US Brings Home Little League World Series

By Laura Leigh Davidson
Sept. 2, 2009

A team from California came from behind to win the 2009 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Chula Vista’s Little Leaguers beat the Chinese Taipei team from Taoyuan, Taiwan, by a score of 6-3. (Taiwan is an island nation off the coast of China.)

This is the fifth year in a row that a team from the United States has taken home the championship banner for Little League baseball.

The game was hard-fought. The two squads were deadlocked at 0 until Wen Hua Sung and Chin Ou hit back-to-back homers in the third inning to give Chinese Taipei a 3-0 lead.

Then relief pitcher Kiko Garcia took the mound for Chula Vista. After that, no more Chinese Taipei batters crossed home plate. Kiko didn’t give up a single run for the rest of the game.

Chula Vista broke its scoreless streak with one run in the third inning. The team brought three more runs home in the fourth to move ahead, 4-3. Two more runs in the fifth inning put the score at 6-3. Kiko pushed through some last-inning jitters and struck out Yu Chieh Kao to end the game.

“We knew we could come back,” 13-year-old Kiko told ESPN. “We always do.”

Celebrating the Big Win

The west-coasters threw their gloves into the air and piled on the winning pitcher in celebration. Then the Little League champs took a victory lap around the stadium. After that, they collected handfuls of dirt from the pitcher’s mound to help commemorate their special win.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” 12-year-old third baseman Seth Godfrey said. “We went for it, and we did [it].”

Reporters were eager to know what the team wanted to do after the game. Shortstop Andy Rios said they were ready for a victory celebration at the team’s favorite restaurant back in Chula Vista. Seth agreed, and said he was hungry for some postgame fries.

Williamsport, Little League Capital of the World

This year’s World Series action drew more than 200,000 fans to Williamsport. The central Pennsylvania town is the only home the Little League World Series has ever known. The 10-day tournament featured some of the best 11- to 13-year-old baseball players from around the globe. In all, 16 teams competed for the championship: 8 U.S. squads and 8 from around the world.

Williamsport resident Carl Stotz founded Little League Baseball in 1939. The league’s original three teams played their first season in an empty lot. Today, approximately 2.7 million young boys and girls play little league baseball worldwide.

Source: Scholastic News Online

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Kids Can play Sports with Asthma

By Nicole Lukosius
August 28, 2009

Nearly 6.7 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma, but it doesn’t have to be something that hinders a youth football player’s experience.

Heading into the 11^th season of his career, St. Louis Rams middle linebacker Chris Draft has faced many formidable opponents on the field. But when he’s not lining up against some of the NFL’s best offensive playmakers, Draft battles another opponent off the field every day of his life.

Draft suffers from asthma, an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs, and has had to manage his health ever since his playing days at Stanford. Although asthma can usually be controlled once diagnosed, it may be more common than one might think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 22.9 million people living in the United States have asthma – with 6.7 million suffers under the age of 18.

Dr. David Callahan, Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, said when it comes to youth athletes, parents and coaches need to educate themselves on how to handle the situation when an asthma attack strikes.

“If I had to pick two things for a coach to know, know which of your kids have asthma, and know what to do in an asthma emergency,” Dr. Callahan said. “Make sure that the kids with asthma have an asthma action plan from their physician.

“Parents of youth athletes should be working with their family physician to make sure that their asthma is well controlled and that they have both the appropriate controller medication and the appropriate rescue medication.”

Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma is not curable, but attacks should only occur when a “trigger” bothers the lungs.

“Exercise itself can do it because of the increased rate of breathing, cold weather, cold air can be a trigger,” Dr. Callahan said. “Pollen also is a very common one and is at its peaks in the spring for trees and in the fall for ragweed. Something else to look for is air pollution.”

Because this disease affects nearly 9 percent of all children, the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program (MDH) and the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program (UDOH) collaborated together to educate others on the disease through “Winning with Asthma.” A private-public partnership created by the National Lt. Governor’s Association and funded by the CDC, the “Winning with Asthma” campaign features a Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program, which Draft has signed on with as the National Spokesman.

This issue has always been something Draft said is near and dear to him, and he hopes his example will encourage others to not let asthma interfere with following their dreams.

“It is controllable,” Draft said. “With the right attention and understanding of what asthma is, you can play and enjoy playing football. You can’t ignore it – it’s like football in a way.

“If a player is struggling on the field, you don’t ignore your stumbling block. You face it. You study it. You take it on. The “Winning with Asthma” program helps people get to that point.”

The Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program is designed to help coaches learn about asthma, how it affects an athlete’s ability to compete and how coaches can help their athletes manage their symptoms while performing at their very best.

Dr. Callahan recommends these steps to follow when an asthma attack occurs:

“First of all, the athlete should tell the coach immediately, stop the activity that he’s doing, and immediately be given a rescue medication – usually Albuterol – with an inhaler or a nebulizer.”

And in the event that the asthma attack appears to be severe, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“If it’s a severe attack – if the athlete’s lips or nails are blue, or has difficulty talking, walking or drinking liquids – that’s an indication to call 9-1-1 right away,” Dr. Callahan said. “The other very good reason to call 9-1-1 is if the coach or child is simply unsure what to do. It’s never wrong to call, and minutes do count when things get severe.”

Dr. Callahan said one precaution those with asthma should take this fall involves a new vaccine. The 2009 H1N1influenza vaccine is in production and early testing now and should be available in early October.

“We recommend that for seasonal flu, all children with asthma get a flu shot, and this year, all persons with asthma should get a seasonal flu shot and also the H1N1 flu vaccine,” he said. “This is a new virus meaning it has not circulated before in the population, so because of that, there is very little immunity to it.”

He also encourages youth football coaches to look at the “Winning with Asthma” program online to learn more about how to help improve the experience for youth athletes.

“Our expectation for asthma is that youth athletes should be able to take part in activities without feeling restricted,” Dr. Callahan said. “They should be as much a member – and as good a member – of the team as children without asthma.”

Source: USA Football

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Michael Phelps Unhurt After 3-Car Crash

By Stephen M. Silverman
August 14, 2009

Michael Phelps walked away uninjured Thursday night in downtown Baltimore after being behind the wheel of a late-model Cadillac Escalade when it collided with a Honda Accord that a woman was driving, say reports.

Police told the Baltimore Sun that besides Phelps’s SUV, the Accord and a parked vehicle were seriously damaged during the 9 p.m. incident.

The female driver was described as “shaken up” and reportedly taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Police are said to have quizzed Phelps on what occurred. Alcohol was not a factor, according to news reports.

Phelps, 24, holds the Olympic record with 14 gold medals for swimming. In 2004, shortly after winning six gold medals at the Athens Olympics, he was pulled over by police after running a stop sign. He subsequently pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

Source: People

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

WWE Superstar John Cena

By MWF/PIO
July 23, 2009

All it took was one look at WWE Superstar John Cena in action, and Alan became a pro wrestling fan. He was visiting a friend in 2004 when he caught a glimpse of a WWE match featuring Cena. Alan saw an unyielding, unflinching quality in Cena that he couldn’t resist.

“Every time somebody challenges him, he never backs down,” Alan said.

Alan Learns from Cena – Don’t Back Down

One day, Alan felt a bump on his shoulder that worried him. A week later, doctors performed an ultrasound. He was soon diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Believe it or not, Alan considered himself lucky – his form of Hodgkin’s is considered very treatable. Doctors told him to expect six months of chemotherapy and other treatments. He was ready to pile-drive his illness into submission.

Alan must’ve channeled John Cena’s fighting spirit – he beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma in just three months.

“It makes me feel great because a lot of people at my church were praying for me,” Alan says.

Now, Alan expects his chemotherapy port to be removed in a few months.

Celebrating his Victory

Alan’s wish began with a limo ride to the airport, a short flight, dinner at Medieval Times and a visit to Six Flags. Though he had a great time on the Mr. Freeze rollercoaster, the next day is where his wish was really ready to start.

At a local Dallas mall, Alan dropped into a GameStop store and was playing video games when John Cena “walked up all casual” to greet him. The two squared off for a few rounds of Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009. (See video at bottom of page.)

“He started stretching,” Alan says, laughing. “It was really funny!”

After losing a few matches, a gracious Cena signed his hat and handed it to Alan. GameStop rewarded Alan for his victory with a backpack filled with video games, t-shirts and a GameStop hat. Then, both were off to Monday Night Raw.

Ringside at Raw

Alan took yet another limo ride, this time to arrive at Monday Night Raw. Before the action started, he met Superstars Shawn Michaels and Jeff Hardy. Cena arrived, carrying a load of signed souvenirs for Alan – dogtags, wristbands, shirts and more.

That night, Cena lost to The Big Show.

“But only because The Edge interfered,” Alan insists.

After the loss, though, Alan’s prediction that Cena would win at Wrestlemania came true. And the loss did nothing to diminish the experience or his favorite Superstar.

“He’s bigger in person,” Alan says. “His whole arm is bigger than me!”

Please make a Donation

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Football Players Keep Healthy

By Mary L. Gavin, MD
July 12, 2009

 

Football training camp tests what a player is made of. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, that means sweltering August afternoons in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on the campus of St. Vincent College. The sun beats down on the fields as coaches and fans scout to see who’s got the right stuff this year.

But before they hit the field, Leslie Bonci makes sure they have the right stuff on their plates. As the team nutritionist, she helps set the menu at the camp cafeteria and says good nutrition gets front-and-center attention at training camp. Rule No. 1: No skipping meals. Players must sign in at every meal, which means even superstar athletes can’t sleep through breakfast.

“It puts the importance on the fueling,” Bonci said.

Healthy, nutritious food – eaten at the right times – can make a difference for all athletes, kids included, she said. You might not be a Steeler yet, but you can follow Bonci’s advice before beginning your preseason sports camps and practices.

 

Put your health first.

Bonci likes to use the acronym SHOP with the players she advises. It stands for “Safeguard health. Optimize performance.” That means no one should start their preseason workouts unless they’re sure they’re healthy. For a kid, that might mean getting a sports physical.

Lots of schools require these, which typically include an exam to check basic stuff like your blood pressure and weight. It’s also a chance for a doctor to look at your medical history – info on current medical issues, previous sports injuries, and health problems you have had in the past or ones that run in your family.

The Steelers are no different. They get health checkups, too. This year, Bonci had to help one player who had gained weight in the off-season. She worked with the camp cafeteria to create special meals for him. While the rest of the team was having chicken wings for an evening snack, this player got a portion of grilled chicken with dipping sauce. Still a tasty, satisfying snack, but less fat and calories.

 

Start practice an hour early.

No, Bonci doesn’t tell the Steelers to get to the field an hour early. But she does tell athletes to start preparing for practice 1 hour before by having a drink and a snack.

“That’s part of your warm-up,” Bonci said.

This is especially important when practices will be long and intense – the kind when you’ll spend an hour or more doing conditioning exercises or actively practicing your sport.

Here are some before-practice menu options:

 

Drinks (choose 1)

• 8-10 ounces of water
• Half a sports drink (10 ounces)

 

Snacks (choose 1)

        *   Half a peanut butter sandwich

• Yogurt and granola (Steeler Troy Polamalu loves yogurt!)
• Small egg sandwich or wrap.

These pre-practice snacks include carbohydrates (like the bread, granola, and oatmeal) for energy. They also offer some protein (peanut butter, yogurt, egg) to help athletes keep going during a long, tiring practice.

 

Bring enough to drink.

Also 1 hour before practice, think about what you’ll need to pack. Most important? Enough water to get you through. Bring a large insulated jug of water rather than just one bottle. Don’t rely on the water fountain, Bonci says; bring your own and enough of it.

Your body performs best when you’re hydrated. When you’re not, you may start feeling lightheaded and dizzy. Even mild dehydration can make it hard to throw that perfect spiral or go after the soccer ball. Sweating while working out means you’re losing extra water. Try to take a drink every 15 minutes or so.

 

Pack a “recovery snack.”

Bonci recommends a “recovery snack” – something to eat about 15 minutes after practice ends. At Steeler training camp, some of the players eat Popsicles as they walk off the field after afternoon practice. Other good choices include fresh fruit, granola bars, some dry cereal, or Bonci’s favorite recovery snack – garbage can trail mix. What’s that?

For large teams, you start with a clean garbage can with a liner. Dump in dry cereal (such as Chex), pretzels, and snack crackers. Give everyone a plastic cup to scoop some out and you have the perfect recovery snack.

Eating a little something after practice takes advantage of enzymes (chemicals your body produces) that help your body recover after a tough workout, Bonci said. A recovery snack has an added benefit: It makes athletes less likely to overeat later.

So the right recovery snack will help “Fast Willie” Parker eat just the right amount of lasagna after a game. Read on to learn more about this Super Bowl champion’s healthy food habits

 

Food Q&A With Running Back Willie Parker

 

(Q) What’s your favorite healthy food?
(A) Salad.

 

(Q) What is your favorite pre-game meal or snack?
(A) Baked chicken, some potatoes, and lots of fruit.

 

(Q) What’s your favorite post-game meal?
(A) Lasagna.

 

(Q) What’s your favorite junk food and do you limit how much you eat?
(A) Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. I like to limit my servings to two servings of each.

 

(Q) Have your eating habits changed since you were a kid or teen athlete?
(A) They have changed dramatically. You have to start eating healthier by eating better foods. I also have a nutritionist who makes sure that I get the right proteins.

(Q) Any food advice for kids and teens who are practicing and playing hard?
(A) Stay away from high-sugar meals and snacks.

 

How About Some Steeler Salad?

This recipe incorporates Parker’s favorites – salad, chicken, potatoes, and fruit – all in one Super Bowl! Have an adult help you with this dish, which requires some cutting, chopping, and use of the stove.

 

Steeler Salad

What You Need

• 2 3-ounce chicken breasts
• 2 baking potatoes, washed
• 2 cups washed greens (lettuce, spinach, or both)
• ½ cup sliced cucumber
• ½ cup peppers (any color)
• ½ cup red grapes
• Cajun or blackened seasoning (for chicken)
• Cooking spray oil
• Italian seasoning (for potatoes)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• ¼ cup shredded cheese, optional
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chopped almonds, cashews, or peanuts
• Low-fat or fat-free salad dressing (any variety)

 

Equipment and Utensils

• Oven/stove
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Nonstick grill pan or skillet (for chicken)
• Baking sheet lined with aluminum foil (for potatoes)
• Tongs or spatula
• Knife
• Two large salad bowls

 

What to Do

Potatoes

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
• 2. Sprinkle a little olive oil on the baking sheet lined with foil.
• 3. Cut 2 baking potatoes into long wedges.
• 4. Place potatoes on the baking sheet lined with foil.
• 5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
• 6. Bake about 15-20 minutes at 350°.
• 7. Increase oven temperature to broil and broil for 5 minutes until brown.
• 8. Remove from oven, cut into smaller chunks. Set aside.

 

Chicken

• 1. Prepare grill pan or skillet with spray oil.
• 2. Sprinkle chicken with Cajun or blackened seasoning.
• 3. Grill in grill pan until done.
• 4. Cut into strips, set aside.

 

The salad

• 1. In two bowls, combine greens, cucumbers, peppers, and grapes.
• 2. Add chicken strips and potato chunks to each bowl.
• 3. Add cheese and nuts, if desired.
• 4. Top with 1-2 tablespoons dressing

Source: Kids Health

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Kat’s has Asthma and Still Plays Sports

By Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph
July 1, 2009

Look at Kat go! She’s 12 and she loves soccer and track and field events, like running and jumping. She even qualified for the National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. Unless you saw her using her inhaler, you would never guess that she has asthma.

Asthma is a lung problem that can make it difficult to breathe. Breathing, as you know, is pretty important when you’re running a race or charging down the soccer field. Your body needs the oxygen it gets from breathing to work properly. And your body needs even more oxygen when you’re exercising.

So how does Kat do it? Let’s find out:

(Q) How old were you when you first discovered you have asthma?

(A) I was 8 years old and in the third grade.

(Q) What happened that led you and your family to think you might have asthma?

(A) My mom says I had a bad cough that sounded like a bark and it just would not go away.

(Q) Did you have a lot of tests, and what were they like?

(A) I had a pin test where they injected (under my skin) tiny amounts of the stuff that can cause allergies. I had that test because allergies can cause the symptoms of asthma or make asthma worse. They also put a “sleeve” on my finger to measure the amount of oxygen in my blood. And I had to blow as hard and as long as I could into a peak flow meter so they could figure out how well my lungs work.

(Q) How did you feel when you first heard you had asthma?

(A) I did not exactly know what it meant so I did not care too much. But when I learned what it was and what it meant I was scared and thought I would not be able to play sports anymore. Luckily, I didn’t have to stop.

(Q) What’s the hardest part for you about having asthma?

(A) Having to remember to take my medicines I would say is very hard, but also remembering what makes my asthma act up is pretty difficult.
[Smoke and cold air are two things that make Kat’s asthma get worse.]

(Q) What does it feel like when you have an asthma flare-up? Some people describe it as “like breathing through a straw” or “drowning above water.”

(A) I actually have never had a real flare-up, but when I have breathing trouble, my throat loses the moist feeling. I feel like no air will go through or down my throat, like a boulder rolled over my throat blocking air. Like someone once said about having asthma, “I feel like a fish out of water.”

(Q) What do you do to prevent yourself from getting an asthma flare-up?

(A) I follow my doctor’s advice about taking my medicine.
[This includes controller medicine taken every day and “rescue” medicine she takes if she feels breathing trouble starting to happen.]
Taking my medicine has prevented me from having a big, dramatic asthma flare-up. Whenever I feel breathing trouble about to start, I take a puff on my inhaler. I do this even in the middle of a soccer game, which I really don’t like but know I need to do! Before every sporting event I take two puffs, one dose, on my inhaler. And because cold air will make my asthma worse, I wear a ski mask over my face when I’m outside or competing. I wear the mask because it warms the air before I breathe it.

(Q) As an athlete, what is the most challenging thing about managing your asthma?

(A) Knowing when to take my inhalers and remembering which one is for sports is challenging, but it is a lot easier now. Also, coming out of a soccer game to take my medicines is hard because I love to play the game.

(Q) You play two sports (track and soccer) where competing and success depend on how hard you push yourself. How do you do this and still manage your asthma?

(A) I do not let sports take over my life, and if I can’t breathe easily, I will take a break from the sport or go back to my doctor and see what is wrong. Also, my coaches are supportive and make sure I use my inhalers when I need to.

(Q) How do your teammates handle your asthma?

(A) The people on my soccer team always ask me if I am OK.

(Q) Many kids don’t have asthma. What do they need to know about it?

(A) That asthma is not contagious.

(Q) What tips or encouragement would you give to other kids who have asthma and want to play sports?

(A) Go for it, but make sure it is OK with your doctor. And if your asthma acts up, remember it is OK to take a break during practice, a game, or race.

Source: Kids Health

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Marine Inspires Youth Through Football

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 11, 2009

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, While growing up in the inner city of St. Louis, Marine Corps Sgt. Timothy Craig had two choices: turn to sports or the streets.For Craig, football was the answer. He started playing at age 7, was very successful and pursued it throughout his youth.During high school, Craig grew into a leader on the field, which kept him on the right path even while school presented its challenges.”I struggled with school work,” he admitted. “The only reason I went to high school was because of football.”

Craig continued to struggle with school work throughout high school and beyond. After a year at Joplin Junior College in Joplin, Mo., his grades were not holding up, and Craig had to abandon his dream of playing college football. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004.

While serving in California with the Corps, Craig continued to play an active role in the football community, coaching a youth league at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and playing on the all-Marine team at Camp Pendleton. After arriving on Okinawa in 2007, he became a coach in the Kadena Youth Tackle Football League. After two seasons, the league was disbanded because there wasn’t enough interest.

But Craig saw things differently.

“A lot of the kids were heartbroken,” Craig said. “I thought it was upsetting that these kids had no outlet, and I thought something had to be done. These kids sacrifice enough being part of the military community, and I didn’t think they should have to sacrifice football as well.”

Seeing a need for a youth tackle football league, Craig decided to start up the Okinawa Youth Football League.

The league is straightforward. There are no contracts, trade deadlines, advertisements or concession stands. It is just 15 teams dedicated to football, pure and simple.
The entire league is funded by contributions from the players’ parents, Craig said.

The league does not single out individual effort or award most valuable player trophies. Instead, coaches stress the importance of teamwork and how each player’s contribution is important to the overall team. The players give their all, not for money, but only for the love of the game. They play through fatigue not for fame, but simply to learn the game of football, Craig said.

“The league teaches humility,” he said. “Players learn the difference between winning and losing, they learn the definition of teamwork, and they learn about their individual character. But, as coaches, we remind them that it’s not about winning and losing, it’s about learning fundamentals and having fun.”

Craig said the most important thing about the league is the academic performance a player must maintain to remain eligible to play. Coaches monitor grades, and players must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and proper attendance records.

“The league is built on the very principle that kept me from pursuing my dreams,” Craig said. “I want these kids to realize that although sports are significant, the most important aspect is education”

(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough serves with Marine Corps Bases Japan.)
Source: America Supports You

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