Solo, Rampone, Morgan, and not surprisingly, Wambach). These veterans each combine their own styles with great skill to set themselves as powerful threats to every opponent they face.

But the depth of this team extends far beyond these women who receive well-deserved attention and call-outs. We have a mix of veterans and rising stars who add an incredible amount of talent, intensity, and get-the-hell-out-of-my-way to each and every game they play.

Start with Crystal Dunn, who is still in college at the University of North Carolina and is one of the newer faces on the team, and maybe the most exciting. She’s a defender on the back line, but has such great speed 52 GAME CHANGER

that she can get forward on attacks and even get back to the defense on counter attacks. She’s dangerous with passing, especially when she can cross the ball into the box. Dunn is clearly one of the future stars for the USWNT. Tobin Heath is an unassuming presence in the midfield, but don’t let that fool you. She’s aggressive, fast, tricky, and powerful. Playing on the wing, she is dangerous when she’s able to run the ball forward.

She doesn’t always take the ball as far as the box, but can send a perfect service ball from just about anywhere.

Remember the name Sydney Leroux and start watching her now if you aren’t already. She’s still “new” to the team, having joined in 2012, but she already has close to 50 caps and over 20 goals. Her speed on the ball sets her apart from other strikers and her ability to weave around defenders to score goals makes her nearly unstoppable. She’s exciting to watch and will only get better.

Don’t mess with the Irish, and if you’re on the opposing team, you really don’t mess with Heather O’Reilly. As a midfield winger, she’s developed what seems to be a signature move wherein she commits a defender (or two or several) to marking her on the ball. She’ll then tap the ball past and out run them to fire a cross to a striker in the box. Certainly, this move isn’t singular to O’Reilly, but she is by far the best at it as she’s rarely ever beaten. Her speed and physicality allow her to beat just about any defender.

It’s incredibly fun to watch, and almost funny that defenders haven’t yet figured out a way to consistently

beat her. She’s also great with serving the ball on set pieces and is always a threat to score. She’s a veteran of two World Cups and three Olympics.

Christen Press is another of the future stars for the team, having led the US in scoring for most of 2013— her first year. She rounded out a great year by winning the Golden Boot for the Swedish league, becoming the first American to ever do so. With Wambach, Morgan, and Leroux also playing up top, it’s difficult for Press to get minutes. But it seems Sermanni is making some shifts to see how else he can get Press on the pitch, where she needs to be.

Becky Sauerbrunn was named Defender of the Year for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) this season and it’s not hard to see why. She’s all over the pitch—on the back line against attacks and forward when the US has the advantage. It’s been great watching her solidify her presence in the starting line-up over the past couple of years and will be even better watching her become the next Rampone. It’s inevitable.

The depth on this team continues with other veterans who would be headline stars on any other team in the world: Nicole Barnhart, Rachel Buehler, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Amy Rodriguez, Stephanie (Lopez) Cox, Jill Loyden, and Kelley O’Hara. Any one of these women is capable of capturing the attention of any game they’re in.

And we’d be remiss to mention the future stars who are slowly but surely working their way into the lineup. Each of these women have earned the recognition of the coaching staff and should be heralded for the excitement and energy they bring to the pitch and the potential they carry for continued US success.

These future stars, most of whom have international caps already, are Yael Averbuch, Morgan Brian, Amber Brooks, Vanessa DiBernardo, Whitney Engen, Adrianna

Franch, Ashlyn Harris, Lindsey Horan, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Kristie Mewis, Alyssa Naeher, Christine Nairn, Leign Ann Robinson, Erika Tymrak and Keelin Winters. If you’ve watched the USWNT in the past couple of years (especially in 2013), you’ve seen a lot of these women.

This isn’t just a team to casually watch, this is a team to go out of your way to celebrate. This is a team for lovers of the game that, through their tactical precision and keen play making, gives consistently beautiful performances on the pitch. This is a team that can take hits and tackles and get back up without pretending to be hurt (looking right at you, Neymar).

This is a team that demonstrates to young boys that you can be aggressive and domineering in your sport without being a bully. This is a team full of positive role models for young girls (no meat dresses, twerking, or rehab stints among them—we’ve come a hell of a long way from controversial sports bras).

In short, this is a team that embodies the best in why we love sports: incredible skill, admirable players, and great attitudes. This is the United States Women’s National Team.

Watch them in 2014 and keep an eye on the NWSL, too. You’ll be glad you did.

NEXT MONTH we will be featuring Goals for Girls, as our non-profit organization. Goals for Girls teaches young women the importance of teamwork, while connecting them with other young women from around the globe. They address social and health issues in order to educate and create future leaders both on and off the field.

GAME CHANGER 53

the new

BOWL P 54 GAME CHANGER

MOST BOWL GAME PARTIES SUCK. DON’T WORRY. WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED. HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ON HOW TO CHEER ON YOUR TEAM WITH STYLE, DELICIOUS FOOD AND OF COURSE, BOOZE.

PARTY GAME CHANGER 55

RECIPES BY LAURA VANSICKLE PHOTOS BY RYAN BRINSON

OFF-CIDER ¾ pint hard cider ¼ pint cinnamon whiskey No fouls here. By adding cinnamon whiskey to your cider, you’re adding the extra kick you never knew you needed.

56 GAME CHANGER

CHEESESTEAK NACHOS ¼ lb cooked roast beef, cut into strips 2 T butter 4 T flour 1 ½ C half and half

1 lb provolone cheese 1 red pepper 1 yellow onion 1 lb kettle cooked chips 1 C oil

In saucepan heat 1 cup oil until it reaches 350 degrees. Slice the onion into rings, toss in a ¼ cup of half and half, and then in 2 T flour. Fry the onions in oil, let drain, and set aside. In another saucepan, using a whisk, melt butter and flour together and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. While whisking, slowly add 1 ¼ c half and half and continue whisking until slightly thickened.

Add provolone cheese and continue to stir until melted. Saute peppers until softened, add roast beef, and continue to cook until heated through.

Layer the nachos starting with the chips, then the beef and peppers, top with the provolone cream sauce, and top with fried onions.

CHOCOLATE STOUT COOKIES WITH SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING COOKIES 1 ½ c flour ¼ c cocoa 6 oz dark chocolate, melted ½ tsp salt ½ tsp soda 1 tsp powder ½ c butter ½ c brown sugar ¼ c sugar ½ tsp vanilla

1 egg 6 oz Stout ½ c crushed pretzels FROSTING: ½ c butter ¼ c cream cheese 2 c confectioners sugar 1 T salt ½ c caramel 1 tsp vanilla

In a large mixing bowl fitted with a mixer combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar until whipped.

While on low add egg, vanilla, and melted dark chocolate until combined.

In a separate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, powder, soda, and salt. Alternately add flour mixture and stout to the butter mixture until combined. Drop onto nonstick cookie sheet and bake in 350 oven until set, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting: Using a hand or stand mixer, whip butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. While the mixer is running, add confectioners sugar, caramel, vanilla, and salt until combined.

Frost cooled cookies and top with crushed pretzel pieces.

‘SKINS PANINI 8 slices potato bread 8 slices cooked bacon ½ lb shredded sharp cheddar 2 scallions, sliced 2 T butter Heat Panini press to medium/high. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Fill each sandwich with a layer of shredded cheese, scallions, and bacon. Put in Panini press and cook until golden brown, then cut each sandwich into 4 triangles.

GAME CHANGER 57

CITRUS SWEEP 1.5 oz Citrus Vodka .5 oz lime juice .5 oz simple syrup 2 oz ginger beer

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY BARS 2 sticks butter, at room temperature 1 ½ c sugar 3 c flour 1 t baking powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 extra large eggs 2 c creamy peanut butter 1 ½ t salt 18oz jar raspberry jam ½ c chopped salted peanuts Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until whipped and light yellow. While mixing, add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on medium, add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture until just combined. Spread ¾ of the dough on the bottom of a greased rectangle pan. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Drop small globs of the remaining dough over the jam, and then sprinkle chopped peanuts over the top. Bake at 350 until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

GET INTO ‘THE ENDZONE’ AT WWW.THEGCMAG.COM TO SCORE EXTRA RECIPIES 58 GAME CHANGER

more to the game

by Ryan Brinson

Basketball is one of the most beloved international sports, but there’s more to it than double-dribbles and free throws. As the season hits its stride, we look at a few of the game changing facts you may not know about the sport.

•The first basketball game was in December of 1891 when James Naismith took a soccer ball and two peach baskets and created the game.

•Basketball became an Olympic sport in 1936.

•The United States is the winningest team in Olympic basketball both in the men’s and women’s tournaments.

•17 million people attended NBA games in 2012.

•Brittney Griner is 6’8.

So is Lebron James.

•As opposed to baseball where multiple balls are used in a game, basketball only uses one ball per game.

•There are approximately 33795 pebbles on a basketball.

•Michael Jordan, who hasn’t played basketball in 10 years, still makes more money than the NBA’s top earners (Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitski and Carmelo Anthony) combined.

•The New York Knicks are the most profitable team in the NBA. •An estimated 400 million people play basketball around the world in little leagues, school teams and club leagues.

GAME CHANGER 59

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60 GAME CHANGER

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