ULTIMATE ATHLETE NEW YORK CITY EDITION SUMMER 2011
GARY FORBES
BASKETBALL CAMP VAN CORTLANDT PARK SWIMMING TEAM
S
FOOTBALL
WARRIOR
BIG APPLE GAMES
Editor Letter From The Editor
Ultimate Athlete Magazine
PUBLISHER/CEO
Hey Fans!
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Thanks for checking out this summer edition of Ultimate Athlete Magazine! We hope you are having a great break and have made some great warm weather memories with friends and family. Of course, even with school out of session, we here at UA are still busy bringing you continuous coverage of exciting events and unique sports throughout the boroughs. We’re always interested in how you are keeping busy by staying fit and active, or how you are working on your game in order to come back this fall in your best shape ever. In this edition we’ll bring you coverage of the basketball camp held by NBA player Gary Forbes where attendees could get trained in both athletic and life skills by the basketball professional. In another article, you can read about another name in the big leagues, John Stark, where we highlight his foundation that benefits youth athletics. There’s also coverage of a handball tournament held on Coney Island that was sponsored by Red Bull, and a recap of the annual UnitedHealthCare Empire Challenge. So take a break from the sun and flip through the pages of our magazine and stay up to date with Ultimate Athlete Magazine online too! Log onto Facebook and “like” our page, or keep checking back with us on www.ultimateathletemagazine.com! We always appreciate the support from our readers.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Renee Keller Darlene Dowling Jeff Haber Jerry DelPriore Robert Brewer Dr. Tom Ferraro Joe Pietaro Mike Mejia, cscs
Enjoy the rest of your summer and we’ll see you in the fall! CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
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ultimateathletemagazine.com ultimate Ultimate Athlete Magazine (ISSN 1931-5295) is published 12 times a year by Ultimate Athlete, Inc., 40 Woodbine Avenue, Northport, New York 11768. All contents copyright 2009 by Ultimate Athlete, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or part of the content without the prior written consent of Ultimate Athlete, Inc. is strictly prohibited. All logos and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Although the writers and the publisher have exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and the completeness of the information contained in this publication, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. The opinions expressed in all materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Ultimate Athlete, Inc or Long Island’s Ultimate Athlete Magazine.
SUMMER 2011
Conten
S T N CONTE
nts Featur Features
12 Big Apple Games
Football at Lincoln High School
18 John Starks Foundation A Non-Profit Organization
24 Empire Challenge 2011 Summary
26 Red Bull Slaps Handball
30 Empire Challenge 2011 Game Recap
34 Van Cortlandt Park Swimming Team
38 Gary Forbes Basketball Camp
44 Sports Psychology Are You Having Fun Yet?
48 UA Training Short Circuit
54 Pro Corner
Picture Perfect - Derek Jeter
>>>
Photo by Daniel Zimmer
Athletes from different schools and sports participate in the Big Apple Games at various locations to work their skills and stamina during the off summer months, or just to have fun! Here, football players attend a session at Lincoln High School.
SPEED
SHUTTER
>>>
Photo by Daniel S. Burnstein
At the Gary Forbes Basketball Camp, a player goes up for an easy basket, but is rejected by another player who won始t allow two-points while he is playing defense.
SPEED
SHUTTER
By: Darlene Dowling | Photos By: Daniel Zimmer
T
he PSAL has lots going on from September to June, including football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and cricket, but you may not know that the PSAL also has a series of free summer programs going on too. These programs take place in dozens of schools and recreation centers across the five boroughs. This annual summertime event is called the Big Apple Games, and while it may sound a lot like the Olympics, it’s actually designed to give kids in grades 4 through 12 access to training in a variety of different sports, as well as other kinds of recreational activities and even arts and crafts.
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The Big Apple Games kick off on July 6th and keep going until August 12th. To join, all the kids and their parents have to do is sign up. There are two components to this PSAL program – one provides instruction in sports like basketball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, volleyball, swimming, football, track and field, while the other provides general recreational and conditioning activities to kids of all ages, including swimming. ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
In the beginning, the Big Apple Games started out as a purely recreational event but over time they’ve created sport specific programs, which take place in schools across the city. Also, some schools and their teams use the recreation time to keep their skills up in the off season, while some of the city’s private schools have their teams workout at private gyms to stay in shape and maintain top preseason conditioning. But, city teams don’t have that option, so the Big Apple Games have begun to fill in that role. Recently, I caught up with Peter Gambardella, the head football coach at Curtis High School on Staten Island, where during the summertime he’s the site supervisor for the Big Apple Games. He’s been involved since 2003, when he as a teacher at Wagner High School. Back then, the players were limited to doing body conditioning sessions and there weren’t any football workshops available.
But things have changed. According to Coach Gambardella, “The Big Apple Games have been around for a while, but it has only been the last few years where it’s evolved to become a football training site where teams gather and go through their preseason training.” He added that in this way, “athletes arrive in shape and it prevents preseason injuries.” While football kicks off the high school sports season, there are similar clinics for most sports, including baseball, soccer and lacrosse. Students can sharpen their track and field skills at schools such as Louis D. Brandeis High School, which offered a soccer clinic, and Sheepshead Bay High School, where students can hone their track and field skills. What is also great about the Big Apple Games besides the fact that kids can keep their athletic chops up is the general recreational programs they offer. These sites tend to provide a camp-like atmosphere, and use a two tier approach that includes younger aged students. The junior high school program takes place during the day, where kids have access to sport skills classes, as well as being able to take part in recreational sports, arts and crafts classes, and use the game room. The teen program takes place in the afternoon and evening, where they can take part in a variety of activities ranging from team handball, gymnastics and ultimate Frisbee, to wrestling, volleyball, basketball, softball, and floor hockey. If the site has a pool, then swimming is also offered, which can be a real boon in the dog days of summer. The Big Apple Games also offer programs for kids with special needs through their recreational program. Bushwick High School offered a swimming program for children with special needs in August, while many of the recreation programs with pools offer similar programs as well. While the Big Apple Games just ended, they will be happening again next year, and hopefully many years to come.
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F
ormer New York Knicks allstar John Starks was known as a fierce competitor with an unmatched passion for the game of basketball. His epic playoff battles with the likes of Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller and Tim Hardaway are forever etched in the memories of Knick fans. Now, after nearly a decade since he played his last NBA game, Starks is still utilizing his intense passion to provide an opportunity for college bound students to have a leg up on the future.
Long before his fame with the Knicks, Starks was not a highly touted high school athlete and was not awarded a college scholarship. As a result, he struggled with the cost of a higher education and found himself enrolled at four different colleges throughout the mid 80’s before finally settling in at Oklahoma State University, where he finished his college education in 1988. By creating the John Starks Foundation in 1994, Starks hopes to provide a helping hand to future students who may
have suffered through the same financial difficulty as he once did. “Young people are the key to our country’s future, and I would like to give them some opportunities that I didn’t have growing up,” said Starks. “This can give them the best chance to succeed in the future. I can give them the baton and hopefully they can take this baton and run with it all the way to the finish line. If I can help some kids reach their future goals and reach their full potential in life, I’d be very happy with that.” 19
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The John Starks Foundation, a non-profit organization, awards a total of ten to fifteen scholarships each academic year to various high school students in Starks’ native town of Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as in the New York/Tri-State area. With over 250 applications each year, scholarship recipients are selected based upon financial need, exemplary academic achievement and a commitment to community service. Since its inception in 1994, the John Starks Foundation has provided over 200 students with academic grants to pursue their college education. In addition to awarding scholarships, the foundation will be creating “Seminars for Success,” which will assist students with the necessary tools needed to complete and submit a college application, prepare for a college or job interview, and finding additional financial aid and internship opportunities.Funding for the John Starks Foundation uses individual and corporate donations, as well as special events to fund the community and scholarship programs. These events include celebrity bowling, casino nights and golfing tournaments. During these events, many New York celebrity athletes have made appearances in support of the John Starks Foundation. Former Knick teammates and NBA legends such as Allan Houston, Patrick Ewing, and Julius Erving among others have all taken to help raise awareness for the John Starks Foundation. “I’ve known John and played with John for a long time, and his passion isn’t just limited to basketball,” said former Knick teammate Allan Houston. “He’s always wanted to use the platform that God has given him to influence people in a good way. John’s foundation is right on target in terms of what we need to be focusing on to ensure the welfare of our children.”
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On Tuesday, June 28th, Starks, along with key volunteers from the John Starks Foundation were on hand at BLT Prime on East 22nd Street in Manhattan at a private dinner to congratulate this year’s class of scholarship recipients. Sponsorship representatives from Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, NY Knicks and UBS were also in attendance. Josh Harrellson, one of the newest members of the Knicks family, also made an appearance at the dinner to show his support for the John Starks Foundation. The six-foot-ten inch rookie from Kentucky University clearly understands the type of influence that Starks still commands
within the New York community. “Once I found out a little more about John and the type of career he had in New York, I thought it would be the right thing to do to come out here and show support. He’s a great role model, not only to the future NBA players like myself, but also to young people everywhere,” he said. If you would like make a donation or find out more information about future events for the John Starks Foundation, please log onto www. JohnStarks.org.
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Step up your healthy lifestyle. UnitedHealthcare is right behind you. We all know that regular visits to the doctor are important. But growing healthy is about more than just doctor visits. An active lifestyle that includes exercise is an essential part of your overall well-being, including both your body and your mind. That’s why we provide members with the tools, resources and information they need to get active and stay motivated. At UnitedHealthcare, through our Oxford products, we’re committed to helping New York area members live well and grow healthy.
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Empire Empire Challenge Challenge
Story By Jeff Haber / / Photos By Adil Borluca and Morgan Harrison Long Island defeated New York City in the 16th annual UnitedHealthCare Empire Challenge High School Football All-Star Game by a score of 17-14, but in this game, the score didn’t matter much. This game was more about the young athletes and money raised for youth and high school football and the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which raises money for cystic fibrosis research. “The bottom line is the game is great for our community first and foremost,” said Boomer Esiason, former NFL quarterback for the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals and founder of the Boomer Esiason Heroes Foundation. “The nice off shoot of it is that we can raise money for cystic fibrosis, but giving these 100 kids a memory that will last a lifetime, a jersey that will remind them every time of a good experience, it means just as much to me as the cause we’re fighting for.” Esiason’s son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as
a child. One of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults, cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract. Despite his disability, Gunner played in the Empire Challenge in 2008 and now watches from the bleachers as he recollects playing in the game. “I remember growing up and looking up to these big guys and then finally playing in the game that was pretty cool; just being one of the guys on the team,” he said. “Now being older then them, it’s something I’m still getting used to, but it’s still very special to see that the kids really have a rivalry now between the city and Long Island and that’s one of the best parts of the game.” Although the players and coaches on each side did want to win, at the end of the day, the experience and the cause was more than enough to make this game a special event. “They [the athletes] understand it [the meaning of the game]
201 20111 Recap Recap
too because most of them have been coming here since 7th and 8th grade so they understand what’s attached to it and they know it’s about Gunner and cystic fibrosis,” Boomer said. “At the end of the day, it’s also about them as young men experiencing something that many of them will never experience again and that’s their last football game and doing on the big stage like this. So to me it’s a great all around win for everybody.” Now, in its 16th year, the game has grown into an even larger event throughout the day. The Generation Jets FanFest included inflatable obstacle courses and photo opportunities with the Jets Flight Crew cheerleaders. Outback Steakhouse provided a tailgate party that raised money for the Boomer Esiason Foundation and Ultimate Athlete Magazine provided a sports expo where vendors set up tents to show off their new products.
the game was broadcasted on live television, giving the game even more visibility. “It’s come a long way in its 16th year seeing it on live TV,” Gunnar said. “It was a blessing to play in this game and I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life,” said New Utrecht Quarterback and Player of the Game, Jordan Paul. Although his team lost, New York City head coach Daniel Perez held his head high knowing that the cause mattered more than the scoreboard. “It was a great job by the kids, we had a lot of fun and I hope they consider doing this for many years,” he said.
The expo created plenty of excitement before the game, which drew 11,992 fans, a game record. This year was the first year that
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NYC HANDBALL HAND BALL Tournament Finals june 25th + 26th
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Slaps RedBull
RedBull Slaps
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n June 25 and 26 the Asser Levy Courts on the Coney Island Boardwalk was host to the Red Bull Slaps Handball tournament, where players signed up for free to compete in one of the largest handball tournaments in New York City. In a city where over 500 handball courts made this unique sport one of the most popular ones, the tournament proved to be a must for many handball enthusiasts. The tournament, sponsored by Red Bull, was free to enter and offered a cash prize. The top eight finishers of the 2010 Red Bull Slaps tournament were automatically invited, while the other 32 players were registered by first come first serve. “Red Bull’s tournament is awesome because anyone could sign up--it doesn’t matter who it is, they’ll let anybody in the tournament,” said Joshua Garcia, a contestant with ten years of experience. “Kids can jump into this, and they can’t if they pay to join a tournament and lose every game.” One-wall handball has made a comeback in Brooklyn in the 1990’s, amongst teenagers. Handball has thrived in inner-city areas because anyone can play.
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Most players grew up playing the sport with their family and friends, and don’t need anything more than a cheap rubber ball and a wall. This is different than a sport like tennis, where one needs buy expensive equipment and private lessons to progress. In a sport like soccer or handball all one needs to get good is a ball and a wall; no large finances required. “My father got me into playing when I was four or five years old and he would take me to the park across the street from my house and I would just hit the ball,” Garcia said. “I was just hyped and I wanted to learn how to play.” The tournament was comprised of two different events. There’s the big blue tournament, which features a normal racquetball, and a small ball tournament. The big blue ball moves slower and does not bounce as high as a small ball. The small ball is harder, and bounces higher making it tougher to hit.
RedBull S laps
Handball games are played to 21 points, where only the server scores. Much like tennis, the main strategy of the game is to be consistent and just keep getting the ball back to the wall. The best players are the quickest with their hands and feet and can consistently hit the wall from any spot on the court. “If you get to every ball back to the wall then it doesn’t matter if you never hit a good shot,” said 21-year-old player David Cao, who has been playing the sport for seven years. “As long as you keep hitting the ball back to the wall because sooner or later the other guy is going to miss.”
RedBull Slaps
There are only three main pro singles tournaments all year, so having another one is important for New York handball players. Handball doesn’t usually get sponsors as big as Red Bull. It is also rare in the sport to have players of all ages, and skill levels compete in one tournament. This can happen with a free tournament, such as this one. With Red Bull as its main sponsor the tournament was promoted very well in the New York City area as a free tournament where anyone can join, and anyone can win the cash prize. This attracted those who have never played the game and want to start playing competitively, but because of the handball tournaments, one has to pay a fee to enter many who want to try the sport competitively don’t. This draws in a new crop of players who the professionals have never seen or played against before. Not a lot of New York City players get this opportunity
RedBull Slaps
“I’m not a big kid, I never worked out and I wasn’t really into sports, but there was something about handball the moment I started playing that made me driven to try hard to run to move my legs, and just do things I wasn’t capable of doing before,” Cao said. “People like to play regardless of your level.” He continued to mention that this tournament was special because any one of any skill level can play, creating a greater sense of a handball community and culture.
laps RedBull S
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Empire Challenge 2011: Game Recap
Story By Jeff Haber / / Photos By Morgan Harrison and Adil Borluca Long Island defeated New York City in the 16th annual UnitedHealthCare Empire Challenge High School Football All-Star Game, 17-14 at Hofstra University on June 21. Long Island struck first, scoring just four minutes into the game on a 26-yard pass from Oceanside quarterback Tyler Heuer to Lawrence wide receiver Seiddrik Ervin. Ervin lit up the New York City defense in the first quarter, racking up three catches for 38 yards. With 5:15 left in the first quarter, Long Island recovered a New York City fumble leading to Kellenberg’s Tim Wineclaw’s 26-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0. New York City seized Long Island’s momentum going into 30 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
the half with 14 seconds left in the second quarter. New Utrecht quarterback Jordan Paul and Cardinal Hayes wide out Abraham Ocasio connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass to shorten Long Island’s lead to 10-7 going into the locker room. That momentum carried into the second-half after a huge 59-yard run by Tottenville running back Steve Browne, which set up a six-yard touchdown pass from Christ the King quarterback Terrell Hunt to Poly Prep tight end James Barry. With New York City carrying all the momentum, the turning point of the game came on a 4th and 1 with 6:18 left in the fourth quarter. NYC decided to go for it, but was stymied by Lynbook-
linebacker and future Maine Blackbear Mike Kozlakowski, who stuffed the run at the line of scrimmage. Kozlakowski’s athleticism and speed constantly got him behind the New York City line of scrimmage and created havoc for their quarterbacks, winning him the MVP award. He ended the game with two sacks for 17 yards and was a key defensive player for Long Island throughout the game. “I came out just to get the victory but this on top of it feels great,” Kozlakowski said. “When I got the invite to this game, I just thought it was for a great cause and playing with this group of guys, it feels great. Everybody out here is coming out for a good night and a great cause.” New York City made one last attempt to tie the game with 30 seconds left. Paul completed a couple passes to put NYC in field goal range to tie the game, but New York City missed a 45-yard field goal as time expired. For New York City, Tottenville’s Steve Browne rushed twice for 66 yards and caught four catches for 30 yards. Jordan Paul won the Player of the Game award completing 8 of his 12 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown. “I wanted to show everybody what kind of athletes we had on the NYC squad and I really wanted to do this for Boomer and his kid,” Paul said. “It feels really good. I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life and it’s not easy to get a Player of the Game award.” Although New York City lost, the game was focused on having fun and raising money for the Boomer Esiason Foun-
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dation, which raises money to help fund cystic fibrosis research. This was the first year the game was broadcasted on live television and this helped spread the game’s visibility and cystic fibrosis awareness. “I am very proud of how the event has grown and gained recognition over the years,” Boomer Esiason said. The game started as a match between Suffolk and Nassau County back in 1996. By 1998, New York City came into the fold, transforming the event into a game between Long Island and New York City. Today, the game has become an annual rivalry with pregame festivities and events for both children and adults all day long. The event started off with the third annual Ultimate Athlete sports expo, which included booths covering the concourse floor at James M. Shuart stadium, all showcasing vendors’ products and showing their support for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Along with the expo, there was the Generation Jets FanFest, which included inflatable obstacle courses and Outback Steakhouse offered a tailgate party with live music to cap off the pregame festivities. To kick off the game, John Amirante, who sings the national anthem for New York Ranger games, sang our country’s anthem. As he belted the familiar lyrics, a giant 150-foot by 300-foot flag covered the field, being held by 150 volunteers plus the players and coaches, to remind everyone that their the fight against cystic fibrosis and our support for United States of America. These aspects brought everyone together for this event.
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▶ Coach Rosario
▶ Bronx-Van Cortlandt Park
Swim Team ▶ Story by: Renee Keller ▶ Photos by: Andrew Adler
“My favorite stroke is the butterfly,” says Chinwe Abaraoha, 15, who is entering her fourth year as a competitive swimmer for the Van Cortlandt Park Swim Team in the Bronx. ”I like the butterfly stroke because it’s different from the other techniques,” she explains. “You have little time to recover and it shows how much strength you have.” To strenghthen her skills, Abaraoha also practices on her own at a private community pool for an hour, two days a week. She also served as an assistant swim coach for one year at her school, St. Catherine’s Academy, for community service. Besides Abaraoha, there are over a dozen swimmers on the Van Cortlandt Park Swim Team, ranging in age from 6-17-years-old, from novice to advanced. Carmelo Rosario has been the head coach for the past three years. Every year the team competes against other squads from Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens in the New York City Five Borough Swim Team Championships. This year’s event will take place August 6 at Fish Pool in Manhattan. Team training starts in early July on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9a.m. and lasts 45 minutes. There are ten classes. Basic training includes warm-up, freestyle and practice for competition. “We don’t have a lot of time to practice,” says coach Rosario, “So I work on two important skills, getting them to swim faster and ‘grow lungs,’ which means teaching the kids to breathe properly so that they get as much air as possible into their lungs as they swim in and out of the water doing the butterfly technique. It’s kind of like being a dolphin,” Rosario added. “You dive up out of the water and then back down. You have to be able to breathe correctly to swim safely.” The butterfly
stroke is very difficult to master, he coach, because of the breathing technique that’s required and you have to use all of your body. “It is the masterpiece of all of the strokes,” he adds. There are two other strokes the team practices for the competition-freestyle and backstroke. “The freestyle technique is used in national competitions,” said Coach Rosario. It is similar to the front crawl. “I try to teach the swimmers how to do the front-crawl,’ he added, “It’s a bit harder and is also used more in Europe.” The backstroke is a technique that lets swimmers float on their back so they don’t use too much oxygen because their faces stay out of the water. When choosing a swimmer for the competitive team, the coach looks for someone who is a hard worker and has good form. Nancy Ocampo, 14, has been on the team for four years. She attends International Academy. Her favorite technique is the backstroke. “That’s how I learned how to swim, “she said. Ocampo is one of three 14-year-old girls on the team. Younger competitors in the 6-8-year-old category compete in 25 meter races along with 9-10-year-old. Advanced swimmers in n the following age categories 8-year-old, 9-10; 11-12-year-olds; 13-14-yearolds; 15-17-year-olds compete in 50 meter races. For the past few years, the Van Cortlandt Park team has finished in second or third place during most competitions primarily because some of the youngsters can’t always make it to the final competitions due to lack of transportation. “I’m trying to see if the Parks and Recreation Department can provide a van, so that the entire team will be able to attend future championship competitions,” said the coach.
The NFL Youth Football Fund and USA Football salute the players of the 2011 Empire Challenge High School Football All-Star Game. Football teaches its players, coaches and participants valuable life lessons that can be applied both on and off the field. Your participation today is not only a celebration of your all-star season, but also a testament to the perseverance of Empire Challenge Inc. and the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Their tireless efforts in the fight against cystic fibrosis bring those with the disease closer to a cure, and help them live healthier lives.
By: Jerry DelPriore Photos By: Daniel S.Burnstein
NBA Player, Brooklyn Native Gary Forbes Returns Home for Good Causes
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or NBA player Gary Forbes, giving back to his Brooklyn community has always been top priority to him.
While some professional athletes donate money and volunteer a measure of their time to various causes, Forbes held his first basketball camp over four full days (July 15-16 for junior high students; July 22-23 for high school students) at his high school alma mater, Benjamin Banneker Academy in Fort Greene. “I always come back to my high school,” Forbes, who grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant, explained. “I just wanted to give back to the kids. I never had an NBA player or anybody give a camp. I try to do the good things, and bring it back to Brooklyn. And so far, it’s turned out so good. “ If that wasn’t enough, Forbes, a type I diabetic diagnosed at the age of 20, has joined forces with the American Diabetes Association as an advocate and Honorary Spokesperson to raise awareness among youth and adults about the disease. The ADA will host Forbes and his supporters – ‘Team Gay Forbes’ – at the annual New York City StepOut to Stop Diabetes Walk held on Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the South Street Seaport-Pier 17 in Manhattan http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/GreaterNewYorkCityArea?pg=t eam&fr_id=7805&team_id=511922). Donna Lalwani, Associate Manger of Fundraising and Special Events for the ADA, estimates over 800,000 New Yorkers are currently stricken with diabetes, and that more one million are possibly walking around undiagnosed, making it important to get involved and become educated in every facet of the disease. “The American Diabetes Association, we’re interesting in serving people of all forms of Diabetes – Type I, Type 2, pre-diabetes, gestational (pregnancy) diabetes – as well their families,” Lalwani explained at the basketball camp.
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“So Gary, being a Type I individual who has diabetes, who lives a healthy and active lifestyle as an NBA player for the Denver Nuggets, has decided to join our Stop Diabetes movement. “He will be participating in leading our NYC StepOut Walk to Stop Diabetes. People can come aboard, join Team Gary, raise funds, invite their friends, families, coworkers, and be part of this StepOut movement.” For his camp, Forbes, 26, enlisted the assistance of his former high school coach, Wendell Saunders, and Warrior teammates to run basketball drills and exercises for the student-athletes attendees. But he took it upon himself, along with the help of Augustus Grissett, his former high school math teacher, to stress the importance of a quality education, while providing vital information on health and diabetes. “My parents were big on education,” the Panamanian-born Forbes, who earned a communication degree from the University of Massachusetts, recollected. “They really preached about education.” “He was an excellent student,” added Grissett, who started the ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ program at Banneker, requiring students, including Forbes, to carry tracking sheets that teachers graded based on school attendance, homework and behavior, permitting them to participate in afterschool basketball tournaments. Though admired for his tireless, diligent work ethic, it’s Forbes’ affable personality that has endeared him to the countless people that have crossed his path, making it almost impossible not to rally around him. “I think more people who I know have rooted for Gary,” Grissett said. “I don’t know ten people who don’t like Gary. “ While Forbes achieved his aspiration of playing in the NBA, his route to the “Big Time” was anything but typical. He played for two high schools, two colleges, two NBA development teams, a few games in the Philippines and Valenzuela, and then in Italy and Israel. He averaged 13.3 points per game for Vanoli Cremona in Italy, and led the Israeli Basketball Super League, the country’s premier league, in scoring with 20.3 per contest, sparking interest from the NBA.
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Denver invited Forbes to its preseason training camp, where he averaged 10.1 pts and 2.9 rebounds. His spirited effort proved to be the determining factor in securing the Nuggets’ final roster spot. It was a dream come true for Forbes, he noted, but his circuitous journey to the NBA helped him acquire remarkable perspective, making it that much sweeter when his hardwood fantasy finally came to fruition. “I wouldn’t give back many of those experiences that I had for anything,” the six-footseven swingman said. “I had a great time in Italy; I had a great time in the D-league. All of those experiences made me who I am today. I appreciate getting to the NBA a lot more than I probably would have if I got drafted. I really worked for it. “ And there’s no doubt that he’ll continue to go all-out in order to become a mainstay in NBA, while fighting a winning battle with diabetes and giving back to his community. To register, donate or volunteer for the New York City StepOut to Stop Diabetes Walk, log onto http://stepout.diabetes.org/site/ PageServer?pagename=OUT_homepage.org
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Are you having fun yet?
have a coach that screams. And this begs the question “Is there any room for fun in sports? In this article I will explore this simple question. Many athletes will begin their first session by confiding how much they hate their sport. My favorite story happened this summer. I was asked by a tour player to join him in playing golf with two MLB franchise owners at an exclusive club. It was a very pleasant sunny day for the first 8 holes when the tour player whispers to me on the 9th tee “I can’t take this any longer, tell them that it looks like rain and we have to quit after nine.” The pro hated to play golf.
The key to great performance is the ability to enjoy the sport at all times
A
patient, who is a business man, recently asked me a simple question. ”What happened to fun on the job?” He went on to explain how years ago when the corporate world was more relaxed he would enjoy the fun and laughter on the job but not anymore. Now it’s all grind, grind and more grind. I immediately began to think of how this same grinding attitude prevails in sports. I work with many elite high school athletes and if they have one thing in common it’s that nobody is having much fun. They are all worried, injured, stressed, overworked and 44 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
The key to great performance is the ability to enjoy the sport at all times Far too many athletes take the game too seriously and this only results in anger, injury and tight play The literature on sports and fun reveals two basic points. The most well-known text on the sociology of sports was written by Johan Huizinga entitled Homo Ludens: A study of the play element in culture. He pointed out that sports were played in earnest and in fact were far more serious than ordinary life. Sports offered up beauty, the sacredness of the playing field, many rules to follow and that the
beauty and excitement of games set them apart from life on an unconscious and above life. This may be why we are willing to devote level we all know so much time and money and effort to our sport. how crucial winning Another writer Ernest Becker won a Pulitzer Prize for is especially in big his book Denial of Death where he wrote that sports are games. It may mean a way to achieve heroic victory and our way to overcome getting a scholarship our fear and despair about death. All very heavy stuff. or winning $1,300, Suffice it to say that this literature reinforces our com- 000 as Darren Clarke mon sense awareness that sport is a very serious affair. did when he won the Scholarships are worth as much as $250,000 and sports British Open this accomplishments bring press clippings, community rec- summer. So what is the solution? How ognition and fame. do you stay relaxed and have fun when it’s all on the line? I recommend you A great coach knows how do two things. 1) You must feel rested to relax his players enough physically and socially to be able to relax and enjoy the game you play. No injuries, no burnout and no big social distractions to deal with, 2) then you must be able to see that you are in fact bigger than your sport. You must feel you do not need the win. What I have learned by working with athletes in long term therapy is that the athlete must be accepted and made to feel worthwhile no matter what the outcome. Only then can they relax and play freely. The reason that the Japanese team beat the US in this year’s Fifa World Cup for women is that before the penalty kicks the Japanese coach joked and fooled around and got his players to laugh. That is something that the US coach failed to do. The result was the It is only when you are relaxed that US team was way too tight during the kickoff and lost it you play with grace and power all .Sometimes great coaches can do that for players and The literature in sport psychology suggests that when sometimes you will need a sport psychologist to do this. you take your sport too seriously your performance will Sometimes a parent or a friend can help you see are of suffer. Too much intensity brings with it tight and poor value and thus lesson the pressure. What I do know is play. We know that the more relaxed and fun you are that the key to playing relaxed is to see that sport is only having the better you will play. Hebb coined the term a game and something to be enjoyed and played rather Optimal State of Arousal to describe the idea that too lit- than desperately worked on. Usually you ought to try to tle intensity and too much intensity hurts performance. relax breathe easy and try your best to minimize the presToo much effort and too much focus will make you too sure. Tell yourself how great you are already and go out tight. One must relax and try to have fun in order to play with a smile rather than a grimace. at your best. So we see the conflict. You play at your best when you are light hearted, having fun and relaxed and carefree. But
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UA Tr aining
Short Circuit
The athletic approach to summer fitness.
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Story By Mike Mejia, CSCS | Photos By Mike Browning
ith summer finally here, now’s the perfect time to kick back, relax and take a well deserved break from the rigors of scholastic sports. For the next couple of months you can forget all about the endless practices and constant traveling to away games and weekend tournaments. Yet, as much fun as summer can be, it’s not all about beaches and barbeques. Remember, you are still an athlete and will be expected to show up in at least some form of “sports-ready” condition this fall. Not to mention the fact, that you also want to be able to rock the kind of body that people associate with a varsity level competitor, while you’re hanging out poolside with your friends. So, the question is, how can you accomplish both of these goals, without spending too much of your precious summer vacation in the gym? Two words: Circuit Training! Now, I’m not talking about just any kind of circuit training here, mind you. Simply going through a battery of machine based exercises with little to no rest between sets may be fine for the general population, but it’s of little benefit to athletes. Instead, what you need are more functional movements that help improve things like core strength, mobility and explosive power, but strung together in a fastpaced, fat-melting circuit format! By training this way, you’ll accomplish several different things: Increased resistance to fatigue: The continuous pace, combined with the different focus of each exercise (i.e. explosive power, core strength, mobility and change of direction etc.) will really help improve your level of conditioning. It’s also a great way to mimic the constantly changing physical demands you’re exposed to during sports participation. (See below). A workout that’s more suited to your athletic goals: Don’t spend your summer building a body that’s “all show and no go” with lots of leg extensions, biceps curls and other non-functional types of exercises. As an athlete, you need to focus on drills that are going to train movements, not muscles, through multiple planes of motion and at varying speeds. Leave the bodybuilding style workouts to the guys in the Speedos. Radical increases in metabolic rate that lead to improved fat burning: When it comes to getting lean, a lot of people still think it’s all about aerobic training. The truth is, many of the best conditioned and leanest athletes in the world do almost no traditional aerobic training at all! The quick-hitting pace, combined with minimal rest not only more adequately prepares you for the intense anaerobic demands of sports like football, ice hockey and volleyball, but it will help keep your metabolism revving for hours after you’ve finished training- which is the real key to staying lean. The ultimate in convenience: Think about it! A workout that you can do anytime, anywhere, in a fraction of the time it would take to 48 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
do a typical gym based program! All you need is a couple of dumbbells and some open space and you’re good to go. Don’t like training in a stuffy gym? Take it outside and get your workout in at a park, or even your own backyard. Plus, doing so also allows you the option of throwing in some short burst sprints to increase the overall metabolic demand!
The Drills: 1. Dumbbell High Pull x 6-10: Stand holding a pair of dumb-
bells at arm’s length with your palms facing your thighs and knees slightly bent. Begin by quickly dipping down into a quarter squat position and then immediately extending your hips, knees and ankles as you “explode” the weight up by simultaneously shrugging and pulling the weights up until they’re even with your chest. Keep in mind though that the majority of the force is created by your legs; your arms don’t do much work at all here. In the top position you should hold the weight for a split second while up on the balls of your feet, with your legs straight and upper arms out in line with your shoulders. Quickly lower back down and repeat.
AINING 2. Dumbbell Lateral Lunge x 6-8 reps per side (alternating): Begin holding a pair of dumbbells at arm’s length with
your palms facing your thighs. Start by stepping out a couple of feet to your right and quickly dropping your hips down and back in to a squat position. As you do this, be sure to keep your left leg straight, as you allow the dumbbells to line up on either side of your right leg. In the bottom position, your right leg should be parallel to the floor, with your chest up, hips back and your right foot, knee and hip facing forward. Pause for a split second and then press back up and repeat the sequence to the other side.
3. Dumbbell Push-up with Renegade Rows x 8-10:
Begin by getting into a push-up position on top of a pair of dumbbells (*note: hexagonal dumbbells work best for this drill). With your shoulders lined up directly over your wrists, your core braced tight and feet about shoulder’s width apart, start by doing a perfect push-up by lowering your chest to within a few inches of the ground. Next, when you push back up to the top, keep your core tight as you row one dumbbell up until your elbow passes your torso, while balancing on the other arm and both legs. Hold for a second and then lower and repeat to the other side. Continue with another push-up and two more rows until you’ve completed the recommended number of reps.
4. Dumbbell Thrusters x 10-12: Stand holding a pair of dumbells a few inches above your shoulders with your palms facing your head and knees slightly bent. Begin by bracing your core and squatting down while holding the dumbbells in place until you reach a parallel squat position. After pausing for a split second, drive up, out of the squat as you simultaneously press the dumbbells up overhead. Once you get your arms fully extended, lower the weights back down as you drop back into a squat and continue the sequence.
For more great strength and training information from Mike Mejia, Visit his website at www.basesportsconditioning.com 49 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
UA Training
5. Dumbbell Woodchops x 10-12 per side: Stand hold-
ing one dumbbell up over your right shoulder with both hands and your knees slightly bent (*note: your left arm will be across the front of your body in this position). Your arms should be extended, legs almost straight and you should feel a good stretch across your midsection. Using your core and not your arms, begin by “chopping” the weight down and across your body. As you do this, be sure to squat a little and rotate your shoulders and hips so that in the bottom position, the weight is just outside your left thigh, with your core braced tight. Return the movement back to the top and repeat the prescribed number of reps before switching to the other side.
6. Dumbbell Unilateral Romanian Deadlift x 8-10 per side:
Stand holding a pair of dumbbells at arm’s length with your palms facing your thighs and knees slightly bent. Keeping that same amount of bend in your knees throughout the exercise, begin by pinching your shoulder blades together to activate your upper back, as you “drive” your hips back and begin to lean forward. In the bottom position, your torso should be just about parallel to the ground, with your shoulder blades still held together. You should feel a tremendous amount of stretch in your hamstring sand glutes as you do this. Finally, be sure to keep your core engaged so that your entire back stays flat. Pause in the bottom position for a split second and then drive your heels into the ground to stand back up.
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PRO C Pro Corner: Derek Jeter
PICTURE PERFECT Derek Jeter’s 3,000 Hits Extend to the Small Screen
By Joe Pietaro
F
ans love behind-the-scenes access to their favorite professional athletes. HBO has been one of the leaders in bringing that to television with shows such as “Hard Knocks,” and they were able to take advantage of a story that gripped the entire Tri-State area this summer.
JULY 2011 JULY9, 9, 2011
HIT 3,000 HIT 3,000
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ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
The hour-long documentary “Derek Jeter 3K” chronicled the New York Yankee captain’s chase into baseball history and reminded all of us just how special a player he is. To become the first Bronx Bomber to ever reach that milestone speaks for itself. The most illustrious franchise in sports history has held so many marks in the National Pastime, but no player has ever amassed that many hits while wearing pinstripes. (Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Dave Winfield and Paul Waner played for the Yankees during their respective careers, but not when they collected hit number 3,000.) This was not lost on Hal Steinbrenner.
O RNER “Derek has always played with a relentless, team-first attitude,” the Yankees managing general partner said. “And that mindset has helped sustain this organization’s objective of fielding championship-caliber teams year after year. It’s only fitting that he reach 3,000 hits during a victory against one of our American League rivals.” Adding the exclamation point, Jeter homered off Tampa Bay’s David Price for the ‘money shot’ on a day where the shortstop went 5-for-5, carrying his team to one-run home win. Jeter became the 28th player in Major League Baseball history to get 3,000 hits and one of his former teammates was not surprised at all. “I had the opportunity to play with Derek when he was a rookie in 1996,” said Boggs, “and I had no doubt that (he) would reach that milestone. He is a very consistent player and he never deviated from his game. When you stay healthy and you are consistent and compile a lengthy career like Derek has done, you have that opportunity to reach the 3,000 hit plateau.” That career has been parallel with the Yankees’ dynasty with four World Series championships and six American League pennants, surely not a coincidence. Jeter has been such a huge part of the winning that is expected every year in the Bronx and was recognized by another member of baseball’s 3,000 hit club. “To have the most hits for the most prestigious franchise in all of sports is pretty special,” said Paul Molitor. “If Derek stays healthy, he has a good chance to rack up a lot more hits.” 3,500 (five players) or even 4,000 hits (only two) are the next plateaus for Jeter to strive for and at the age of 37 that certainly will not be an easy task. But doubting anything Jeter is capable of doing would not be profitable. As a matter of fact, joining Ty Cobb and Pete Rose in the latter category would be deserving of an honor on the Silver Screen.
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