http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/ We love sports, and we love our communities. We have a hard time sitting still, and we have this crazy idea that we can change the world. Play City is a fusion of these two passions -- a hyperactive need to move and a genuine desire to make a difference. www.youthnoise.com/PlayCity en-us Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:46:18 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss playcity@youthnoise.org http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20188 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:46:18 GMT You might remember reading about South African track star Caster Semenya over the summer, the athlete who won a Gold Medal in the 800 meter race at this year's IAAF World Championship-- and then became a lightning rod for controversy when she was accused of being less than completely female. The Sports Ministry of South Africa has announced today that Caster will be retaining the medal and prize money that she won while setting a world record for the 800 meter run last August, and that the results of her 'sex-verification testing' are a private matter, with final outcome still pending. Poor handling of these matters by athletic officials resulted in a personal roller-coaster that no athlete should be subjected to, highlighting the need for a revision or tightening up of procedures and policies relating to gender at every level of coaching and administration. In other words, the IAAF needs stand fast with a well-understood policy, and it needs to be upheld by every level of coach, official, and athlete in order to spare future athletes the experience of being second-guessed so publicly. I think that good will come from all of this. Every conversation about gender that makes its way onto prime-time TV brings us one step closer to a revised popular attitude about women, gender, and sports. And these conversations have been popping up a lot lately. With all the heated talk about women's sports lately, it can be easy to forget how controversial and violent men's sports often get. Take, for example, the story of University of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert, who has been at the center of an internet firestorm since videos of her tripping and knocking over competitors began spreading around the internet. For every blogger who was inspired to make a misogynistic comment about the video, another has risen to question the standards of aggressive sport behavior and of gender performance being pulled into focus. The whole world is watching their blogroll and Youtube comments... some of them might actually be learning something!Image from Wiki Commons http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20188 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20148 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:08:56 GMT Today, President Barack Obama has said that he is still weeks away from a decision on a new military strategy in Afghanistan. Americans are hopeful that a well-considered and properly executed plan will bring stability to the Middle-East, but many (myself included) are even more concerned with ending the loss of American lives and exorbitant Military spending. In this display created for Veteran's Day in my hometown of Toms River, N.J., there is a miniature flag in the ground for each of the 5,000+ soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since U.S. military action began in those countries at the beginning of the decade. Many critics are skeptical, however, because of the president's track record in other recent efforts. Certain 'pet projects' may well have distracted Mr. Obama from with dealing truly pressing issues like loss of life overseas and our much-needed but difficult-to-pass health care overhaul. First it was the Olympics that got Obama distracted. Our president wanted the games to come through his hometown of Chicago in 2016, so he took a trip to Denmark in an effort to convince voting members of the International Olympic Committee that Chicago was the place to be in 2016... but it didn't work out. Meanwhile, the issue of an exit strategy in our Middle Eastern engagements has been left hanging for nearly a year. Losing the Olympic bid for Chicago might be a blessing in disguise-- the need to build facilities and prepare for a swell in tourism often distracts host cities and nations from tending to the needs of their people. And we have plenty of issues to take care of right now... In retrospect, it seems a little insensitive to compete with Rio de Janeiro, which defeated Chicago and is now set to be the first city in South America ever to host the Olympics. Critics worry, understandably, that Mr. Obama was picking his pet projects unwisely and neglecting more important issues. Round two of such criticism came over the past two weeks, when the president very publicly endorsed democratic candidates for governor in hotly contested New Jersey and Virginia elections. Both of Mr. Obama's favored candidates were defeated by Republicans, and the revised military strategies failed to materialize. Today, Barack Obama told American reporters that is "very close" to a decision on the next step in his strategy for the war in Afghanistan, a war that he hopes "...not to hand off ... to the next president". It's great to finally have a president who is even considering an exit strategy, but I still wonder if Mr. Obama may have have already left our servicemen out to dry a few months longer than neccesary. When the wars are over and soldiers are home, that's when we can worry about hosting another set of Olympic games. Till then, we've got bigger fish to fry. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20148 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20146 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:16:38 GMT Did anyone happened to catch Texas A M's newly released media guide for the 2009-2010 women's basketball team? Or Florida State's women's basketball team website? Oh how times have changed since I was a college athlete.The Seattle Times reporter Jayda Evans recently wrote about the newly redesigned women's collegiate media guides and websites with an overt feminized message. One has to question if this is some kind of attempt to re-brand female basketball players based on widely accepted views that if you're a female college athlete who plays basketball, odds are you're a lesbian. Evans article examines this seemingly new wave of over-feminizing female basketball players as a way to mask "butchness." (Yes, even the WNBA has attempted to sex up feminize its gals). Evans highlights Training Rules, a recent documentary film by Dee Mosbacher and Fawn Yacker about former Penn State coach Rene Portland, who supposedly touted three rules for her female players: No drinking. No drugs. No lesbians.Here's the trailer clip from Training RulesEvans writes:"The film is fascinating in its inside look at how homophobia has a choke hold on women's sports in general. How it's used against each other in recruiting, tagging programs as full of lesbians, and how schools/coaches over feminize themselves to not appear lesbian. All under the "innocent" veil of wanting to show women athletes can be "powerful, beautiful, strong and accomplished." Or, to put it more simply, heterosexual, too."As a former high school basketball player and collegiate track athlete, I've experienced first-hand the turmoil female athletes (whether they identify as lesbian or not) endured at the hand of coaches and peer athletes. These same athletes, who were also my friends, were labeled as "butch" and "lesbos" and misjudged accordingly because of what others assumed or "saw." In high school, I was called a "man" a "horse" and a "dinosaur" for the way I appeared on the basketball court and track. My legs were huge. I'd curse when I got upset. I was faster than all the other girls (and some guys). And at times, I walked around with a head scarf wrapped around my head because 1) it was hella comfortable during track meets and basketball games, and 2) it was hella cold in Cleveland, Ohio. The folks who called me a man, horse, or dinosaur learned somewhere that if the fastest girl or best long jumper in the state didn't act (or hell, look) like a lady or wasn't girly in nature and in stature that she, that I, must be the opposite of that; manly, animal-like, and monstrous. Some people's logic is the epitome of #epicfail. The sexualization and over feminization of female athletes is nothing new, and neither is the ridicule female athletes experience because who they are and how they act don't measure up to another person's standard of womanhood. I share in Evans position that dressing up these women for a website or media guide is offensive because it works to undermine the ability each one of these athletes have worked to master since childhood. And I'll take it a step further; the fact that these universities are promoting an overtly feminized "illusion" is asinine and creepy (Texas A M coach Gary Blair adjusting his tie in the picture above is just all kinds of weird). Whether these women like to wear dresses or not, or whether they identify as homosexual or heterosexual isn't the issue. The problem is disconnect: What does wearing a silky prom dress circa 1999 or posing in a sultry manner while wearing a black cocktail dress have to do with how many boards these women can grab per game or how accomplished they are on and off the court? What does one thing have to do with the other? If my school or coach would've ever suggested that I pose wearing a dress or high heels for the sports media guide/website so as means to appear "powerful, beautiful, strong, and accomplished," I would've laughed hysterically in their face and redirected them to my stellar grade point average, field goal percentage stats, and scholarship awards instead. Don't play me for a fool. When the game means more than wind sprints and foul shots. When it takes on a different connotation. When it becomes as much about how these women look as about how they play and hustle on the court. When young girls, hoping to one day play for schools like Penn State, Texas A M, Florida State, or the WNBA, think that part of being a powerful, beautiful, strong, and accomplished female athlete means looking good in a dress or high heels, then society--touting tolerance in the guise of fear and cowardice--has officially failed its daughters. The day we start asking our men's teams to pose for media guides and websites in Rambo outfits with machine guns strapped to their backs to appear, you know, "manly" instead of appearing like, you know, basketball players is when you'll catch me on the first flight to a desert island. Ok, maybe that was kinda an exaggeration of epic proportions, but arguably not as ridiculous as female basketball players posing for "glamour shots" in collegiate sports media guides. *head desk* http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20146 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20136 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:07:31 GMT Los Angeles is bustling city that is known for its movie stars, sunshine, and traffic. For those who have ever visited the 2nd most populated city in the US, you know that there are tons of pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, and other non-driving citizens of the City of Angels. These very people are gaining momentum to bring Ciclovia(bike way) to Los Angeles. An organized community and open space gathering that is to occur every Sunday in Los Angeles where major streets and intersections will be temporarily closed down to allow anyone without a car to take a stroll, ride a bike, or walk their dogs throughout the city.The movement originated in Bogota, Colombia 30 years ago when activists and city officials organized major street closures on Sundays to alleviate the terrible traffic and car congestion in the city. It also gives neighbors a chance to get acquainted with eachother and brings a sense of community to the once crowded streets of a major city.Last fall a small group of bicyclists, pedestrians, and open-space activists teamed up to bring a weekly community/traffic free gathering to Downtown Los Angeles. LA's version is called cicLAvia(get it?) and is aiming to get the first cicLAvia in the spring of 2010. So far, they've launched small scale events with help from the LAPD to gauge how different communities would react as well as to figure out the most effective routes. New York, Portland, and San Francisco already have versions of a Sunday road closure and Los Angeles looks to have their very own Ciclovia very soon.For more information be sure to visit the official cicLAvia blog. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20136 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20101 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:57:50 GMT There's been a lot of talk about the BYU versus New Mexico Womens Soccer match last week, you know where New Mexico player Elizabeth Lambert got into some punching, pulling, kicking on the field with numerous ladies on the BYU team. If you haven't already seen it (or seen it enough):Yes, this is entertaining. No, Lambert is not demonstrating in any way good sportsmanship that should be encouraged. However, many writers in the sports blogosphere seem to have taken a liking to Lambert. The general suggestion is that good or bad, women's pro soccer got some major publicity. Here are a few examples from some sports blogs: "Very rarely will we ever bring you women's college soccer highlights, this actually being the first. But when we do bring you highlights for sports like this, you know there is a good reason." (faniq.com)"We are fans of womens college soccer now." (thesportsculture.com)"Okay I'll be the first one to say it...this is hot. BYU and New Mexico had one of the only the chippiest women's soccer games you'll ever see." (deadspin.com)"New Mexico s Liz Lambert The New Face Of Women s College Athletics. If you re wondering what could possibly cause women s collegiate soccer highlights to receive more airtime on the overnight SportsCenter than the MLS playofs, consider the unique approach of New Mexico defender Elizabeth Lambert..." (cantstopthebleeding.com) What do you guys think about this? I know when we were talking on here about Whip It and the unfortunate need for the women involved (Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page) to exploit their sexuality through marketing to get male viewers, and I feel like there might be some kind of similar vein here. But then again, I don't know. Liz Lambert definately DOES come off pretty tough, and that may not be a bad image. Especially when it combats the preconcieved notion that women's soccer is boring or that women are weak. I'm curious what anybody else thinks. Opinions? http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20101 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20091 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:23:24 GMT A very cool act has come to town here in Los Angeles: The Annenberg Space for Photography's exhibit "Sport: Looss and Leifer". The exhibit is, as the title suggests, the combination of two photographer's work - Walter looss and Neil Leifer, two GIANTS in the world of sports photography. The exhibit is a sweet collection of 80 epic photographs from their careers. And by 'epic' I mean, oh you know, Michael Jordon in all his glory, Muhammed Ali beating Sonny Liston (see below - I wasn't actually allowed to photograph the photos, but you can see at least one slide to get an idea!).Here are three reasons why I think you should check it out:1) The exhibit is free, so why not??2) The photographs are amazing.3) It's very thought provoking. Why? Because when you're looking at all these photographs of different athletes in all kinds of lights (in action, at home) you think about the imagery of the sports world and ponder. The overall question sweems to be: what role do athletes play in our society? The rules of imagery in the sports world are different than the fashion world or film world, but that's not to say that it doesn't have its rules and mechanisms by which the imagery operates. The photographs are like clues to the overall philosophies of the sports world. Entertainer, moral leader, Superstar, hero, artist, individual...what exactly are athletes to us?One example of the awesomeness: Neil Leifer's 1965 Muhammed Ali versus Sonny Liston courtesy of the Annenberg SiteAfter one viewing I can't say I have it figured out, so you'll have to go and see for yourself. And let me know what you think. The exhibit opened this past Thursday and will go until December 12, so you've got plenty of time. And again, it's free. A small drive to the Annenberg Space will change the way you look at sports photos and the people in them. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20091 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20090 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:57:21 GMT Northwestern University and University of Illinois may be competitors on the football field, but they re competitors in the fundraising field too! Kurt Kittner (for U of I quarterback) and EL Da Sheon Nix (former NU wide receiver) are currently running a competitive fundraiser and are encouraging their fellow alumni to donate! Kurt Kittner serves on the board and EL Da Sheon Nix is the Administrative Coordinator of Cabrini Connections, an organization that works to provide an organized framework that empowers and encourages volunteers to give their time, skills, and support in seeking life-changing solutions for children who live in an educationally, disadvantaged environment. The competition between NU and Illinois on the football field is the result of many men and women putting in many hours of training and hard work to be the best they can be, says Dan Bassill, director of Cabrini Connections. When we get donors doing all they can to help nonprofits like [us], we ll be able to do much more to help kids overcome poverty and succeed in school and careers. The competition between the two schools revolved around the Northwestern-U. of I football game that took place on Nov 14th. While Northwestern came out on top, winning 21-16, Kurt and his team of Ilini alums are still trying to win in the fundraising category by raising more dollars than EL Da Sheon and the other NU alums who are volunteers, donors and board members at Cabrini Connections. So Far, Kurt has raised $1020, but El Da'Sheon is in the lead with $1620. Other NU athletic alumni who have already donated to the cause include Matt Ulrich, former Wildcat and Super Bowl Champion with the Indianapolis Colts, who rallied over 85 people this past October to run the second annual Train With Ron Charity Hill Challenge. As a group they ran over 3,000 hills in one hour and raised $6,800 dollars in contributions for the organization. Billy Silva (former NU linebacker), Pat Durr (former NU linebacker), Jason Burke (former NU basketball player), and Sarah Walsh (former NU lacrosse player) have also donated financially, while other former players are attending events and volunteering. If you would like to more about these efforts, Kurt Kittner and El Da Sheon Nix of Cabrini Connections be presenting workshops at the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference at Northwern University's campus on Nov 19-20. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20090 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20077 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:18:10 GMT People can argue for days about whether movies and TV make kids want to rush out and replicate what they see on screen. I'm only going to speak from personal experience: Space Jam made me want to play basketball like Michael Jordan, The Sandlot made me want to go out and play baseball with my friends, and Jackass... inspired me to make some regrettable decisions as a young'in.Sports movies turn athletes into heroes-- so an eco-friendly cycling protagonist could really speak to America. According to a story published by Variety Magazine on Wednesday, Sony Films has a bike-messenger movie called "Premium Rush" on 'fast track' to production right now, which would make it one of the select few Hollywood bike movies ever to reach theaters. If Premium Rush sees a successful release, it could pave the way for more bike-related movies.The last Hollywood bike movie that came out was called QuickSilver and it came out in 1986. It was kind of lame. I'm going to try and stay excited even though I worry a successful messenger-themed movie will just bring more new riders into the wannabe-bike-messenger fold that already exists. Many cyclists in New York ride against traffic or through busy intersections just because they saw a video of some reckless messenger performances on Youtube and decided that they would ride fast too. So I'm just going to hope that Premium Rush inspires an environmentalist Lance-Armstrong-meets-Bugs-Bunny-and-saves-the-planet kind of bike movie that'll sit on my shelf next to Space Jam. It could happen! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20077 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20074 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:14:50 GMT Andre Agassi -- philanthropist, eight time tennis grand slam winner...and Gack user. What the heck is Gack? Apparently, "gack" is a term for crystal methamphetamine...at least it was back in 1997 when Agassi hit a low point in his career and decided to try some. Andre Agassi (the Neon Mullet Gack Years) (okay, that's really me at Halloween; our budget is pretty tight at Play City these days and we couldn't afford to pay the licensing fee for the AP Photo) If you've been following the story about Andre, or if you've read his newly released autobiography, Open, you know that he tested positive for the drug back in 1997. And when the test results came back, he did what any self-respecting role model would do...he lied his ass off to save his butt, or as he put it he wrote a letter to the ATP "filled with lies interwoven with bits of truth." Call it what you may, I think the bigger question is, why in the world would he reveal this now? And secondarily, does anyone care? To me, this just seemed like a giant ploy to sell books. Do you think Andre Agassi should be reprimanded for his actions? What are your thoughts? http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20074 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20073 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:35:49 GMT A bright yellow blob of quasi-out-of-shape twenty somthings took on New York's Central Park two weeks ago in the second annual Run 4 a Reason, New York City. The run, which takes place the weekend before the New York Marathon traverses five miles through Central Park and ends at the same spot as the famous ING New York. (So if you aren't in marathon shape you can still get the thrill of crossing the finish line to adoring fans). Unlike most charity runs where everyone is running for the same cause, Run 4 a Reason allows each runner to choose the cause or charity that is most important to them. The idea is that there are two million charities out there, why not run for one you care about. In the end, it was a great day to run. And while there there was some huffing and puffing and some grumbling from the peanut gallery, everyone managed to finish and most importantly raise money for a variety of good causes. Here are some pics from the event.Matt Hoppenstedt of New York shows off his matching neon shorts as he makes his "sexy face" for the camera. Nine brave souls line up for a Run 4 a Reason team photo at 7:00 AM. Only 11% participants are able to force a smile at this ungodly hour of the morning. Also note the girl next to me (third from right) is cheating by standing on her tippy toes.Aron Grossman of New York Runs for a questionable charitable organizaton.Hooray!!! We Finished. Scott and Megan Carpenter of Washington, DC complete the five mile race. Megan Ran for Food and Friends while Scott ran for Billable Hours.WooHoo!!! Just like finishing all 26.2 of the New York Marathon...well except for the extra 21.2 miles...but you get the picture. Local celebrity, Jon Brudnick poses for a picture with himself! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20073 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20067 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:53 GMT "Lotus House offers a sanctuary - a place where the minds, bodies, and spirits of women and infants most in need are supported, nurtured, uplifted and afforded an opportunity to learn and grow on every level."Recently, the Lotus House held their Fifth Annual Fundraiser, called "Hope Blossoms: An Art Happening." In was an incredible event bringing together so many creative people for a great cause. I was a dancer for one of the performance pieces, and gave it all I had for three hours straight! It was held at the Margulies warehouse, a 45,000 s.f. warehouse space that houses an extensive collection of contemporary art including Warhol, Lichtenstein Miro to name a few. Look for a dancer with orange shorts :)The Lotus House is a shelter for homeless women, but more than that it is a resource center where these women who have often been victims of abuse and illness can have access to all the tools they need to get back out into the world. They provide a holistic health approach and also have a maternity wing for pregnant women and their newborn babies.Located in Overtown, a historic African American district that suffers from extreme poverty, the Lotus House is an oasis. Women that enter the program are provided housing for up to one year, three meals a day, clothing, group counseling, computer classes, job training, medical mental health services and more. Their classes include art, writing, yoga, dance, and parenting. The event included visual arts, drumming musicians, performance art, sculpture, installation, poetry on demand and more. I was part of a performance piece by artist Lee Walton where each dancer was given a different song on an iPod with headphones. Upon entering the viewers were given cards with our picture on them, telling them what song we were listening to. It was really fun to have a dance party of one in the middle of this massive event. My song was I m so Excited. Super high energy! The theme of the night was HOPE and seeing so many people come together for such a worthy cause really did give me hope. The Lotus House has recently opened a Thrift Store, so if you are in Miami, come and shop for a good cause! Or clean out your closet donate some stuff! With some of the donations coming from designers the art world, there are some great treasures to be found there!! 203 NW 36th Street Friend the store on Facebook! Or make a donation to an amazing cause! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20067 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20027 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:36:20 GMT Last week was league finals for Cross Country. It is what my teammates and I have been training all season for. It was our last chance to show our personal improvement and team spirit. Although many believe that Cross Country is an individual sport, really it is not. Surprisingly, teamwork is needed for this sport. Teammates help motivate each other during the race and in order for your school to win it is not based on who has the fastest runner but who has the fastest team as a whole. This was my first year running Cross Country so I did not know how league finals were, but I was still really excited to find out. There were 5 different races and each one of them was intense. The day started off with the Frosh-soph boys race. It was one of the most anticipated races. Our school had many of the fastest runners for this division so we were all very excited. The race was very intense and exciting. Our school got two runners in the top seven, which is a major achievement for us.The Girls Varsity race was important because this race determined if they would qualify as a team to CIF,state championship qualifiers. Unfortunately, our school was unable to anyone in the top seven; our school still took second as a team and qualified for CIF. This is the first time our school has gone to CIF for Cross Country in more than 7 years. Lastly was my race, Varsity boys, I was extremely nervous and pumped up for the race. Even though we did not have a chance to make it to CIF, we still needed to prove to ourselves that we didn t train all year for nothing. The race was tiring and long. I came in 30th in the race but 2nd in my school. I did not really care for the place that I got in the race but it was the time I got. I was so relieved and happy when I found out that I made a 30 second improvement in this race! I am proud of myself and am now anticipating soccer and track season. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20027 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20022 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:43:07 GMT Everyone's got a story, especially in a wacky place like New York City. Today, we can add one more wild tale to the eight-million-item list-- a kite-surfer washed up on some rocks at the edge of Liberty Island, home of the Statue of Liberty.Kite Surfing near a national monument, in a perilous waterway, in cold weather, near marine police on 24/7 anti-terrorist watch? Bad idea. Image SourceApparently, the athlete was taking advantage of the windy conditions coming our way thanks to Tropical Storm Ida. Problem is, he was doing it in one of the country's busiest bodies of water. The Hudson river, which surrounds Liberty Island, is difficult to navigate because of complex currents, and notoriously polluted to boot.Sometimes the big surf created by stormy weather is appealing to surfers (kite and wind surfers, too), but the desire to harness extreme conditions should never come before a consideration of the potential hazards. At the very least, utilizing one of New York City's many other bodies of water would have been wise. The Long Island Sound, perhaps. Almost anything would have been a better idea.Since New York City was attacked by terrorists in 2001, the waters around lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty have been patrolled 24 hours a day by United States Park Police, so causing a disturbance in the area is not something that will be taken lightly. The surfer (still unidentified so far) is in Parks Police custody right now, wasting both his own time as well as that of the Parks Police. So watch the surf reports if you're into that sort of thing, and see if you can catch some big swells or heavy winds without putting yourself in harm's way. Kite surfing is a great way to enjoy particularly blustery days, but it shouldn't happen at the expense of anybody's safety! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20022 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20019 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:40:20 GMT Yesterday a California renters' rights organization, Tenants Together, launched a new campaign called NBA: Show You Care.Their goal? To prompt the NBA to discipline LA Clippers owner and big-time landlord Donald Sterling for his willful engagement in housing discrimination. A Tenants Together press release said this: According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Sterling Engaged in a pattern or practice of discriminating on the basis of race, national Origin, and family status. The DOJ stated that Sterling refused to rent to African Americans and that his conduct was willful. Indeed, Sterling was forced to pay a whopping $2.725 million in the largest housing discrimination settlement to date. But even this sizable chunk of change isn't enough to compensate for the damages caused by many years of racial discrimination and unlawful activity in the housing market. Many would like to see further discipline for Sterling's actions. Many would like to see the NBA acknowledge and take action to address racism within its ranks. Political sportswriter Dave Zirin added: "Court testimony claimed that Sterling had said he did not like to rent to Hispanics because "Hispanics smoke, drink and just hang around the building." Witnesses testified that he also said, "Black tenants smell and attract vermin."Woah. Is this really the type of leadership that we want to see in the NBA? I sure hope not.Housing discrimination is insidious and largely invisible to enforcement agencies. Most people of color won't start a lawsuit after experiencing housing discrimination on a personal level. It's expensive and difficult to prove. If you're renting, you probably don't have the cash to hire a lawyer or the time to research tenants' rights. Most folks will just silently wonder: Is it just me? Is it a personal fault? Is it my credit score? My references? But then there's that nagging question: Or could it be the color of my skin? How could one possibly know the precise motives behind an isolated decision to deny housing to a family or an individual? Generally, you don't know. That's why Sterling's case required a major lawsuit to look into broad demographic information and testimonials over a period of years. When lawsuits like this actually come to fruition, you know that there's something very wrong. I'm hoping that this case involving a high-profile NBA team owner will serve as a warning to landlords all over the country that housing discrimination won't be tolerated. I'm also hoping that the NBA will step up its game and start a dialogue about how the organization plans to address racism in sports and beyond. In the meantime, there's a petition that you can sign over at NBA: Show You Care "to urge the NBA to condemn racist housing discrimination and discipline Donald Sterling."Go ahead; sign it. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20019 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20006 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:56:13 GMT Cycling in New York has risen by more than a quarter this year! According to stats from NYC's Department of Transportation, cycling has increased by 26% in 2009, and they attribute it to improvements in bike paths around the city. It's definitely easy to track the installation of paths on major roads, but I don't think that the improvements alone account for the surge.Biking has become more popular everywhere in the past few years. Global Climate Change has started to seem like less of a theory and more of a reality with every freakishly devastating hurricane or tsunami, gas prices have been on the general rise, and the global economy crash has left lots of people looking for a way to cut down transportation costs.Thing is, the national increase in cycling doesn't make cycling all that much safer. New York streets are still full of potholes and maniac drivers, for example. You can fill in the potholes, I guess, but I'm not sure anything could convince New Yorkers to start using their turn signals or obeying the speed limit.This bike parking structure in Amsterdam is an example of the sort of thing transportation funding could help create. Here in New York, there is a shortage of bike parking and many cyclists are forced to unsafely lock up against trees or scaffolding.Part of the problem has to do with national transportation budgets. Across the board, federal funding for road improvement is directed toward car-heavy highways in the suburbs instead of dense cities, where conditions are the worst. On top of that, billions of dollars in federal stimulus money has gone unspent this year, particularly funds that were earmarked for improving pedestrian access to roads in Michigan, North Carolina, and Massachussetts.In many cases, the hold-up is due to opposition or apathy in local communities. Because it's so unsafe to ride on our biggest roads, bicyclists are kept off in the shadows, and Joe Average doesn't see much point in building a pedestrian crosswalk or a seperated bike lane for the invisible bike-commuters. The most useful thing we could possibly do is also the simplest and the most obvious-- we need to make ourselves visible while we walk or cycle!If you have errands to run, this could be as simple as parking your car in one place, then walking from destination to destination instead of moving the car. The more traveling we do on foot or on a bike, the more our neighbors will see a need for improved pedestrian infrastructure! And as for all that lost stimulus funding... the federal government is just taking it back. Maybe it will get re-dispersed next year... http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/20006 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19998 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:44:10 GMT I bought another bike. Yes, I know that I already have one, but I have a sneaky habit of regularly perusing craigslist classifieds looking for that perfect 50cm frame of my dreams. Well, this wasn't the frame of my dreams, but it's a '94 aluminum ride that's a nice addition to my get-around-town-steel-frame-circa-1980-something Schwinn (albeit a sweet one). Plus, this new bike has a triple, which provides a good gearing ratio for those long, arduous, joint-stressing uphill battles. Dear knees, I want you to know that I'm looking out for you. [Above: My new (used) bike, getting cozy with a Cannondale.][Below: My commuter bike, hanging out with the rest of the bike crew in the basement. So patriotic, I know. Notice the padded snowboard helmet hanging from the handlebars. This is KEY for riding in the winter months. It even has vents that I can open and close while I ride to adjust my temperature.] To show my knees a little extra appreciation, I bought some clipless pedals on eBay (clipless what huh?). My new pedals will keep my feet in place, use more leg muscles by allowing me to pull on the upstroke, and increase my pedaling efficiency. They're also safer than traditional cage pedals with toe clips and straps. When you fall with clipless pedals, your feet pop out of the pedals. When you fall with cages, well, that's tough. I got into an accident a few years ago while riding with toe clips, and I'm fortunate that my pedals were cheap. [Sidenote: the Department of Transportation now uses the term "crashes" because most events previously known as "accidents" could have been easily avoided, and thus can't accurately be described as "accidents." This particluar one could have been avoided if that driver hadn't decided to swerve across three lanes and turn right in front of me. Curses! Crashes! Grr! ] The pressure from my body flying forward with my feet stuck in the toe straps caused the metal screws to rip out of the cages while tearing the pedals apart. My knees and ankles hurt for a week or so after the crash (along with injuries to other miscellaneous body parts), but I learned an important lesson: Don't try that again with good pedals. I believe that a well-placed piece of velcro made to rip open under pressure could have prevented my knee/ankle strain in that crash. In my opinion, all toe straps should be designed to self-destruct with enough pressure. Manufacturers, take note. DIYers, buy velcro. Anway, I had a wee problem when attempting to take the original pedals off of my new (used) bike. The left pedal was stuck. I mean STUCK. And yes, I know that the left pedal is reverse-threaded (as in, turn it clockwise to loosen, righty-loosy, lefty-tighty). Well I pushed and I pulled and I kicked and I pounded my wrench with a hammer. Wouldn't budge. I attached 3 wrenches together to increase my leverage. I dumped a kettle of boiling water over the end of my crank to expand the metal and loosen the pedal. No luck. [Above: Crank arm and pedal. The pedal screws in at the bottom. This happens to be a right crank arm, which means that the threading is normal, righty-tighty, lefty-loosy. This also happens to be a flat pedal, including neither a cage nor clipless capabilities. I use these pedals when it's raining/snowing/hailing/monsoon-ing and I want to wear my big clunky waterproof boots.] Then I bought some Liquid Wrench and let it soak into the threads overnight. I found a long pipe and attached it to the end of my somewhat small and rather cute pedal wrench...and Voila! It worked! It was awesome! From my understanding, PB Blaster is an even better penetrating oil, and Kroil is the best (so good, in fact, that you can only buy it online). [Left: The Liquid Wrench, pipe, and pedal wrench that combined forces to save the day.] It is my hope that bike commuters and DIY home mechanics can learn from my mistakes and adjust their bikes to be safer and more fun to ride. With cities like, ahem, Chicago leasing its parking meters to Morgan Stanley for 75 years ("Hey, do you have any pocket change? I need $6 in quarters for the meter"), and then raising public transit rates to help "fix" the problem of a broken economy and a cash-starved city, a Craigslist bike could really pay off. But it's not just a cost-effective form of transportation it's also better for the environment, better for your health, a great way to connect to your community, [insert the countless other benefits of riding a bicycle here]. As long as you know how to fix your bike and take care of yourself, you can keep riding FOREVER. Yes, forever. And ever. More quick tips on knees: - Adjust your saddle height properly. Most people ride with their saddles too low. You should not be able to sit on your bike and touch your toes to the ground at the same time. You should, however, be able to stand over the top tube with your feet flat on the ground and have at least a half-inch of clearance between the bike and your crotch. - Avoid pushing too hard in a low cadence. As in, if you have to struggle with every pedal stroke, switch to a lower gear. - Stretch frequently. Flexibility is very important. Seriously. - Drink water. Keeps your joints lubed up and ready to go. Water is a miracle elixer. Even better than candy, I swear. - More advanced fitting and positioning. This becomes more important the more you ride. Repetitive use injuries have a tendency to sneak up on you. This includes forward/back saddle positioning, cleat alignment, crank length, and other factors. It gets really complicated really fast. Some people go to school for this stuff. - Did I forget something important? Feel free to chime in on the conversation. If you want more info on pedals, proper positioning, maintenance, or pretty much anything bike related, check Sheldon Brown's website. It's wonderful. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19998 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19996 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:49:22 GMT First, let me introduce myself. My name is Brandon Reyes. I am 16 years old and reside in Norwalk, California, which is located a short distance away from Los Angeles, the capitol of diversity. I currently attend Santa Fe High School and I am truly a self-motivated and helpful person. I am proud to be the newest member to the YouthNoise Play City team. I am a very active individual; I play multiple sports such as soccer, cross country and track. Even though it may not be considered a sport, I enjoy playing chess a lot. I greatly admire YouthNoise Play City s philosophy, which is to use sports to benefit the community. I began playing soccer when I was 8 years old and, I continue to play for my high school. I created many friendships playing soccer due to the constant communication and chemistry required for a team to work. Soccer has allowed me to meet all kinds of people from different cultures. Being a part of a team has taught me how to respect others: coaches, parents, and players. Recently, in my sophomore year I began running track and cross country. It all started with a friendly competition between one of my closest friends, one of the top runners at my school, and me. The challenge was for me to run 6 miles and try to beat the runner or stay within 10 minutes from him. Loser has to pay for lunch. Despite having a background in soccer, I still lost by more than 10 minutes. Although I lost the race, it further strengthened my friendship. The race was what set me on a path to successes and more friendships. My friend saw that I had the potential to run, so he began training me. I had no intention to race in track because I believed I had no chance of winning and I was just working out for the next soccer season. Finally, on the day of the race my friend convinced me to try racing, so I borrowed some spikes, track-racing shoes, and went to the starting line. When that gun sounded off I took off and did not look back. I was completely nervous and did not know what to do. It was like I had a hidden talent to run. I had won the race and was in utter shock. From there on I became one of my school s top distance runners. I took some time away from soccer and I met some awesome people that I would have never met if it had not been for track and cross country. I continued to run and I joined the school s cross country team. I continue to practice because our biggest race of the year is coming up November 6, which is also during finals week! Sports have greatly impacted my whole life. Sports are what get my body up and running everyday to go to school and improve in my talent every practice. It has made me the person I am now by teaching me discipline, respect, and responsibility. I am very grateful that sports like these exist in my school because sports are what allow me to step away from school pressures, make friends, and provide an incentive for me to go to school and get good grades. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19996 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19968 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:15:33 GMT Almost a year ago to the date, I had the opportunity sit and listen to activist, Liepollo L. Pheko of The Trade Collective, speak about racial justice in a global economy. Throughout her speech, she referred to those that are largely deemed invisible by a majority as "The Many." These, We, The Many, she said are otherwise known as The Other, but in numbers, in potential, and in the spirit of the collective, We, The Many - despite being Otherized, are gifted, powerful, and necessary. As James reported on Sunday, the prelims of the 2009 Knicks Poetry Slam was held on Saturday, November 7th at The Manhattan Center in New York City. Along with James and other Play City folk, I had the opportunity to witness what I deemed as The Gifted Many. Brooklyn's, Harlem's, Queen's, the Bronx's, Manhattan's, Jersey's, and Philly's finest were definitely in the building. A showcase of young poetic, dance, and musical genius commanded the audience's attention over the weekend. I was forced to not only reminisce about my fleeting youth but also wonder in amazement at how these young minds can be so entirely insightful, intellectual, and exuberant.Like, for example, Alexis Marie. This young queen took to the stage armed with some of the most powerful words I've ever heard uttered from a teenager's mouth (mind you, I used to be a middle school teacher). Her poem was about womanhood, strength, struggle, courage; "things" you'd assume a young teenage girl wouldn't have any clue about. But while listening to Alexis I got a sense that she's encountered some very deep and soulful life experiences that inform her ability to express herself through poetry. Alexis exhibited an astute awareness that spoke to who she is and who she is to become as a woman of color. Her performance was simply stunning.Equally as powerful was another spoken word performance by two young boys from NYC. As soon as they were introduced, teens rushed to the front of the stage. At that point, I kinda knew something amazing was about to happen. The young men stood side-by-side as they recited, in sync with one another, the beginning of their poem entitled Switch. As they continued, their voices split, like a call-and-response with separately distinct voices. As I listened, I began to understand that Switch was a poem about a young black boy's struggle with being homosexual. The young boys took the idea (and gesture) of "switching" and turned it into social commentary. I'm not quite sure if this idea of switching also spoke to the way in which marginalized people have learned to "switch" language, mannerisms, or consciousness as a way to (temporarily) assimilate into a situation largely controlled by a dominant group. (See: W.E.B. DuBois double consciousness and Gloria Anzaldua mestiza consciousness).In any event, the performance left me in awe, so much so that when it was over, I looked at James and the only word I could muster was simply "Wow."In addition to the performances, students were given the opportunity to learn more about participating colleges and universities at the event. Syracuse University, the University of Wisconsin, Mercy College, among others were in attendance. Each student was welcomed to obtain more information about higher education throughout the day.In looking back, I can better understand the importance of Saturday's event. It was a time when youth of varied colors, ages, sexualities, and abilities can all at once be recognized for their unique talent and be encouraged to use these talents to advance in education and situation. More often than not, these same youth are the ones overlooked or taken for granted despite talent, creative genius, and sheer numbers to influence the communities around them. Thanks to The New York Knicks, Nike, the Sports Arts in Schools Foundation, and participating colleges/universities for acknowledging these kids; The Gifted Many.Oh, and did I mention that there was an awesome beatboxer by the name of Anointed S AND and contortionist in attendance on Saturday? For more pics, check out YouthNoise/Play City Flickr page. [Anointed S]Um, yeah.All photography by Tara L. Conley http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19968 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19941 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:23:49 GMT Lisa Gaumer's entry for YouthNoise Play City's Play it Forward Contest was a very quick to the point summary of why Sue Butz-Stavin should be Coach of the Year. In Lisa's case, the nomination was definitely for more than coach of the year, it would be for Coach of Generations:Lisa, Coach, and Sammi (Lisa's daugther)Generations of women have been playing field hockey under coach Butz-Stavin over at Emmaus High School in Emmaus, PA. "I played basketball and softball in Jr. High and Coach asked me to try out for field hockey after noticing how athletic I was.", says Lisa. Lisa played field hockey for Coach Butz-Stavin from 1979-1983, a time when equipment was scarce and notoriety of the game wasn't at its highest. 1982 Team PhotoNow Sue Butz-Stavin has already compiled an epic record of 700-72-34 winning over 69 championships in over 34 seasons of coaching. If you read Lisa's entry on Coach Butz-Stavin, you'll see the hundreds of comments on the entry confirming why she was rightfully nominated to win our contest. "Playing field hockey was the best experience of my life", explains Lisa, "Coach was more than just an x's and o's coach, she taught us how to play the game correctly, that practice and routine and discipline were to become an integral part of our lives and not just on the field but in academics as well. She went out of her way to bring out the best in all of us. I have to say that I've taken a lot of what I've learned and applied that knowledge to the way I live now."Lisa(light-colored jersey) playing in 1982Sammi(in white) in 2009Lisa and her business partner just recently opened Sticks and Flicks Specialty Store, a store that specializes in field hockey and lacrosse equipment as well as athletic apparel and team wear. "We used to have to drive hours to go to a store that sold field hockey equipment, opening up this store saves us a lot of time and provides access for anyone who wants to start training in field hockey." says Lisa. Mothers and daughters who played and currently play for Coach Butz-Stavin.Coach Butz-Stavin's influence doesn't end there, Lisa's daughter Sammi Wootsick, as well as two other former player's daughters currently play on the Emmaus field hockey team. "I put a stick in Sammi's hand when she was just two years old." exclaimed Lisa. Two generations playing under the same coach, thats staying power. "Ex-players always come back to help out and to show support. We're a big family and all of us have been affected heavily Coach and her mentoring, even our daughters are getting that experience too.", beams Lisa.Coach's 700 Win CollageSue Butz-Stavin started a youth program that teaches 2nd-6th graders field hockey fundamentals and helps them develop their skills. The kids are taught by the Emmaus players and it helps keep the talent fresh as well as providing positive role models for young girls. "Its a really great program because the girls on the team have an opportunity to be a coach and mentor for younger girls and also help them learn a sport that they're passionate about.", says Lisa. Some may think that the accolades and prestige are what made Coach Butz-Stavin Coach of the Year, but its apparent from people like Lisa Gaumer that it is way beyond field hockey. "She brings out the passion in all of us to succeed, she keeps her students disciplined, makes sure they're doing well academically, constantly checks in with teachers, is totally dedicated to what she does, and every girl thats ever played for her including myself remain loyal to her and want do well for her." If that doesn't warrant Coach of the Year, I don't know what does...1982 League Champions(Lisa wearing the ballcap)2009 LVC League ChampsBe sure to check out Lisa's store if you're ever in Pennsylvania:Sticks N' Flicks Specialty Sports, LLC. 109 East Main Street Macungie, PA 18062...congratulations!Thank you for your entry and sharing your experience with Play City. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19941 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19939 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:29:54 GMT Yesterday the New York Knicks hosted the first event of their 2009 Poetry Slam series-- young poets auditioned for chance at the semi-finals in January and, ultimately, a shot at full tuition scholarships to the University of Wisconsin or Mercy College in here in New York, along with 3,000 dollars worth of other scholarships and grants. U of Wisconsin was representing particularly hard at the event, opening the day up with performances by a few poets from their urban arts program, "First Wave". The poets were all winners from the Knicks Poetry Slam in 2007 or 2008 who scored scholarships into UW's First Wave, the world's first ever college hip-hop and slam program. In just a couple weeks, contestants will know if they've been selected to advance into the semi-finals, but even those of us who didn't audition for the slam came away with the knowledge gained in an array of financial planning and college information workshops. And everybody got to take in a day of world-class entertainment by poets, dancers, MC's and beatboxers. Scope the video and you'll see what I mean.Stay tuned to PlayCity for coverage of the Knicks Poetry Slam as semi-finalists get announced-- the real competition is just warming up!Without the Knicks, along with Hot 97 (the nation's best hip-hop station!), Urban Word, Kiss FM, Nike Gamechangers, and the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, this event just wouldn't have been the same.Hats off to the all the sponsors for showing kids that having a way with words is just as valuable as knowing how to handle the basketball. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19939