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Fall 2012 FEATURES
26
Help Keep Kids Safe from Online Bullying
32
Four Little Words
By Jacqueline Beauchere, Director, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft Corporation
By Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Georgia Equality
34
Standing Up With Ben By Cedric Ceballos
42
Changing the World – One Basketball Player at a Time By Matt Fish
46
The Greatest Assist – Ever
26
By Brian Patrick
50
The Psychology of Winning By Jason Galea, Ph.D.
DEPARTMENTS LETTERS
8 In Your Face BEN COHEN, MBE, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
10 With You
50
ERIC CARLYLE, CEO/CO-PUBLISHER
11 BrandNews PATRICK DAVIS, CO-PUBLISHER
12 From Different to Special CONNIE WARDMAN, MANAGING EDITOR
SPECIAL
24 High-5 For Standing Up 52 Fitness
Healthy Holiday Preparation
54 Destinations Atlanta
56 Women in Sports
Where Have the Women Coaches Gone?
16 18 19 20 21 22 58
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IN EVERY ISSUE The Foundation: Once in a Lifetime Politics: Civility in Politics: Dead or Just Misplaced? Success: Success with a Seed - Your Words Shape Your World in Sports and in Life College Life: Playing to Win: The Changing Face of College Sports Pop Culture: Passion, Pop Culture and the Point of No Return Sports: Good Sportsmanship in the NHL Food: Finding Protection in Food and Diversity
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PUBLISHERS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Eric Carlyle, CEO/Publisher Patrick Davis, Co-Publisher
Ben Cohen, MBE
MANAGING EDITOR
Connie Wardman EDITOR
Matt Fish CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Alison Doerfler Scott Herman Scott “Babydaddy” Hoffman Jeff Kagan Michael Losier Brian Sims Chef Art Smith Shane Windmeyer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Helen J. Carroll Jason Galea, Ph.D. Jeff Graham Ashland Johnson ART DIRECTOR
Dara Fowler VP OF SALES & PARTNERSHIPS
Tom Lockhart For Sales Inquires advertising@standup-magazine.com For Editorial and Media Inquiries editorial@standup-magazine.com Media Out Loud Global Advisory Board Eric Carlyle and Patrick Davis (Co-Chairs); Helen J. Carroll; Dr. William Kapfer; Scott Norton, Esq; and Kirk Walker StandUp Magazine is published by Sports Diversity Media, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Media Out Loud Global, LLC, under license from Ben Cohen Worldwide, LLC © 2012 by Sports Diversity Media, LLC Sports Diversity Media, LLC 4703 S. Lakeshore Dr., Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 480.222.4223 www.standup-magazine.com
SPECIAL GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Jacqueline Beauchere, director of Trustworthy Computing Privacy, Accessibility & Online Safety Communications for Microsoft, leads the team responsible for delivering strategic communications to worldwide audiences on issues related to computing security, privacy and online safety. She travels extensively around the world to hear first-hand from parents, educators, policymakers, industry leaders and others about what they need to help them keep themselves and others safer online.
Cedric Ceballos, retired National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star player and star of “Rebound Radio Featuring Cedric Ceballos,” is also the founder of HOOP2HEAL Foundation (H2H), a charity benefiting kids with sports injuries who need surgery but can’t afford the treatment. He is also a contributor to Rebound Magazine, the member publication of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA).
COVER DESIGN TEAM
Eleanor Safe and Andrew Jones ON THE COVER Mr. Cohen was photographed in Chicago in the summer of 2012, and outfitted courtesy of Trunk Club. The shoot was graciously underwritten with support from Bluebuck Clothing Ltd. and World Rugby Shop. Bret Grafton, Photographer Kevin Ludden, Stylist Heather Bear, Make-up
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INYOURFACE
By Ben Cohen, MBE
True Champions Stand Up
LET’S
BE HONEST: there is a real problem in sports today. Too many so-called role models are not living up to that name at all. Real sportsmanship seems to be a fading idea for some. And the inclusiveness and respect created by a team is not as broad as it could be. In the past couple of years alone, we have seen role models spout racist and homophobic slurs. Major athletes have fallen into cheating in many forms. There has even been a bounty scandal in American football. Sports stars can and must do better. Whether as the quarterback of a high school team, a promising college powerhouse or a professional league legend, sports men and women often set the tone for the environment around them. This is true for teams and campuses, and for popular cultural as well. What gets done off the field, court or rink is as important as the performances on them. In fact, today it may be more important. How is any real sense of “winning” possible if it stops when the clock runs down? Real sportsmanship isn’t selfish; it is always driven by what is fair for others. It is time to redefine what makes a champion. Just as major businesses have taken on corporate social responsibility as equal to profits, successful sports people must account for their social impact. Fans, friends, the other kids in school — they very often look up to those who excel in sports. Do we show them the character, the discipline and the intention that makes great games possible? Or do we lose ourselves in popularity, in the moment, in indulgence? In my view, we must take the fundamentals of our games and use them as fundamentals for our lives. A strong body may win the trophy but a strong character wins a legacy. Sport teaches the challenges, rewards and pure joy of teamwork. It does not discriminate. It is based on diversity — with all talent being welcomed and respected. If you are a champion in sports, shouldn’t these same principles apply always? I think so. With the launch of StandUp Magazine, we mean to help restore a culture of true sportsmanship, of respect for all, and for the thrill of winning when it really matters. We believe telling these stories now could not be more important. For us, and we hope for you, today’s true champions stand up. Let’s recognize them for doing so. Cheers,
Ben Cohen, MBE Founder and Chairman, the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation
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A strong body may win the trophy but a strong character wins a legacy.
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WITHYOU
By Eric Carlyle
Welcome to the Party
SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU THROW a party, nobody comes. In the case of our premier issue of StandUp Magazine, however, it appears the party is very well attended. First, I want to thank the team that began putting the idea of StandUp Magazine together over a year ago — Patrick Davis, Connie Wardman, Matt Fish and, of course, Ben Cohen. What a year it has been! The good ideas, the bad ideas and the, well, incredible ideas, too. All of which helped us to create this outstanding issue of StandUp Magazine. I would also like to thank our partners that helped bring this idea to life. Companies like Lexus, Nike, Orbitz, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Microsoft that see our vision, that bank on the idea of character and good sportsmanship. I am humbled by their trust and support. Of course, I have to mention our contributors. It is my honor to be working with the writers who believe in StandUp Magazine enough to put their hearts and souls into their features and columns that will educate, entertain and enlighten. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the entire teams at StandUp Magazine, the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, and Ben Cohen Worldwide. Together, we are creating a very special publication. And next, a special thank you to you, our reader, for believing in StandUp Magazine enough to pick it up and read it. We are honored that you have chosen to spend time with us. And finally, to everyone, I am excited and humbled to have been part of the team that brings you StandUp Magazine. The party will only get better as we continue to improve the publication, adding more advertisers, more pages and increasing our reach as a premium specialty magazine. With you,
Eric Carlyle CEO/Publisher
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We are honored that you have chosen to spend time with us.
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By Patrick Davis
BRANDNEWS
StandUp: Betting the Brand on the New Champions StandUp Magazine is dedicated to the next generation of champions, those doing great things both on and off the field.
A
FRIEND ASKED ME if I had lost my mind: “You’re doing a magazine? In this media market? Have you gone crazy?” Maybe, but I don’t think so. My job, after all, has been to create and manage the StandUp brand — the world’s first social-commerce sports brand focused on supporting anti-bullying and diversity efforts. The brand exists to help fund the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. When you purchase or advertise in the magazine, you contribute to the cause. That’s a really different story than most other sports brands, so it only made sense to extend our brand from categories like apparel and athletic gear into media, where we could provide focus for this different kind of story. Of course, that means all forms of media today, including social and mobile, which are very much part of our strategy. But a magazine still has a special place in our world: it can provide context and focus in a way that more dispersed and sharable forms of media cannot. A magazine, in the end, is a viewpoint. We looked for partnerships with publishers who shared our viewpoint — publishers who were dedicated to finding and telling the good stories of diversity in sports, to celebrating the positive role models, to recognizing the very best in sports culture. We found only one, Sports Diversity Media. With this remarkable team, we decided to do what we know best, and create something new. Like anything new, StandUp Magazine is a bet. A bet that we are at a cultural moment where sport is changing. A bet that people are tired of seeing their heroes misbehave. A bet that we expect more from our champions. A bet that we are ready to redefine what being a champion means. StandUp Magazine is dedicated to the next generation of champions, those doing great things both on and off the field. At the core of the StandUp brand is the notion of fair play, of real sportsmanship. We think it’s the next big thing, which might sound funny to some. Hasn’t sportsmanship always defined our teams and games? While that may be the goal, it is less and less the case these days. Why? Because of a few players or high-profile scandals? No. Because our culture is changing, and sport, at its best, is an embodiment of the beliefs and battles we care about most. The definition of sportsmanship is changing. It includes more and different players today, and consequently requires new notions of fair play for all. We welcome everyone to the new era of sportsmanship, and are honored to tell their stories with the StandUp brand and through these pages. Very best,
Patrick Davis Co-Publisher and CEO, Ben Cohen Worldwide FALL 2012 I StandUp I 11
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FROMDIFFERENTTOSPECIAL
By Connie Wardman
The Power of the Spoken Word
FEW
PEOPLE WOULD DISAGREE that words are powerful but how many of us stop to think about the impact of our words before we say them? In our world of instant everything, we often say things in the moment without thinking or even caring how others will react to our words. That’s especially true in sports where emotions are expected to run high. The passion to win, to be right, whether in a game or an argument, often takes over the mouth before the brain is fully engaged. While one person or even a community of people may be highly insulted or offended by a word such as retarded, gay or many other words that trigger a strong emotional reaction, there are just as many non-sensitized people who wonder what all the fuss is about. And for countless members of the LGBT or handicapped communities, for example, this is certainly the case when people make dismissive comments that they find offensive, such as, “that’s so retarded” or “that’s so gay.” These are words that make them feel different instead of special. There’s an old saying that “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” But words DO hurt! When said to another within a demeaning, threatening or derisive context, they attack that person’s vulnerabilities, making him or her feel worthlessly different. Even if made as a so-called joke, its ultimate meaning is exclusivity — it’s telling the object of those words that he or she is different and, therefore, not welcome to be part of the team. Thanks to the efforts of a number of enlightened athletes like Ben Cohen, the message of no bullying, either physically, mentally or emotionally, is now reaching a wide and mixed audience with StandUp Magazine. We are honored to be sharing positive stories of thoughtfulness, compassion and support — the kind of inclusiveness that enables people to go from a feeling of being painfully different to a realization that they are truly valuable and worthwhile — they are special. As a media company devoted to sports diversity, we deeply care about words and their power to harm or heal. As a supporter of StandUp Magazine, we ask you to join us in considering the very real power of the words you use in your everyday life without much thought. Then, with newly-heightened sensitivity, choose to use your words to promote acceptance and healing. We call that RESPECT!
Connie Wardman Managing Editor
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inclusiveness that enables people to go from a feeling of being painfully different to a realization that they are truly valuable...
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THEFOUNDATION
By Alison Doerfler
Once in a Lifetime
W
HEN I WAS ASKED to serve as the Executive Director of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, I knew this was going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity that would expose me to a wide variety of inspirational stories, people and organizations. First and foremost was Ben Cohen. I will be honest: I had never heard of the man so many consider an “icon.” But the cause and his passion for it inspired me to make big changes in my life and my career. This Foundation has more than his name on it. It has his heart and soul in it. As a World Cup champion with an impressive career, Ben was not obligated to retire for this cause — he was moved to retire for this cause. The loss of his father at the hands of others connected him deeply to friends and fans being bullied. These personal stories of loss, of injustice, serve as inspiration to this Foundation and continue to drive our ongoing commitments to make the world kinder. We have named November 14th as StandUp Day in memory of Ben’s father and to honor the day that he lost his life. This day means much to our organization and to our community of fans and followers. We launch StandUp Magazine today as a testament to the triumph of good stories over painful ones, as a rallying cry to those who believe we can do better by and for each other. What is true of the Foundation is true for StandUp Magazine: we, together, can raise awareness of the lifelong damaging effects of bullying, and we can make sports a more
diverse and welcoming place to help combat it. This magazine serves as an expression of the commitment that the Foundation has to lifting up stories of hope and inspiration at a time when sports and pop culture are challenged by images of conflict and drama. The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation has the privilege of stewarding the resources that are unlocked by consumers who buy StandUp commercial products, or that are donated by individuals who are moved by personal beliefs or experiences. Guided by the principles of tolerance and acceptance, we ensure that these resources support organizations doing real-world work to address bullying and advance sports culture toward inclusion. We look ahead to 2013 as a year of strategic collaborations and partnerships that will create meaningful conversations, significant investments and powerful results. While StandUp Magazine will cover the very best in sports culture, you can also look to it to keep you informed about the impact we are all making together. As the mother of 2 young children, I am honored to lead this charge on behalf of the Foundation and our amazing supporters. I envision that our part in this movement will pave the way for my children and countless others to grow up in a kinder, more loving world. I look forward to this journey with our supporters and with readers of the magazine. Alison Doerfler is Executive Vice President of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation & Executive Vice President of Ben Cohen Worldwide, LLC, headquartered in Atlanta.
... we, together, can raise awareness of the lifelong damaging effects of bullying, and we can make sports a more diverse and welcoming place to help combat it.
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Each issue delivers important interviews, exclusive photos, high-impact profiles, and daring features.
Subscribe at: www.standup-magazine.com/subscribe
Introductory Offer
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Support StandUp Magazine and help us make a difference by subscribing today.
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Be among the first to join Ben and support StandUp Magazine today. A portion of every subscription goes to support the anti-bullying work and grants of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.
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POLITICS
By Brian Sims
Civility in Politics: Dead or Just Misplaced?
AT THE PHILADELPHIA CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION of 1787, dozens of models of good governance were discussed, debated, and considered as the nation’s founding fathers fought to form a government. The delegates fought hard for what they believed. In the end, history teaches us that despite disagreements, despite long hours and varied interests, cooler heads prevailed and a country was born. But why is a piece on politics relevant in a magazine on sports culture and good sportsmanship? Can there be a connection that makes sense? Well yes, it’s all connected. After all, what is the election process if not a competition. Sometimes you can work with an opponent for the betterment of the entire team; sometimes your opponent plays dirty instead of fair. And all the while you and your supporters are strategizing to win, to create your desired outcome. Clearly, lessons learned on the sports field are transferable into all areas of your life, including politics. It is important to recognize that even under difficult conditions, a government came together that would stand the test of time. Civil War, industrialization, economic collapse, World Wars, Cold Wars, and globalization have all threatened not just the security of the U.S. but the stability and civility of the nation, as well. Despite all this, cooler heads still prevailed, parties came together, and opponents stood alongside one another when necessary. That American spirit has carried us through many a dark hour. But what about the current climate of the nation’s capitol — its divisiveness, partisanship, name calling, back stabbing, plotting, scheming and sabotage? How is the current climate of the nation’s capitol affecting the country? What about at the state level? Are state legislatures immune to the problems and the divisiveness that seems to cripple the highest elected offices in the land? Are cities, towns, and boroughs suffering from the same politics of destruction that seems to be the prevailing narrative of political discourse in 2012?
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What does a college football star know about being an elected official? How about the importance of teamwork and fair play.
There are two simple truths to remember. The first is that political discourse has always been pretty dirty. Stories abound of the vitriolic, pointed attacks of Presidential campaigns from decades ago and the crippling effects such battles had on the country, both morally and economically. But today is different and this leads to the second truth. Even if today’s times have been as divisive as in the past, the modern era of 24-hour news channels, expansive social media, blogs and “corporate citizens” have all created an environment that literally feeds on that divisiveness. It’s bad ... but not insurmountable. More than ever before, citizens can and do engage their elected officials and their government. Non-profit and public interest organizations, unions, environmentalists, activists and advocates at every level remind each of us that even in government, we can speak with our better angels, espouse our values, care deeply for those around us, and do so while maintaining a principled and civil tone. We need to bring all our lessons of fairness, inclusion and good sportsmanship to the table to change the game — the political game. You see, civility is not dead in American politics. Divisiveness, callousness and spite have not won the day — they’ve simply been given the microphone and they’re not giving it back. So it’s up to us to take it back! Demanding better is something we’re good at as a nation. Better working conditions. Better treatment of the sick and infirm. Better education. Better protections from crime. Better infrastructure. We know how to demand better and it’s time we demanded better of our elected officials, at all levels. Let’s create a winning gameplan together! Democratic nominee for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 182nd District, Brian Sims is his state’s first openly gay politician to be voted into public office. He will be sworn into office in January.
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By Michael Losier
SUCCESS
Success with a Seed — Your Words Shape Your World in Sports and in Life
HAVE YOU CAUGHT YOURSELF SAYING, “That’s exactly what I said I didn’t want to happen,” or “I knew this was going to be a disaster?” What are you telling yourself about the upcoming holiday season, about your next sports game, your next date or your upcoming job interview? The words we use and the thoughts we think are the seeds of our life experiences — they cause us to give attention, energy and focus to what we are thinking and saying. This attention, energy and focus create a matching vibe from us. You’ve heard the word “vibe” used to describe a mood or a feeling — positive or negative. For example, “He’s putting out a negative vibe.” There is a direct relationship between the vibes we have and what we are attracting. It’s called the Law of Attraction, and right now it is matching the vibes you’re sending out, whether negative or positive.
The words we use and the thoughts we think are the seeds of our life experiences ... This attention, energy and focus create a matching vibe from us. You’ve heard the story of someone attracting negative things over and over again, to the point that he says, “I should have stayed in bed.” Or how about when you say you are “on a roll” because you are attracting something positive over and over again. Both of these events are the Law of Attraction at work. With the holiday season approaching, what vibes are you sending out about the season? What stories are you pre-seeding about your family visit? Remember, your story is generating a matching vibe which the Law of Attraction
will match — obediently. So how do you change the results you are getting? To have a positive family visit, it’s simple. Use your Reset Button. There are three words in your vocabulary that are causing you to attract negative things. Starting today, your job is to reduce, even eliminate the following three words — don’t, not and no. When you give attention to what you don’t want, it causes you to send the vibe of what you don’t want, and the obedient Law of Attraction will unfold and orchestrate whatever needs to happen to bring you more of what you give your attention to. Here are some examples of giving attention to what you don’t want: • “I don’t want to have negative family dynamics this holiday season.” • “I don’t want to start an argument with the coach or other team members.” Solution: use your Reset Button. Reset the results you are getting by resetting your vibes. You reset your vibes by resetting your words. When you catch yourself saying don’t, not and no, in that moment ask yourself the reset question, “So, what do I want?” This simple question will cause you to change your words, which changes your vibes, which changes your results. So your homework before the holiday season begins (and for the rest of your life) is to eliminate or at least reduce using don’t, not and no by asking, “So, what do I want?” You have a Reset Button — use it to start attracting what you DO want. Michael Losier is an international speaker and best-selling author on the Law of Attraction.
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COLLEGELIFE
By Shane L. Windmeyer
Playing to Win: The Changing Face of College Sports
WE FREQUENTLY HEAR CALLS these days for athletes to come out, to trust their teams to accept and include them based on skill and talent alone. It sounds good. But what is life really like for LGB athletes? What on-campus changes need to be made to enable these athletes to feel safe and accepted? In every sport, athletes strive to be the best they can be in order to win the game. To achieve success, it takes an investment in training, preparation and working toward a set of goals, whether for an individual or a team, to ultimately win. When it comes to LGBT issues within sports, the same holds true. It takes an investment to enact real change. Campus Pride is a national organization that works to create safer, more welcoming college campuses for LGBT student-athletes. This past May Campus Pride, in partnership with Compete Magazine, released the first-ever Top 10 LGBT-friendly List for College Athletics across the country. Compiled from nominations received nationwide, it reflects current LGBT progress in college athletics. This progress includes players and coaches coming out, measures to deal with anti-LGBT-bias in sports and specific LGBT-inclusive sports trainings for athletic players and staff. For the Top 10 colleges listed, go to www.competenetwork.com/outtoplay. There is still much work to be done around LGBT issues in college athletics. All students deserve assurance of safety and inclusion, both in the classroom and on the field. Today’s LGBT students are more out than ever before. And those who are
Today’s LGBT students are more out than ever before. And those who are athletes deserve to know which schools and athletic programs will respect them for who they are. 20 I StandUp I FALL 2012
athletes deserve to know which schools and athletic programs will respect them for who they are. This requires colleges and universities to make an active investment now to achieve meaningful progress. Little is known about this topic but for the first time we are getting a look at the facts. In the first-ever study on nearly 500 self-identified LGBT athletes, Campus Pride has released findings that now provide campuses with the necessary resources for further progress on LGBT issues in college athletics. The study clearly documents what it is like to be an LGBT college athlete today. The report details how LGB student-athletes generally experience a more negative atmosphere than their heterosexual peers in terms of discrimination and campus climate. As a result, LGB student-athletes tend to report lower levels of academic success and are less likely to think that the athletic department will address any anti-LGBT bias and discrimination. This, in turn, negatively affects their athletic identity and potential performance. The LGB student-athletes also reveal being deliberately ignored or excluded by fellow players, coaches, athletic staff and administrators more than their heterosexual peers due to their sexual identity. Together, the Campus Pride Top 10 List and the national report released this month provide colleges and universities the research, best practices and necessary resources to improve. There is hopeful and meaningful action highlighted in the Top 10 list. But now we must use the research findings as both a guide and a reason to raise the bar for real systemic change to occur in college sports. Now is the time for all campuses to play to win. LGBT inclusion does not just benefit the LGBT student-athletes, coaches and fans. It benefits everyone in college sports. Shane Windmeyer is a best-selling author, national LGBT campus leader and Executive Director of Campus Pride. To purchase a copy of the Campus Pride 2012 LGBTQ College Athlete Report, go to www.CampusPride.org/Shop
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By Scott “Babydaddy” Hoffman
POPCULTURE
Passion, Pop Culture and the Point of No Return
I MET BEN COHEN just a couple of years ago when my band was touring the UK in support of our third album. I decided it would be a great idea to finally meet the man I had already been seeing on social media newsfeeds, blogs and in news stories. So I tracked him down and invited him to come see a Scissor Sisters show. Ben and his wife enthusiastically agreed to come to see us in Nottingham, and that evening became the beginning of an invaluable friendship. What I discovered in the coming months was that Ben was the center of a story more serious than just the fleeting career of an athlete turned new-media pin-up boy. Why was this bimbo (bimbro?) who had managed to place himself into a sphere of idolization rarely reserved for hirsute British sports figures, slowly becoming a gay icon? Why was a heterosexual rugby star so bravely throwing himself into not only the role of anti-bullying crusader but also directly into a ravenous, fanatical community of hair and muscle-obsessed gay men, many of whom wouldn’t know a scrum from a scrimmage. But that was the crux of the Ben Cohen phenomenon; self-aware, selfless, and even self-effacing. Ben was also a selfpromotion machine and, as I learned, what had seemingly been a fleeting, flattering hobby for him became the genesis of an
He was another, like me and my band mates, whose passion, drive and circumstance mixed with a healthy dose of good timing, had led him to a point of no return.
unexpected second career. While his sex appeal had been the way into all this attention, it was the horrifying experience of losing his father to violence that had given him a reason to justify it. He was another, like me and my band mates, whose passion, drive and circumstance mixed with a healthy dose of good timing, had led him to a point of no return. A show of honesty and integrity had endeared the LBGT community to Ben and Ben had returned the favor. He gave his ardent support to those within it who weren’t being treated fairly, to those who were suffering, or perhaps to those who simply needed someone to look up to. Scissor Sisters, in the same way, began as a project of passion and it quickly became a career, even a lifestyle. And success brought with it the question of how to use our visibility for good. Our answer for that was, amongst other things, promoting a message of acceptance, inclusiveness, liberation and positivity. And if we did happen to be role models for anyone, we simply accepted that with a sense of duty. Using our visibility to support Ben was a no-brainer. Our messages, in the end, are the same. Ben’s commitment to fairness, tolerance, and acceptance has come at a perfect time, a time of unfathomable negativity and violence towards those who are different. For a successful sports hero to come forward and support those determined to live a life true to who they are, until now, has sadly been unimaginable. And that’s why Ben and his efforts are so important to me, to Scissor Sisters, and to the rest of those who courageously Stand Up. Scott “Babydaddy” Hoffman is a co-founder and member of the musical group, Scissor Sisters.
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SPORTS
By Jeff Kagan
Good Sportsmanship in the NHL
PATRICK BURKE IS DETERMINED to end homophobia in professional sports. This past year, the talent scout for the Philadelphia Flyers has serpentined his way across the United States and Canada, talking to athletes, and promoting a sevenword slogan that simply tells it like it is: “If you can play, you can play.” The You Can Play Project (YCP) is opening a dialogue in an area considered by many to be the last frontier of homophobia — professional sports. Patrick is at the heart of that project because of a very personal connection. His younger brother, Brendan Burke was student manager of the Miami (OH) University Red Hawks hockey team. In November 2009, Brendan came out publicly as a gay man, which surprisingly enough gained wide support in sports circles, including his father, Brian Burke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This sparked many conversations on how to address homophobia in professional sports as well as the greater question of why hasn’t a professional athlete in the “big four” (NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB) come out of the closet before retiring? Brendan was killed in a tragic car accident just three months after his inspiring story first appeared. In an effort to carry on Brendan’s spirit and advocacy of LGBT issues in sports, YCP was launched by brother Patrick, along with Brian Kitts, a sports marketing expert, and Glenn Witman, founder of G-Force Hockey in Denver. The three created a campaign to bring the LGBT issue front and center. And Burke’s connections to various NHL clubs have given the trio a “skate” in the door, so to speak. I spoke with Patrick Burke to see what the YCP project has been working on lately.
obviously very big in the hockey market and up to around 60 professional hockey players and owners who have created videos for us. The major part of what we’re doing is trying to change the culture. It’s going very well.
Jeff Kagan: Thanks for speaking with me about YCP. How has it been going? Patrick Burke: Things are going great for us. We’re six-months in. Our progress has been steady and we’re pleased with it. We’re
JK: The majority of the participants, so far, have been NHL hockey players. Will YCP expand to other professional sports? PB: I’ve had meetings with the NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA and MLS and things are looking good. They have some athletes who
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JK: A major message in the YCP campaign is sportsmanship. How do you define the word “sportsmanship?” PB: For me, it’s treating your teammates, opponents and fans with respect. I’m a competitor and a fairly vicious one, at that. ... [Hockey is] a violent sport. You can hit, and hurt, and fight — that’s all part of the game. There’s a right way and a wrong way to play the game. But to me, it’s treating people with respect. ... The people who leave a great legacy in sports, the people who leave a legacy of respect and kindness, people who are remembered fondly — they almost always treated their teammates with respect, their opponents with respect, their fans with respect. Even if they were somewhat dirty players, or they were mean or feared on the ice or on the field, they still treated people with a level of respect and dignity. And that to me is what sportsmanship is about. JK: Is the project focusing on professional sports only or will it look at changing the culture in amateur and college sports, too? PB: We’ve recently started moving into the college ranks. Many schools have been releasing their own YCP videos through their athletic departments, including Duke, Northeastern, Denver, George Washington and UConn. We’ve had some really great schools step up and say that their school is a welcoming place for LGBT athletes.
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will help us out. We started in hockey because that’s what I knew; that’s where my connections were. But I imagine that within the next six months or so there will be a significant amount of athletes from other sports stepping up. JK: To date, no professional athletes in the “big four” have come out while still on active roster. In recent years, the NBA, NFL and MLB have each had a handful of retired players come out, but no player (current or retired) from the NHL has ever done so. PB: I believe the NHL will have an openly gay active player within the next two seasons [because] the hockey culture is so accepting. In fact, in the last major survey done by Sports Illustrated in 2006, 80 percent of NHL players said they would support an openly-gay teammate. And that was before YCP, before any of the work that we’ve done on education, outreach and awareness. If we were at 80 percent six-years ago, I would have to imagine we are near 90-95 percent by now. I’m convinced the NHL is ready for a gay teammate.
We prepared ourselves when we launched. And one of the plans we had was “How are we going to handle the negative feedback?” We all assumed we’d get some. How are we going to handle these guys on Twitter and Facebook? We never had to use that plan. Maybe one or two times someone made a joke about one of the players, ‘Oh, but you can’t play.’ There’s been no real resistance. It’s encouraging to see that even the average fan was OK with it. Learn more about the You Can Play project at youcanplayproject.org. Jeff Kagan is co-founder of the NYC Gay Hockey Association, the NYC Gay Basketball League and Out of Bounds NYC (an umbrella organization which supports all LGBT sports and recreation groups in the greater New York City area).
(L-R) Yunel Escobar, Jose Estevez, Patrick Burke, and David Testo on the field before the Toronto Blue Jays game on September 27, 2012.
JK: Do you think it makes a difference if the athlete who comes out is a star player versus an average player? And do you see an athlete coming out affecting his or her career? PB: I think any athlete that comes out at any level makes a difference. Even if you go back to kids who come out on their high school team or on their college team, that makes a difference. The first one to step up and do so will make a huge impact on the culture of the sport itself, and most importantly, that next generation of young athletes, both straight and gay, are the ones who will most benefit from that validation. They will have more relevant role models. JK: Sports fans can be ... difficult and heartless. Has there been any negative feedback towards the YCP Project? PB: We’ve had almost entirely positive feedback. The biggest complaint we’ve had so far is from people who don’t like our narrow focus on sports. Many people think we should be doing more on other issues such as marriage equality or healthcare equality. Our most outspoken critics thus far have been the people who think spending all our time on sports is a waste of time. We disagree with them and we are happy to direct them to other charities that are doing different work. But in the hockey world, maybe one or two random idiots on Twitter have said something. But for the most part, all of the major hockey writers and bloggers are on board — the players, the coaches and the commissioner.
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HELP
Keep Kids
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Safe
FROM ONLINE
BULLYING By Jacqueline Beauchere Director, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft Corporation
FOR
all the benefits that smartphones, computers and the web have to offer — especially for young people whose lives revolve around technology — there will always be risks that some will misuse these properties to bully their peers.
Teasing, meanness, or bullying that starts on the playground, or at school, is following kids home only to continue on mobile and gaming devices, and social networks. Severe cases, though few in number, drive some to extremes, and it’s these instances that make headlines. It’s no wonder kids around the world are worried they’ll become a target for mean and cruel behavior online. To better understand the issue, Microsoft commissioned a Global Youth Online Behavior Survey in 25 countries that examined how kids are treating one another online, and how parents are responding to their behavior. 1 The survey considered a range of online behaviors among youth — from
“meanness” (least severe) to online bullying and cruelty (most severe), and everything in between. According to the survey, more than half (54 percent) of children between the ages of eight and 17 worry about online bullying, and four in 10 say they have been bullied online. What’s more, 24 percent of kids say they have done something that parents would consider online bullying. While the findings about kids’ actions and behaviors are interesting, it’s what young people said about their parents’ inaction that is most compelling. Globally, less than a third (29 percent) of kids said their parents have talked to them about the issue. The survey also showed there isn’t one common step parents take to help address online bullying. Moreover, only 17 percent of parents have communicated a clear set of rules for negative online behaviors by their children toward others. Experience shows us that children, parents, educators, and government officials around the world continue to be concerned about online bullying, often asking: What is it? And how can it be prevented? Adults need to understand that the term online bullying extends traditional schoolyard bullying to the online world, and has the potential to open the door to 24-hour hurt. Microsoft defines online bullying as “the use of electronic technology to demonstrate behavior — often repeated — that teases, demeans, or harasses someone less powerful.”2 Microsoft’s long-term commitment to Trustworthy Computing includes promoting responsible and appropriate use of technology — digital citizenship — as well as supporting digital ethics and etiquette. Many child safety advocates believe that inappropriate online behavior such as bullying, plagiarism, and piracy are the direct result of poor ethics and a lack of etiquette.
1
Youth were surveyed in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2
Other definitions of cyberbullying exist, including this one from the Cyberbullying Research Center based in Jupiter, Florida, United States: “Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.”
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RECOGNIZING BULLIES
PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR KIDS
Kids who bully may, for example:
Below are some ways to help support young people in an effort
• Send hurtful or threatening messages to a target’s phone or
to avoid online bullying. Microsoft encourages parents and
in an online game, or share altered pictures or a humiliating
caregivers to:
video on social media
• Pay attention – Regularly sit with kids as they play online,
• Disclose secrets or private information by forwarding, for instance, a confidential instant or text message • Deliberately exclude someone from a group in a game or virtual world, or on social media
and occasionally ask “tweens” and teens to show you around. Listen to them, and ask them to share what’s going on online. Watch for signs of online meanness or cruelty. • Encourage empathy – A powerful way to help combat online
• Impersonate the target by breaking into his or her phone or
bullying is to encourage kids to put themselves in others’ shoes.
social media account, and then sending or posting hurtful
— Bystanders. Microsoft has identified some ways kids can
comments, or otherwise instigate trouble with friends • Pretend to befriend someone, gain his or her trust, and then betray that trust
become “Upstanders,” by being kind, setting a good example, blocking bullies, and telling others. And don’t forget the adult role as backup support. — Targets. If a child is the target of online bullying, don’t
There are many reasons why young people mistreat others
wait to see if the abuse will stop. Get the full story,
online — out of boredom, to gain approval or be funny, to
acknowledge the pain, and ask what you can do to help.
retaliate for having been bullied themselves, or because they may
Then, together craft a plan to help address the problem.
be in distress. Bullying isn’t always intentional — what starts as
— Bullying. If you discover that a child is bullying someone,
a disagreement may escalate. Often, kids may not even recog-
acknowledge the problem (making it clear that it’s not
nize their behavior as bullying, and instead, refer to it as drama..3
okay to bully), and try to understand what happened. If necessary, seek help from trained professionals.
ADDRESSING THE ISSUE To further assist adults in recognizing and addressing online
• Promote kindness as a way to help reshape the environment to one in which kids are less inclined to bully.
bullying, Microsoft has created some new resources: • Stand Up to Online Bullying Quiz – An interactive online
Ultimately, preventing online bullying is a shared responsi-
quiz that can easily be posted to an organization’s or school’s
bility. Everyone plays a role — parents,
website as a teaching tool on how to talk about, identify, and
educators, school coun-
respond to the broad range of online behaviors, from
selors, coaches, online
meanness to bullying and beyond.
safety advocates, and
• Digital Citizenship in Action Toolkit – Kids mirror adult
representatives from
behavior, the good, the bad and the ugly. This interactive
industry, law enforce-
educational guide is chockfull of information about fostering
ment, government, and
responsible use of technology in today’s digital world.
even children themselves.
Teaching digital citizenship in our schools will help guide
We ask you to please join us in
young people to be responsible, respectful, and informed
this critically important mission.
online citizens. Professional development courses in digital citizenship for teachers and school staff are also instrumental to help address the issue.
3
The Drama! Teen Conflict, Gossip, and Bullying in Networked Publics (aka.ms/teen drama), published by Social Science Research Network, Sept. 12, 2011 by Alice E Marwick and danah boyd.
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FOUR By Jeff Graham Executive Director, Georgia Equality
LITTLE
words 1. Andrew Silvers, Gordon County, 2011, age 17. 2. Tyler Long, Murray County, 2009, age 17. 3. Jaheem Herrera, DeKalb County, 2009, age 11.
These are but three of the recent victims of bullying here in Georgia who felt so alone and unable to cope that they took their own lives. In each instance, the parents of these boys claim that school officials knew of the bullying but did little to address it. We do not know what the sexual orientation of these boys was – and in many ways it is completely irrelevant. What we do know is that far too often bullying involves homophobic taunts even when the victim is not gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. And that is why four little words can make a big difference. Including the words, “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in anti-bullying policies can mean the difference between a teacher intervening when anti-gay taunts are thrown around, or looking the other way to protect his or her job. It means the difference between a youth feeling safe enough to come out of the closet or waiting for years until he or she is better able to handle it. It means the difference between a student reporting harassment or remaining silent because of the fear that nothing will be done. Research has shown that including these four words in an enumerated list that also includes categories, such as race, ethnicity, sex, religion, immigration status and disability, reduces bullying rates —not only for LGBT youth but also for the entire school population. All students are negatively affected by anti-LGBT stigma. And we have both the ability and the responsibility to do something about it. Because of the hard work and dedication to advocacy by students, parents and school officials, 38 percent of today’s public school students in Georgia are now covered by anti-bullying policies that include gender identity and 54 percent of students are covered by policies that include sexual orientation. However, much more work needs to be done for us to ensure that 100 percent of students are fully protected. In the most recent report from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), we know that 82 percent of students in Georgia have reported hearing homophobic remarks, such as “that’s so gay,” and 75 percent have heard derogatory terms, such as “fag” or “dyke” in their schools. Negative remarks about a person’s gender expression, such as a girl acting “too much like a boy,” were also commonly heard in Georgia schools — two-thirds of respondents heard negative comments about gender expression from their peers. Enumerated policies are also important to ensure that school authorities intervene when hearing biased language in school. Less than a third of Georgia students reported that teachers or other school staff frequently intervened when hearing homophobic, racist or sexist remarks in school. We know that comprehensive policies are not the cure to the epidemic of bullying. That will require programs that teach tolerance, conflict resolution and anger management. However, especially for youth who are victimized based on perceptions of sexual orientation or gender identity, these policies are needed to open the door to the programs that may just save their lives.
32 I StandUp I FALL 2012
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STANDING
UP BEN with By Cedric Ceballos Photos by Bret Grafton
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AS A PROFESSIONAL athlete myself, I’ve always been interested in giving back to the people in the communities where I’ve played. So I was impressed when I first learned about Ben Cohen’s global work to prevent bullying since most of us have been bullied at least once in our lives. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to interview him and discover he’s a regular guy ... but with a big heart and lots of determination to make the world a better place. I plan to stand up with Ben! What about you? When did you start to play rugby and what position did you play? I actually started by accident, just to make up numbers on a team. At first, I was in the pack, an ugly place to be for sure. That lasted about a day and then I moved to wing where I stayed quite happily. [For our readers not familiar with rugby, the wing position is similar to that of a running back in American football.] What clubs have you played for over the years and where were they located? I started my professional career with the Northampton Saints, spent a bit of time in France with Brieve and finished up with Sale Sharks. And I played for England in the World Cup, which was amazing. Was this a favorite sport in your family when you were growing up or did you get into playing rugby with other kids in the neighborhood? Actually, I was meant to be a football [soccer] player. I come from a sports family, and my Uncle George was on the 1966 England World Cup team. We have two World Cups in the family, one for football and one for rugby. It’s unique in English history, and I am very proud of that. Did you grow up dreaming about a career in professional sports or did it just happen all on its own? I’m not sure I knew what I wanted to do, honestly. I was working in a factory when I went out to fill in for my local club. I met my wife Abby in that job. My real dream has always been a happy, healthy family and I am just incredibly thankful to have that dream come true. My really serious focus on rugby came out of a need to get out aggression after my dad’s death. I intended to become the best player in the world in my position, and I did that. I also knew I wanted to make a difference in this world somehow but never imagined it would be for a cause like StandUp. What did you love most about your playing days? The teamwork, the competition and winning fairly. It really matters to me to go for big goals and to reach them in an honorable way. I love that. It is still a big part of my personality and work. We don’t see enough true sportsmanship these days and it is time for a return to it.
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When did you first realize you were an internationally famous sports star? [Laughs] I’ve never been comfortable with the word “famous,” and don’t really see myself in that light. I suppose the World Cup gave me a sense that I could do something with the recognition we had earned. And then a fellow in France named Laurent set up our Facebook page. I was shocked when I learned of it — had to ask if it was the right Ben Cohen! If you would have told me we would have nearly 300,000 following on social media, I’d never have believed it. What did you love least? Oh, the daybreak training, for sure. It’s hard to maintain a happy marriage and family life when you’re in professional sports. How many years have you been married and how do you maintain a happy home life? It’s actually not been hard for me because family happiness is really my core value. Abby is my childhood sweetheart. We met when I was 15. We have been married just over 10 years now and I think I am the happiest man on earth. Abs and my two girls make everything worth it. The travel these days for StandUp is actually more than when I was playing, and it is hard some times to be gone for long stretches. I understand you own a farm. How do you keep the farm going when you’re doing so much traveling? Well, it’s what you might call a farm, but not in a real working way. We have nice stables and horses, a riding ring, a pond with fish, chickens and foxes who try to get at them. One of my daughters named her favorite chicken “Dinner,” which cracks me up all the time. Dinner has thankfully never lived up to her name. How did you make the transition from sportsman to leader of an anti-bullying organization? It was a big decision. I was just named player of the year and had the opportunity to keep going forward with rugby. But this cause became extremely important to me as I heard stories from fans and friends. They had suffered at the hands of others, just as my own family had. [Ben’s father was brutally beaten when he stood up for an employee being attacked and died of his injuries]. We debated a long time if I could keep playing and start StandUp. Ultimately, the best and most powerful decision was to retire for a cause, to give myself to this entirely. I am so glad I did.
... family happiness is really my core value ... We have been married just over 10 years now and I think I am the happiest man on earth. Abs and my two girls make everything worth it.
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What was it that made bullying such an important cause for you to work on eliminating? For me it is simple. We need a kinder, more accepting world. We are all here together. I was brought up to care about other people, and that core value of mine doesn’t stop because someone is different from me. I had an opportunity to use my voice to help people who were reaching out to me in real pain. The stories are just unbelievable, and it moved me to action. I cannot sit by and not make things better. My dad’s death was a big motivation, as were other friends and family members who are lesbian or gay. Any real true sense of what sportsmanship actually means makes tolerance of bullying impossible. Were you bullied as a child? No, never. What do you tell your children about bullying? The girls are still quite young, so we keep things simple. We talk a good deal about how we treat other people kindly, and how to be there for a friend if someone else is being unkind. When did you create your StandUp Foundation? We launched the first week of May, 2011. It has been a rocket ship since then, including the launch of the Foundation in the UK as well. You are in demand all the time for personal appearances, speeches, and photo shoots for various products you represent. How do you keep up such a busy schedule? How do you keep so fit when you’re traveling so much? Well, I only represent one product, which is StandUp. Our commercial brand produces profits that help fund the Foundation. That was the big decision. This is all in for me. As for making it all work, the office is brilliant in terms of planning and management of our obligations, which are booked very far out at this point. It’s nice to see a hint of what the future will be about, and it is exciting. I keep fit by running everyday, and finding a gym. I will admit it’s not the same as my rugby days, but that darn calendar each year keeps me on my game for sure. What makes the StandUp Foundation different from other organizations that have a human rights focus? How do you operate – by creating programs, giving money? The first big difference is that we are the world’s first anti-bullying foundation. It is our entire focus because it is a universal issue, not just an LGBT issue. We are set up as a for-profit company and a non-profit foundation. StandUp brand profits help fund the Foundation. New programs are coming in 2013 on campuses and in communities, all focused on sports leadership and character building to address bullying. Right now, we are primarily a grant-making foundation, funding those doing real-world work to stop bullying.
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I don’t focus on the past at all. I want to change things in the future.
As an Englishman, how did you make the connections in the U.S. to build the Ben Cohen Worldwide organization and how does it function? How is it different from the Foundation? By pure luck, I met this fellow named Patrick Davis who has a long career in building really successful brands. He developed our social-commercial strategy and the StandUp brand. Ben Cohen Worldwide is the commercial enterprise managing the brand, coupled with our U.S. distribution company, Ben Cohen USA. The system works really well and it’s necessary since I am not endorsing any other products. It’s not enough to go ask for big donations. We have to create a business engine to produce sustainable profits and funding for the Foundation. What does the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) after your name mean to you? It’s a lovely honor, and I am very proud to be an Englishman and serve my country. I have enormous pride in England. Sometimes people think that my work in the U.S. is a challenge to that, but it isn’t. We must take on this issue in many countries. We are headquartered in the U.S. because that is where our business support and funding came from. Is there anything you know now that you’d go back and change if you could? I don’t focus on the past at all. I want to change things in the future. What are your goals for the StandUp Foundation in the next five years? To make a massive difference in the awareness and funding of work to address bullying. We want to be the Livestrong for equality and anti-bullying. That brand is going through a lot right now with Lance’s controversy but the business model is absolutely right. What words of advice do you have for other retired athletes with a fan base who, like you, want to make a difference in the world? Any tips on where to begin? I would say, quite honestly, you owe your fans something bigger. They trust you, so share a passion with them. Be a real role model. In our view, true champions stand up. Ceballos is a retired National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star and star of Rebound Radio Featuring Cedric Ceballos.
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Changing
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the World ONE BASKETBALL
PLAYER AT A TIME By Matt Fish
AS
a former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and now co-president of the Phoenix chapter of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), I had an opportunity to interview Arnie Fielkow,
CEO of the NBRPA. Although he’s very modest about his background in sports management, in his first year at the helm of the NBRPA he’s already positioned the organization to use its power and influence to make the world a better place. Here is our conversation. How do you see the future of the NBRPA and its ability to change the world for the better, both individually through its membership as global ambassadors and collectively through its organizational ties? The future looks extremely bright. The NBRPA is 20 years old and while it has not yet reached its full potential, membership is currently at its highest level and continues to increase in numbers. As ambassadors to and for the sport of basketball, NBRPA and its members promote the game and enhance the community through clinics, charitable outreach and other grassroots initiatives in the U.S. and abroad. There are 560 members, all of whom are basketball icons who are well known throughout the world. NBRPA members will continue to have a better platform to be heard with new programs that are being launched. What was the purpose of the recent Israeli trip and what other NBRPA outreach efforts will the organization be taking in the future? 14 members of the NBRPA served as ambassadors to Israel this summer. Each member, who was welcomed, loved and greatly respected, did a wonderful job interacting with the Israeli and Palestinian youth to teach them about the game on a global platform. This all-important journey was life-changing, very informational and was certainly a great outreach venue to share political views on a global scale. In the future, the NBRPA will take at least one trip per year during which members will serve as ambassadors to the world, continuing both to educate and to be educated. What are some of the domestic outreach programs that are going on here in the United States? On the domestic front, we are unveiling a basketball clinic and life skills program that will educate the youth on not only how to succeed in the game of basketball, but also how to succeed in life. Youth basketball clinics with an educational component are the future of the NBRPA’s efforts and a necessary one. All topics will be included in the educational component. This includes good sportsmanship, anti-bullying, parenting, life experiences, being open, sharing and caring as well as combating homophobia.
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What motivated you to take the reins of the NBRPA and
Understanding that chapter development is an important
its causes?
aspect of your grassroots approach, what is the plan to
I have spent 20 years in sports administration and was living
develop these areas of the United States?
in New Orleans when Katrina hit. After Katrina, I found
We now have two full-time employees working on chapter
myself in the government sector that included helping people
development. Offering local chapters turn-key programs,
with the massive recovery efforts necessary. When I was
revenue generating opportunities, and holding annual meetings
presented the opportunity to help with the NBRPA, it was an
as part of the work we’ve begun to improve their effectiveness
opportunity to get back into sports and also to continue help-
and efficiency. Also, we have met with the CEO of every
ing people. I saw a chance to tie my background experiences
professional sports Alumni Association. We have taken their
together and take on an under-branded organization that had
successes and incorporated them into our plan to be a catalyst
tremendous potential. For me, it was a perfect fit. I have
for developing chapters.
enjoyed my short time with the NBRPA. Although it has been difficult, I feel that we are on the right path to fulfilling its
Is there anything else you would like to add to this
mission and increasing the value of the organization — getting
interview?
it the recognition it deserves.
Yes. I would like our members to understand that because of their fame, they are given a soapbox to share their life
I know that since you have been involved with the organ-
experiences. Each member has reached the highest level of
ization you have moved the NBRPA office from New York
basketball known to man. This is an unprecedented feat, one
City to Chicago. What were your purposes for this move?
that deserves a soapbox. Be open-minded; speak about things
There were three reasons that we decided to make the move.
that are close to your heart. Speak about things that make you
The first and most important reason was financial. We saved
emotional because these are things that you believe in.
over $600,000 by getting out of the lease in New York — that
Whether it is bullying, parenting, homophobia — it’s whatever
is one-third of our balance sheet. With these savings, we could
makes you passionate. The real shame would be not using
then allocate that money to programs that aligned with what
your soapbox and instead, giving it to someone who doesn’t
we are trying to do as an organization. The second reason is
have the unique experiences and opportunities you have as a
that I am from Chicago. There was a personal piece that
member of the NBRPA.
weighed into the decision. I have contacts in the Midwest and enjoy the city and everything it has to offer. Chicago’s central location geographically offers the third reason. Members now visit more frequently and feel a more personal connection to the national office.
Matt Fish, a retired NBA player, is vice president of Media Out Loud Global and editor of StandUp Magazine. Arnie Fielkow, CEO, and Robert A. (Bob) Elliott, NBRPA President & Board Chairman present a check to three representatives of Katrina-ravaged 9th Ward in New Orleans.
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Greatest Assist – EVER By Brian Patrick
All
the retired professional athletes I’ve ever talked with at some point turn the conversation to what they miss most about playing — and it’s not the game. What they miss most is the camaraderie and friendship.
They all say it was the best part of their career as a pro player. During your playing days you may have gotten some help from a teammate, or maybe you were the one to help out another player. But does being a teammate also make you your brother’s keeper? We often say what we’d do under a certain set of circumstances, but when we’re faced with those circumstances in real life, it becomes a true test of our character. One who found himself in just such a situation was Hall of Famer Jack Twyman who died recently at age 78 due to complications from an aggressive form of blood cancer. Paying no attention to the explosive racial climate of the day, two friends — one African-American and one white — became a living example that true friendship has nothing to do with the color of your skin. In a June 1 obituary, AOL FanHouse Columnist David Whitley described the situation in a nutshell: “a 23-year-old white guy basically adopted a paralyzed 24-yearold black man.” Although he was one of the NBA’s top scorers of the 1950s, Twyman is perhaps best known for his off-court performance as the friend and guardian of teammate Maurice Stokes who was paralyzed following a head injury during a game in 1958.
At the start of his own career, Twyman literally became his brother’s keeper. Years later he explained his actions by saying “That’s what friends are for.” Twyman’s recent death has resurrected the touching story of his friendship with Maurice Stokes and the love and dedication that defined it. Both men came from the Pittsburgh area, went in different directions for college and then wound up as teammates on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals franchise (now the Sacramento Kings). They had both been drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 1955 NBA Draft and both rookies were on a fast track to becoming NBA All-Stars. At 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, Stokes could play center, forward and guard, and his athleticism led to a berth on the All-Star team in each of his three seasons of play, averaging 17.7 rebounds a game. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team three times. In his first pro game alone he scored 32 points and had 20 rebounds, the sort of play that got him named NBA Rookie of the Year. In his second year he set a league record for the most rebounds in a single season, amounting to 1,256 or 17.4 per game. Bob Cousy once said that Stokes “was Karl Malone with more finesse,” while legendary coach Red Auerbach called him “Magic without flair.” Stokes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2004. With an 11-year career in the NBA, Twyman was a 6-foot-6, 210 pound forward who played for the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals franchise for his entire career. A six-time All-Star, he was also twice named to the All-NBA Second Team. Twyman and Wilt Chamberlain were the first NBA players to average more than 30 points a game in a single season, with Twyman not only averaging 31.2 points per game in the 1959-60 season, he also
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scored a career high 59 points in a game that same season. Onetime teammate Arlen “Bucky” Bockhorn called Twyman a gunner. And Twyman, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983, earned the nickname “Right Back, Baby” because that’s what he’d say as soon as he passed the ball to a teammate. It was in Minneapolis — the last game of the 1957-58 season on the night of March 12, 1958. Stokes made a dive for the basket but fell back over another player and slammed his head on the floor. Knocked unconscious, he was given smelling salts to revive him and then was put back in the game — standard procedure for the time. Three days later Stokes became ill on the flight back to Cincinnati after playing a 12-point, 15rebound game, the opening-round playoff game against the Detroit Pistons. Telling a teammate on the flight, “I feel like I’m going to die,” later that night he had a seizure and lapsed into a coma that lasted for weeks. When he awoke, Stokes was permanently paralyzed and unable to talk, able only to think and to blink his eyes. He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic encephalopathy — the brain injury had damaged the area controlling his motor skills. The NBA didn’t have comprehensive medical coverage at that time. So almost immediately Twyman became legal guardian for Stokes who was single with $9,000 in the bank, and family members who were in no financial shape to help. In an interview years later with ESPN, Twyman said “I was the only one there.” It was the end of the season and all the other players had left the area. “How would you like to be one of the premiere athletes in the world on a Saturday. Then on Sunday, you go into a coma and wake up totally paralyzed, except for the use of [your] eyes and brain,” recalled Twyman. “I mean, can you imagine anything worse?” But there was “worse” if you counted in all the legal red tape and no way to pay for a lifetime of medical bills. Once a judge granted Twyman’s request to become Stokes’ legal guardian, it enabled him to pay the bills, apply for workman’s compensation and start to address all the paperwork. He also organized a benefit basketball game to help pay for Stokes’ medical bills. Held at a resort in upstate New York, the inaugural Maurice Stokes Games raised $10,000. Later, due to NBA and insurance company restrictions on athletes, the annual event morphed into the Maurice Stokes/Wilt Chamberlain Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament. After Stokes’ death in 1970, the event helped other former NBA players who were down on their luck. But Twyman did more than handle mail and pay bills for his friend. He spent hours sitting at Stokes’ bedside calling out letters so his friend could communicate, blinking his eyes for the correct letter. With a wife and eventually
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four children who also needed his time and attention, Twyman simply incorporated them into his visits with Stokes. They became a blended family unit with Twyman’s wife Carol becoming co-trustee of the Maurice Stokes Foundation. After years of painful rehabilitation, Stokes slowly regained some mobility in his upper body and eventually walked a bit. But according to Twyman, he never seemed to have a bad day, saying that he “never heard him say, ‘Why me?’ ... He never believed he was trapped.” Given an improvised typewriter one day, Stokes managed to type the following message for his friend –“Dear Jack, How can I ever thank you?” Amazingly, Twyman felt it was the other way around, that it was he who owed Stokes, saying he felt that he and his family got far more out of the friendship than they ever gave back. Talking about his friend, Twyman said “I just stood in awe of him. ... he never failed to pump me up.” The dynamic duo wound up acting as an incredible support system for others who needed it. For example, former Royals teammate Bockhorn blew out his knee in 1965 and never played again. Just a few days after the injury, Twyman visited him in the hospital and brought along Stokes. Bockhorn couldn’t understand what Stokes was trying to say but he got the message of compassion and support. Bockhorn recalled that “I was overwhelmed.” Their friendship continued until Stokes died of heart failure in 1970 at the age of 36. In 2004 when Stokes was inducted into the Hall of Fame, it was Twyman who accepted the award on his behalf. After retiring from the NBA in the late 1960s, Twyman worked as an analyst for “The NBA on ABC” show along with Chris Schenkel through the early 1970s. He then went on to a financially successful career in both the food and insurance industries. But his son Jay said he couldn’t overemphasize how very humble and caring his dad was. He went on to say that “if you spent any time with him, he made you feel very special.” It’s clear that both Twyman and Stokes were remarkable human beings in addition to being great athletes. John Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where both men are rightfully enshrined, said that “Maybe this is a little learning opportunity for everyone who plays professional sports. Jack didn’t look for accolades. It was just the right thing to do.” He concluded by saying that this is “what made him a very, very special man.” How true – with nothing to gain, he chose to be his brother’s keeper and gave the greatest assist one teammate and friend could ever give to another. Stokes's life story of his injury and relationship with Twyman all are depicted in the 1973 National General Pictures film, “Maurie.”
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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF
winning
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By Jason Galea, Ph.D.
AS
an expert in the field of Sports Psychology, one of my most important services is to help athletes, current or retired, to clearly define what it means not only to be a “winner” but also to “win” the competition in which they’re involved.
This works the same whether the competition is at a sports venue or in the business workplace. The first step in helping an athlete develop a “winning” mindset is getting the person to fully understand how he or she defines these terms. Some athletes are very unclear about what motivates them while others are motivated for reasons that are limiting and unfulfilling. Faulty or incomplete reasoning, if not brought to an athlete’s attention early enough, can lead to the demise of a promising career. An athlete’s motivation to win or succeed is his or her source of fuel. The key to developing a positive psychological mindset of winning is based on a person’s internal driving force that acts as a guide to life. The real question each person must answer is this — why do you want to win? If the desire to win is based solely on money or extrinsic material rewards, that desire will steadily dissipate — the cost of working to win is no longer worth the required effort. This is often the case with a selfish teammate or other person fueled only by the desire to make the most money or to grab individual awards and/or accolades. However, a positive, successful mindset focused on winning stems from intrinsic values based on a passion to win and on playing a role in the winning process. True winners love the feeling of winning; they also love helping others to win. True winners enjoy the journey to becoming a winner because they want to become the best in their field of competition. Winners enjoy competition. But the real reason is because they enjoy competing to win. It is important to understand this! There are many elite athletes who never reach their stated goals simply because they don’t fully understand the difference between the “desire to compete” and the “desire to win.” Having the desire to compete at an elite level is not the same as having the desire to win at an elite level. This is the difference between the person who wants to be on a team and the person who wants to have the ball with only a minute left in the game in order to help the team win. Winners want to play a role in winning. Simply being part of a team is not enough — it is not satisfying or fulfilling. Finding a happy balance when developing a winner’s mindset is a complicated and evolving state of affairs involving four core elements — mental focus, emotional control, physical will and spiritual belief. Each of these elements provides an essential tool needed to reach a specific destination. Mental focus provides you with a map showing where you are now and where you want to end up. Emotional control acts as a compass to keep you on track and not become distracted by twists and turns throughout the journey. Physical will is the vehicle you use to reach your destination. Spiritual belief is the fuel that propels your vehicle on its focused journey. If any of these core elements are unbalanced or missing, the ability to develop, evolve and sustain the mindset of a healthy winner focused on winning will not be possible. The key to achieving a winner’s mindset is to understand your personal definition of winning and how well or poorly your core elements are balanced. Without that understanding and balance, you can never be a true winner. The good news is that it’s never too late to work on becoming one. Jason Galea, Ph.D. works with professional, amateur and Olympic athletes.
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FITNESS
By Scott Herman
Healthy Holiday Preparation
P
EOPLE WHO ARE TARGETS of bullying often have low self-esteem that’s frequently related to their body image. Getting in physical shape can be a healthy start to feeling good about yourself not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. Then along come the holidays with those wonderful annual food and drink favorites that can pack on extra pounds . So the best gift you can give yourself during the holiday season is to stay active – it’s the easiest way to ward off unwanted body fat. This workout will take thirty minutes to complete. However, the amount of calories you burn is going to be determined by your intensity. Each time you do it, you should be focusing on more weight, faster reps, and less resting time. Complete the routine as a circuit. This means that you must complete every exercise for one set and then start again at the beginning. Be sure to properly warm up and stretch before you begin this routine. I recommend dynamic stretching combined with two-to-three minutes of jump rope if limited on time.
Star of reality TV show, "The Real World: Brooklyn," Scott Herman is a fitness guru with a real world approach to helping people get and stay fit. For more exercises and helpful material, check his website at www.scotthermanfitness.com
THE WORKOUT Equipment Required: 1 Pull-Up Bar 2 Bodyweight 3 Bench Press 4 12 – 24 inch box Exercises: 1 Barbell Bench Press 2 Pull-Up 3 Burpee 4 Plyo Progressive Box Jump n n n n n
4 exercises 4 circuits 15 reps per exercise ZERO - 60 seconds rest between each exercise 30 – 60 seconds rest between each circuit
... the amount of calories you burn is going to be determined by your intensity. Each time you do it, you should be focusing on more weight, faster reps, and less resting time. 52 I StandUp I FALL 2012
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BARBELL BENCH PRESS
PULL-UP
Once you lay on the bench, grab the bar about shoulder-width apart. Keep your shoulders down and shoulder blades pinched together. Find a stable stance with your feet and keep your glutes on the bench while you arch your back. Be sure to also keep your wrists straight and your elbows in line with your wrists during each repetition. Lower the bar down to your chest and then explosively return it to the starting position and repeat.
Find a bar that you can hang from and make sure your feet do not touch the ground. Your arms should be just about shoulder-width apart as you grip the bar. Pull your body up toward the bar high enough so that your chin rises above it. From here, lower yourself back to the starting position and repeat. Be sure to fully extend your arms to a “dead hang� before you complete your next repetition.
BURPEE Begin the exercise in the push-up position with your arms fully extended. Once in place, lower your body down to the ground and as you push up, explode through your arms and bring your knees to your chest. Land with your feet flat, chest up, and arms in front of you. From here, explode through your legs and jump as high as you can while reaching for the ceiling with your hands. Control your landing so that you land softly on your feet. As soon as you land, drop back down into the push-up position and repeat.
PLYO PROGRESSIVE BOX JUMP First, find a 12-24 inch stable box. Begin the exercise by standing in a static squat position with your feet about shoulder-width apart and your arms out in front of you. From here, squat down and explode up through your legs to jump on top of the box. You can also use your arms to help gain some momentum as well. Be sure to land on the box softly and in the squat position. Once landed, stand up straight. Return to the starting position and repeat.
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DESTINATION
ATLANTA – A Brave and Beautiful City And Home to StandUp.
T
HINK ABOUT ATLANTA and your mind naturally goes to the old South, beautiful plantations and homes, spectacular gardens, crepe myrtle trees, Spanish moss, mint juleps and fabulous Southern cooking. The historic city and its charms truly exist. But the old Atlanta lives comfortably alongside the new Atlanta — A Brave and Beautiful City , as it now calls itself. Atlanta is alive with arts and culture, a home for sports of every kind, education, media, and commerce. It also has world class shopping, fine dining, music and nightlife as well as a wide variety of walkable downtown attractions, such as the World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Inside CNN Atlanta, Imagine It! and The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, all of which circle Centennial Olympic Park. SM
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SM
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For the sportsman that loves the outdoors, Atlanta is a mecca of outdoor activity. No place is better than to escape city life and get back to nature by visiting OZ Campground. With 150 acres of privacy, amenities, campsites and more the Campground offers something for every true sportsman.
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WOMENINSPORTS
By Helen J. Carroll and Ashland Johnson
Where Have the Women Coaches Gone?
W
HERE ARE THOSE WOMEN? A good question. A recent study (by Vivian Acosta and Linda Carpenter, www.acostacarpenter.org) confirmed what many observers in the sports world already knew — the number of college-level female coaches is steadily decreasing. In 1972, women filled more than 90% of coaching positions for women’s sports. Despite an unprecedented increase in the number of female athletes, only about 43% of coaches for women’s teams are female. This is due in large part to the negative impact of homophobia, sexism and racism — a deadly trio of barriers that deter many women from applying for coaching positions and keep those who do apply from being hired. Acknowledging negative stereotypes is a first step to removing the fear that keeps strong, talented women from being hired as coaches, a fear that they won’t be feminine enough. Too often these strong, successful female athletes are
assumed to be lesbians which has a doubly negative impact. On one hand, fear of being labeled a lesbian puts pressure on all women to “prove” they are conventionally feminine, especially true for female athletes of color. On the other hand, this widespread homophobia forces athletes who are lesbians deep into the closet. They are deterred from applying for coaching jobs either for fear of exposure or because they’re unwilling to pursue a career that requires them to hide their authentic selves. Forcing women coaching applicants to jump through nonwork-related hoops puts them at a disadvantage from the start. An additional disadvantage is that men are readily hired to coach both men’s and women’s teams while women currently hold only 2% of the coaching positions in men’s sports. In fact, there are no female head coaches of any Division I men’s sport. If we expect fairness and good sportsmanship on the field, we must also expect it on the administrative side of scholastic >>
USTA HONORS PAT SUMMITT WITH LEGACY AWARD The United State Tennis Association (USTA) honored legendary retired University of Tennessee Head Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt with their Billie Jean King Legacy Award. This award is to honor individuals whose outstanding courage and contributions have been part of changing the cultural landscape on a global basis. Part of its 2012 ICON Awards that celebrate individual and institutional accomplishments and commitments to diversity and inclusion, this award also emphasizes the USTA's commitment to fairness and equality. The awards were presented September 4 at a reception in the Hospitality Pavilion of the Chase Center at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. Posthumous induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame also honored wheelchair tennis pioneer Randy Snow and former USTA CEO and pioneer of the Diversity and Inclusion Department at the USTA, the late Lee Hamilton. The all-time leader in wins among all coaches in NCAA history, Summitt spent almost 40 years at the University of Tennessee bringing women's basketball, her Lady Volunteers specifically, to the forefront in college athletics. Over 38 seasons she compiled a 1,098-208 record and won an unprecedented eight national championships. Leading the Lady Vols to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship and SEC Tournament title 16 times each, she was named SEC Coach of the Year eight times and NCAA Coach of the Year in seven seasons. During the 2012 ESPYs, Summitt was also awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Congratulations yet again, Pat Summitt - you are an outstanding role model and a most worthy recipient of the Billie Jean King Legacy Award!
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sports. Schools must increase the number of women, both in applicant numbers and in those being hired. Athletic directors must recruit qualified women for both women’s and men’s teams. Everyone must be held to the same standards. And irrelevant factors, like sexual orientation or gender identity, should not be considered. This doesn’t mean keeping coaching jobs for women’s teams open only to women. On the contrary, it means allowing women to compete for all of the coaching jobs on the market. That would be true equal opportunity and reflect the true spirit of sport. We must all take responsibility for confronting stereotypes that falsely label some women as lesbians, that punish women who are lesbians, and that unfairly limit the number of women in high-profile coaching jobs. Until all male and female sports leaders take true steps to end the barriers of homophobia, sexism and racism permeating the sports world, the decrease of women coaches will continue, and generations of athletes will be denied access to talented, inspiring coaches who could change their lives while changing the game. Both women work for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). Serving as its Sports Project Director, Helen J. Carroll is a former championship-winning coach for the University of North CarolinaAsheville and was the athletic director for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) . Ashland Johnson is Policy Council for NCLR and was a former varsity women's basketball player who has also worked for the National Women's Law Center and Lambda Legal.
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FOOD
By Chef Art Smith
Finding Protection in Food and Diversity I WAS INSPIRED BY MY FAMILY’S agrarian-style farm-to-table cooking — but most importantly, by how they cooked from their hearts to the hearts of those they fed. I started cooking young and have now been at it for over 30 years. Food is what sustains us and I believe that you can taste its intention. Home-cooked food is what we all remember. Some like me remember it as fresh, wonderful, soothing and comforting while others remember it as less-than-perfect, wanting to run from it. Food is a personal statement. It really is my calling card. Food is also the security I’ve used to protect myself. I love feeding people, how it pleases them and makes them love you. As a personal chef I’ve tried to keep the taste of home in my cooking. The bigger and more well-known people become, the more they seek to simplify their food. I’ve cooked for heads of state, holy men and television celebrities. They all love my southern cuisine and love to share it with their friends. As a child I was bullied for being different. Being gay in a small rural town required me to hide from bullies. And when I appeased my grandparents and family by taking up music, it protected me from my father. He used to say and do things to me that, in his mind, would make me tougher. But it was really bullying. I found peace from it with the southern African-American folks who worked on the family farm. I was raised by Leila Curry, an amazing woman who loved and protected me. When segregation in the south was in its saddest hours, she explained race riots and the horrors of what I was seeing on TV to me. As she made me her famous egg salad sandwiches, she said that “people simply got to learn to love each other.” I could taste the love deep inside me. Her family and others who worked on the farm treated me like their child, shielding me from my father. As they sang spiritual songs of pain and hope, I thought of myself being more African American than white. That food and culture continues in my life till this day. Leila's love is still within me. Many who know my career have seen my interaction with some of the most well-known, powerful African Americans of our time, from talk show queen Oprah Winfrey to President Obama. The heart of our home is Iris Davis who has followed in the footsteps of Leila, loving and caring for Jesus and me. She is our surrogate mother. Safety can be found living in segregated neighborhoods and attending private schools and clubs. But I found acceptance in diversity, using my food to give love and employment to others. We all wish to be loved and have a sense of belonging. We all have survival instincts. But it’s also comforting to know that there are people among us who have lived and walked the same path. Chef Art Smith has five restaurants across the U.S., has written three cookbooks, and is the founder of Common Threads, an organization to educate children on cultural diversity, nutrition and physical well-being through cooking and the arts.
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