http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/user/217390 TaraLConley Playcity Blog en-us Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:16:38 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss playcity@youthnoise.org 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/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/19861 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:45:48 GMT New York City dance coach Nekia Thomas-Wise was recently nominated by Fully Focused dancer, Tianna Brown for the 2009 Play It Forward contest. I had the opportunity to chat with coach Wise. Here's what she had to say about being nominated, about being a coach and mentor in New York City, and some of her most memorable experiences, including the reality that comes along with coaching girls who confront issues like teen pregnancy and drugs.Congratulations on being nominated by Tianna Brown and placing 2nd in the Play It Forward contest! First things first, how do you feel about being nominated by Tianna?I was really surprised to find out that Tianna nominated me! I don't really look at what I do with the girls as anything "worth" awarding. In fact, annually, I give the girls an awards ceremony during their recital where I praise their "good" work and reward it. It felt really awesome to have that sort of role reversal.You and your team, Brooklyn's Fully Focused recently won the grand prize for the 2009 Nike/YouthNoise Step It Up competition over the summer. How was that experience for you and your dancers?The Step it up Competition was an amazing experience! Fully Focused has been in many competitions -and quite successful! Step It Up however was the first competition that they've ever won that required them to take so much responsibility outside of dance. I put lots of responsibility on the girls in terms of attendance, punctuality, and performing. The Step It Up competition gave my girls purpose in being performers and change agents simultaneously. It was a learning experience for them to be challenged to take their skill and use it to be even more productive in society!What do you think are some of the most important lessons a player or student can learn from her coach?Students can learn a lot from coaches! They have the opportunity to see a bit of the future, even if it seems impossible. I want my dancers to take advantage of having me in their lives to some extent. I want them to use me for insight to structure, and planning life long things. I hope I serve as a model and help them achieve their future goals. I come from where they come from. When it's all said and done, I'm one of them!What are some of the most important lessons a coach can learn from her players or students?Coaches learn teachable moments from students; for life and for the sport.How long do you intend on coaching dance?I plan on coach forever! I aspire to open up a studio in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn and service so many more young girls. I'll have dance camp in the summer, classes throughout the year, and Hip Hop aerobics with moms. Then I plan on conducting workshops for moms too! Tara, I have such a plan. And, I'm training the current FF dancers to be the teachers at the studio to help them earn money!Congrats Nekia, keep inspiring and continue to do great work in your community! Shout out to Tianna and the entire Fully Focused dance team. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19861 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19732 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:29:22 GMT Last week, I presented at the Cool Twitter Conference in Brooklyn, New York. I discussed ways in which people can use Twitter to disseminate and promote services, products, and ideas. I detailed my work with YouthNoise and how I use Twitter to engage in social conversations. My presentation was based on this idea/space I called Twitter Society. I define Twitter Society as, "A place where cultural exchanges take place and un/written rules, etiquette, and behaviors are thusly devised and supported by the society." Feel free to visit my blog for the PowerPoint slides of my presentation "Promulgating Ideas in Twitter Society: Our Purpose in Community and Conversations". The more I engage with folks on Twitter, the more I notice how this type of social space functions similarly to our 'offline' societies.In Twitter Society, there are patterns of written language, etiquette rules, and by golly, there's even a Twitter jail! There are networking groups and clicks made up of academics, activists, celebrities and regular Jills and Joes. All of these people are engaging in some sort of dialogical relationship. Though Twitter has over 50 million users, not all of them are active. But the ones that are active sure do tweet a lot, including yours truly!During my presentation I cited specific examples of how people engage. I mentioned one of my first ever encounters with an active tweeter; NBA player Shaquille O'Neal (@ THE_REAL_SHAQ). I joined Twitter about a year ago, but have only been active within the last 3-4 months (@taralconley). When I first joined, I began following Shaq because I heard his tweets were interesting (read: engaging). I noticed right away that Shaq tweeted a lot. One of the ways he would engage with fans was to send his followers on scavenger hunts. I remember one time he tweeted about being at the local mall in Miami and said the first person to find him at this particular mall would win a free pair of his sneakers. Fans and followers have noted how cool Shaq is for actually responding and talking "directly" to them. They feel a sense of intimacy with their favorite NBA star. Arguably, before Twitter came along this type of "direct" intimacy with celebrities - namely professional athletes, was non-existent. Sure, athletes have Facebook pages and blogs, but it's Twitter that provides a sense of immediate gratification and direct engagement fans and followers seem to embrace. But Shaq isn't the only one using Twitter to connect with folks. Orlando Magic superstar, Dwight Howard is using Twitter to engage with fans too (@DwightHoward). Mashable reports: "Howard is one of a growing number of athletes using social media to help build his image, and on his blog he chronicles some of the other things he s done recently." From a PR perspective, it seems as though pro athletes are adopting social media outreach for branding and image control purposes. While this may be true, I'm also incline to believe that celebrities and professional athletes are drawn to social media the same way you or I are drawn to these social spaces. They too desire to be a part of communities made up of diverse people and ideas. Call it narcissism, call it altruism, or call it our psychological need to be loved and belong to a social space. Whatever the case may be, it's apparent that these social networks speak to something human and societal, and they are changing the way professional athletes communicate with others.As I mentioned in my presentation, "Twitter makes us more aware of our purpose in the conversation." Those active tweeters know that Twitter requires time and commitment, perhaps even more than Facebook and Myspace. Twitter also forces us to choose our tweets wisely. We've seen what happens when tweeting goes awry for public figures. Just recently, Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs was suspended and fined $213,000 for tweeting a gay slur to a follower. Johnson's (@Toonicon) comments were infantile and derogatory. He deserved to be reprimanded by the NFL. Fans and followers will heckle, that's going to happen in the wide world of sports. In this case, Johnson lost a sense of his purpose in a Twitter conversation. So while Twitter and other social networks allow people to connect instantly and directly, all of us are still responsible for our social behaviors and actions in these spaces. We've gotten accustomed to rethinking a position before uttering it to a family member or friend, but because we live in such a terribly fast and invasive age with the advent of the World Wide Web, we're now forced to rethink our (re)thoughts. And maybe, in the end, that's a good thing.Johnson, Howard, and O'Neal are among many high profile athletes whose tweets will be scrutinized in Twitter Society. These athletes aren't only being watched by fans in the stands, but also by followers lurking behinds Twitter avatars. As a 'snew ' (social + new) media consultant, I'm hopeful these athletes can use online platforms of social media to further engage with fans and serve their communities off the playing field. For a full list of professional athletes on Twitter, visit www.twitter-athletes.com Images courtesy of Sports Networker, Inside Social, Hoopiquity. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19732 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19340 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:53:11 GMT The Universe is so letting the sports world be great this week. Has anyone else noticed how many fascinating sports stories have been appearing in this week's news cycle? If not, no worries, I compiled a list of featured sports-related stories.Yahoo! News reported yesterday that Ruth Frith, from Brisbane, broke the world record for being the first 100-year-old woman to throw a shot put 13 ft. 4 in. Um, wow. First of all, I remember back in the day when my fellow middle-school track teammates couldn't even jump 13 ft., let alone throw a ball 13 ft. - and these were twelve and thirteen-year-old teenagers!This great-grandmother trains 5 times per week, lifts weights, doesn't eat vegetables (because she doesn't like them), and doesn't drink or smoke. In addition to throwing the shot put, Frith also throws the hammer and javelin. I tried to throw a javelin in college and basically sucked at it.Ruth Frith is awesome. Period. She's also another reminder that I really need to stop coming up with lame excuses to avoid hitting the gym every day. In other not-so-awesome-news, ESPN senior writer, Wright Thompson recently wrote a reflexive-expose, Seats of Gold: Yankee Stadium's Legends Suite Was Sparsely Populated at Times This Season - A Sign of What Greed Does to Loyalty about the high price of being a sports fan. His story centers around the brand new Yankee stadium, chock-full of luxurious amenities that service the most elite over indulgent fans. If you're simply a 'normal' sports nut whose into Ball Park Franks and beer in plastic cups, then you're better off staying at home; you're not wanted in these parts. Thompson was invited to watch a Yankee game from the Legends Suite, presumably because he's a sports writer. While he admits feeling the 'perks' he couldn't help but recognize a sad reality within professional baseball: greed. Wall Street brokers and wealthy Yankee baseball fans have had a long and, yes, corrupt past. Thompson details this lustful relationship in the article. But the Yankees isn't the only team gripped by corporate greed's stronghold, Thompson's commentary speaks to a larger, more tragic phenomenon happening within all major professional sports teams in the US. Thompson notes:"A recent poll discovered an unsettling trend emerging for the first time. American families whose household income is $75,000 or less now have zero dollars of discretionary income. According to Luker, that means about 75 percent of the country can never responsibly afford to go to a live professional sporting event . . . The reason sporting events cost so much now, Luker's research shows, is because they are designed to be affordable only to those making $150,000 or more a year."Professional pollster, Rick Luker adds,"We have the first true sustained evidence of less interest in sports than there was 10 years ago . . . in general, sports will not be what it is today. We're burning out the love of sports."Professional sports teams are pricing themselves into oblivion and losing tons of loyal and young fans along the way.Thompson piece is honest and insightful. He struggles with being a loyal fan and objective sports writer while temporarily participating in the lavish luxuries of the Legends Suite. Somewhere between his charming and witty written descriptions, you realize Thompson unearths a complex relationship between the love for the game and the power of greed. Being part of the elite at Legends Suite has a moral price, one in which Thompson and thousands of other die-hard fans end up paying.After leaving the game, Thompson writes:"Something important was lost in the transfer of money for services. The game happened. I loved it. Now it's over. People file out of every exit, disappearing into the night. They walk to subway stations, to cabs, to parked cars. Some of us won't ever come back."(Wow, I'm totally realizing that this mid-week round up is depressing.) Okay, one more for the road. Sooooo, did anyone hear that Rush Limbaugh wants to buy the St. Louis Rams? I really don't know what else to add here other than, huh?In summation, check out Brave New Films' latest video on Rushy-Rush. HAPPY HUMP DAY! Photos courtesy: Courier Mail, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, Huffington Post http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19340 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19238 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:29:24 GMT A few months ago I posted a blog about the upcoming "Body Issue" in ESPN Magazine. At the time, I was eager to see how the folks at ESPN Mag would portray naked athletic bodies without crossing that all-too-contentious line of exploitation. Well, looks like the Body Issue has finally been revealed, and folks like Serena Williams, Dwight Howard, and Adrian Peterson made the covers. Of course, we can't talk about the Body Issue without also addressing fetishism, agency, exploitation, blah, blah, blah. In fact, I couldn't wait to finally see the covers for that very reason; to hop up on my social commentary pulpit and go at it! But in my humble opinion, I think ESPN Mag does a good job. No matter what, there is always going to be a level of fetishism at play. Particularly with black bodies, fetishizing is culturally and pathologically ingrained in our social psyche. But what's also important to acknowledge is the subject (i.e. the person) claiming agency via the images s/he helps to create. Serena Williams has publicly admitted to being insecure about her body. Despite Serena's obviously healthy physique, she, like many other woman, agonize over body image: My thighs I think they re too big, she has said. And also my arms. I think they re too muscular. They re too thick. (If I had a nickle for every time I looked in the mirror and utter that similar sentiment . . . I can totally relate, Serena.) Yet, still, by virtue of Serena participating in the Body Issue, does she not claim a bit of agency here? As I see it, Serena's photo (as well as the other athletes' photos) makes an empowering declaration that celebrates the human body in its most natural and even somewhat vulnerable form. And in spite of fetishizing eyes or publicly stated insecurities, these bodies in turn come to represent strength, power, discipline, and unguarded humanity. And yes, I can argue all day about whether or not the way Serena poses contributes to or defies the beauty myth that women in society confront every day, but for the sake of this discussion (and for the sanity of my readers), I'll just end with this, from a fellow blogger/friend of Pitts Indeed: With agency and integrity you know the difference between exploitation and exposure; between being taken and giving freely. And damn if Serena don t look fine. And, um, I'd like to add that Dwight Howard looks pretty damn fine too. The Body Issue hits newsstands tomorrow, October 9th. (I highly recommend viewing the "making of" video. It features all of the athletes talking about feeling insecure and empowered during the photo shoot.) http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19238 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18951 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:28:27 GMT This week over on Womanist Musings guest contributor femonade blogged about Nike's latest commercial featuring NFL running back Adrian Peterson. The commercial centers around Peterson's agile athleticism and uber strength. One problem, though, according to femonde: "[The commercial is] so horrible, I literally have to turn my head whenever it comes on. WTF? A black man can't be a great athlete without likening him to an animal? An alien? Something inhuman, and some manner of scaly-skinned freak?" Femonade criticizes Nike for perpetuating dangerous stereotypes, citing historically degrading tropes that always seem to creep up now and then in American popular culture; animalistic, barbaric, scary, dangerous, dark black guys. Pretty much opposite everything nice, tame, and um, light. Femonade also mentions the traditional practice of skin-branding that's been a commonplace in African and African-American culture. Femonade writes: "In my estimation, the best-case scenario here is that Nike wanted not to give a black man animalistic or inhuman qualities, but used texturized black skin to evoke a skin-branding ritual with a sordid history, but that has been somewhat reclaimed recently by black fraternities." Femonade continues to argue that even if this is Nike's way of evoking a skin-branding tradition, it's probably not a good look for Nike (a mega corporation with a not-so-squeeky-clean history with folks of color) to evoke these traditions while claiming them for the purpose of marketing a sports product.Dangerous territory, Nike. Very dangerous, territory.But it's not like we haven't been confronted with questionable imagery in sports advertising before. How could we forget this gem:This particular photo, splashed all over Vogue Magazine last year, started a s**t storm in and around the blogosphere. Everyone from fashionista bloggers to racialicious bloggers were writing about it. Needless to say, Lebron likened to Tarzan the Ape while grabbing a white damsel in distress (though she really didn't looked distressed, but more like she was doing some kind of awkward dance move) didn't sit well with the folks. Aside from the ad being in poor taste, it was unflattering to both Lebron's athletic swagga and Giseles' graceful sexiness.So here's the thing about the Adrian Peterson ad: It's scary. The last thing I think about while looking at the commercial is "Oh, hell yeah, I gotta cop whatever they're selling!" I'm not even quite sure what Nike's selling in the ad to begin with. The cinematography alone is dreadful - literally. Slow moving shots, grey imagery, cold, and uninviting. It reminded me more of freezing my butt off at a Browns game in Cleveland. Sure, I know Nike isn't trying to sell Popsicles here, but when and why did sports become so horribly depressing?Without question, there are racial undertones attached to the Peterson ad. At the end of the commercial when Peterson's skin turns reptile-alien like, I can't help but squirm upon the sight of such imagery. It makes me uncomfortable. It's not so much that I fear reptiles or even aliens, but I'm concerned that these images, more often than not, make people fear each other. We're being told things big, black, dark, and amimalistic are scary, and society - a.k.a the real damsel in distress - should be scared. America has a long sordid history with attaching people of color to dangerous and inferior imagery, and because that history is so deeply embedded in our consciousness, it's best not to correlate these things at all - especially in a sports commercial. I'm not going to yell, 'racist!' or conclude that this ad is an example of racism because keep in mind; our conversations about race shouldn't be limited to policing hateful individuals or ideas based on stereotypes but to focus on the unanswerable question of motive, in other words, all that matters are the outcomes.Does this Nike ad fail on the racially sensitive front? Hell yeah it does. Does Nike have an alterior-motive to purposely degrade, dehumanize, and disenfranchise all people of color? I highly doubt it. Unfortunately, the enormous gaffe here is that the Nike ad is an example of, (and further contributes to), our arrested development as a collective. We should know better. With that said, even though Nike has a history of epic gaffes, the company continues to work with communities of color (and HERE) and partners with great organizations like YouthNoise to make a difference in the lives of others through sport and play. Again, it's about the outcomes. Nike did release a statement about the ad, which in my opinions sucked. My advice for Nike? Keep working with us, not against us, and by all means, send your ad executives on a week long ethics retreat.And that's the word. Images: Flickr bobster855 and Racialicious/Vogue http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18951 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18755 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:56:56 GMT The Associated Press is reporting that 18-year-old South African runner, Caster Semenya is on suicide watch after recent tests revealed (in front of the entire world no less) that she is intersex. A few weeks ago I wrote about Caster Semenya and the politics of gender identification in sports. At the time of posting, Semenya's test results were still unknown. I posed a hypothetical and futuristic scenario about gender neutral Olympics where all is well with athletes competing in non sex-segregated sporting events. A utopic scenario, I admit. Now it all seems to have taken a turn for the worst. According to the AP report "officials as saying that psychologists are caring [for] the 18-year-old round-the-clock after it was claimed tests had proved she was a hermaphrodite."South African lawmaker Butana Komphela, said: "[Semenya] is like a raped person. She is afraid of herself and does not want anyone near her. If she commits suicide, it will be on all our heads. The best we can do is protect her and look out for her during this trying time."The mere fact that it's gotten to the point that Semenya is reportedly on suicide watch indicates that we've all failed; sports officials, consumers, and media. We've done what we always do; react like vultures when consuming someone else's personal story and personal tragedy. Probing so deeply into this woman's life while taking away her voice in the process illustrates our failure as a global society to care for our own; our daughter. I'm not being hyperbolic either. Within the past few weeks, I've encounter some disturbing commentary on popular blog sites and so-called "news sources" (for obvious reasons, I won't like back to these sites). Folks calling Semenya out of her name, insisting she's a 'freak of nature.' Otherizing her so much to the point that somewhere along the line she felt it necessary to perform her gender on a magazine cover, just to prove to us - the voyeurs - that she is who she identifies as. The damage has been done. Semenya is a victim of modern-day voyeurism. Without context and without care, we, the folks, raped her by violating her personhood. By casting a chastising eye on her, we've denied her the right have the quality of life she deserves. Having an open and fair-minded discussion about gender identity in sports is fair game, (and I'm sure the debate will only explode from this point on) but exploiting a person's story as a way to essentially mask our own fears of the Other is (what Tweeters would refer to as) an #epic fail.Caster Semenya's story also indicates another important issue concerning women of color and mental health. I recently wrote about this very topic highlighting yet another woman of color apparently suffering from mental illness while in the virtual world spot light.Should sports and government officials have handled Semenya's situation differently? Absolutely. Especially when considering that her personal medical tests results were revealed to the entire world. She has nothing, I repeat, nothing, to prove to you or me.Should bloggers and commenters have self-censored themselves before posting derogatory and misleading commentary about Semenya, intersexuality, and hermaphroditsm? Without a doubt.Sadly, none of the above occurred, and because of these blunders of epic proportions a young 18-year-old woman reportedly sits contemplating her life's demise, despite being one of the most promising track field athletes of our time.Enough is really enough. Even though so much damage has already been done, it would behoove us as a collective to support our daughter during this time with prayers, meditations, reflective blog posts, supportive Twitter/Facebook updates; whatever suites your fancy. We've got some serious redeeming to do. Caster Semenya, you have my love and support.Tara (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) **UPDATE: Former track field Olympian, Carl Lewis, speaks out, stating that ASA officials are to blame for how the Semenya story has been playing out around the world. "It's your fault." Lewis goes on to say that athletics officials should have protected Caster Semenya from the controversy: "She is your athlete in your country and you didn't deal with this before. To put it out in front of the world like that, I am very disappointed in them because I feel that it is unfair to her." Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/21/caster-semenya-gender-tes_n_265069.html http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18755 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18633 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:25:10 GMT Word travels fast around the PlayCity block. One of our very own bloggers, Nando Yiv, a.k.a nansteez1984, was an adaptive golf coach in Norwalk, California. In celebration of Play It Forward, we decided to feature Nando and recognize his efforts in supporting others through coaching. Nando sheds some light on what adaptive golf coaching is, how he got started, and he shares with us some memorable moments and memorable athletes that he's had the pleasure of coaching along the way.Check out the interview below!Before I heard about your coaching background, I had no idea what an adaptive golf coach was. Since being enlightened via a Google search and by way of your recent PlayCity post, Adapting To Adaptive Golf, I've learned some interesting tidbits about adaptive golf coaching. Can you fill us in on what adaptive golf coaching is specifically from your point of view?Adaptive golf coaching is basically coaching and instructing golf to athletes with physical or developmental disabilities. The key word here is adaptive, meaning depending on their disability, a coach must help the athlete adjust to whichever disability they're dealing with. For example, I helped coach an athlete named Sanjay who needed leg braces because of cerebral palsy. We definitely needed to figure out ways to set up for a golf swing and putting, so based on the range of motion that he had, I would remind him to stand a certain way or face a certain direction depending on the shot. He became pretty good.How did you get started as an adaptive golf coach? What inspired you to want to become an adaptive golf coach?You know, I was pretty much in the right place at the right time. During my time as a Recreation Leader with the City of Norwalk, I pretty much became a jack of all trades. I started working with school age kids at first, playing sports, games, arts and crafts, and then I started working with the Therapeutics Dept. I would drive the city van and take teens and adults with disabilities on excursions to the movies or a shopping center or even Medieval Times. Eventually I was permanently transferred to the City Golf Course where I was still involved with Therapeutics. I developed my golf game a bit and found that I was better at helping people play than playing myself. The higher-ups of the city then decided that I might be a good Adaptive Golf Coach and Amber eventually got me involved with the Special Olympics. It came natural, I already hung out with the golf athletes, I took them on Therapeutics excursions all the time so it was natural to be playing golf with them. Pretty fun.Are there any major adaptive golfing events around the country that PlayCity should keep an eye out for?There are many major adaptive golf events around the country that PlayCity can keep an eye on. Most of these events are part of the Special Olympics and are Golf only events that take place at 18-hole golf courses. The tournaments vary from state to state but you should have no trouble finding information on www.specialolympics.org.Are there any organizations dedicated to adaptive sports that you'd like the PlayCity community to know about?Well, I know that mostly every City's Dept. of Recreation features a Therapeutics program that features adaptive sports such as bowling, swimming, and golf. Over here in CA, mostly every city in the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County area were involved with the Special Olympics. You can probably find out about your local Therapeutics/Adaptive Sports programs by looking at your city's website.What were some of the most full-filling moments you experienced as an adaptive golf coach?The most fulfilling moments I experienced as an adaptive golf coach of course had to involve the success of the athletes. We remind them to have fun but they really really want to do well. Part of being a golf coach is not just instructing golf, but providing positive reinforcement, keeping their spirits up, celebrating with them. Seeing the joy and confidence on their faces was the most fulfilling moment for me. Every time they made a hard putt or a good drive or swing, that was awesome for me.The Play It Forward campaign is about recognizing our great inspiring coaches. As a coach, can you tell us about some great inspiring athletes that you've coached in the past?One of the most inspiring athletes I've ever coached is named Ryan Gonzalez, he isn't able to talk but is very alert and sharp with a notebook he carries. He wasn't very good at golf when we first started and would be pretty hard on himself. Although, he wasn't able to speak to me, I can still tell when he was having a hard time and would constantly encourage him to not give up. I would eventually partner up with him at the alternate shot golf events. We've won a silver and a bronze medal. It really takes a lot of heart to compete in the Special Olympics, many of these athletes have been given up on or haven't been believed in, and being a coach to them is a great honor because they already want to be there but coaching them means I have to keep them on track and be there to support them when things get hard or when they're doing great.Thanks, Nando for sharing your story with us on PlayCity! Also, check out Special Olympics golfer Kevin Erickson, below. Nando wanted us to know about this amazing guy who we certainly won't forget anytime soon! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18633 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18590 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:37:49 GMT Ring the bell and call in the band, we finally have the winners of this year's YouthNoise/Nike-sponsored Beat Gasoline competition! It's been a long journey but the tallies have been counted. Now it's time to give credit where credit's due. Among the winners are:1st Place Beat Gasoline: Bicycle, video by khizamazwiNo words were needed to make this video, "Bicycle" unfolds magically using moving imagery set against a hardcore musical soundtrack. This 2-minute story takes the viewer through a day-long journey from the point-of-view of one lone biker blazing through the streets of Los Angeles with two pedal-powered wheels. Well-crafted and uniquely produced, khizamazwi gets high fives all around for this masterpiece! 1st place winner receives a BMX bike, $1000 Global Giving Card and a Nike prize pack!2nd Place I Beat Gasoline, featuring Rene.Rene, an 8-year-old skater phenom would certainly give P-Rod a run for his money! This 30-second video features Rene doing what he does best and making yours truly seriously consider riding a skateboard to work -- uh, well, maybe through Central Park. It only takes seconds for viewers to appreciate Rene's story and quickly recognize that he'll most certainly become an inspiring adult athlete one day. Mad props to Rene for using his passion as a way to beat gas! 2nd place winner receives a $750 card and a Nike prize pack! Honorable Mention The People's Choice Bike Ride Final, video by Jkeevil'sJkeevil's video requires the viewer to do more than just watch, but also engage with its moving imagery. This artistic piece is from the point-of-view of a San Fransisco rider observing the city while riding through its pristine, yet environmentally challenged streets. One memorable shot in particular is of a ship likened to an oil rig boat. The camera shot mimics the perspective of peeping through a submarine ship's periscope, as if looking at itself through itself. The camera shots function as a self-reflective metaphor, asking us not to simply exist within our environments but to contemplate our purpose within these environments, particulalry in making them better and more sustainable. Big ups to Jkeevil for making us think beyond the surface! The People's Choice award winner will recieve a $500 card and Nike shoes. Super-duper congrats to all the winners! Another BIG shout out to all of the contestants that participated in the Beat Gasoline contest. Your efforts mean so much for the cause. Even though the Beat Gasoline contest is over, the movement of finding new and alternative means of transportion has just begun! Continue to make change by spreading your videos and photography around to family and friends! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18590 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18465 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:34:08 GMT I think it's fair to say that during the last week or so, society has had to check it's gender politics at the door. We've had to question our ideas about what makes a male athlete, a man, and what makes a female athlete, a woman. Some of us even toiled with the idea that perhaps body make up determine how athletes compete. On Facebook, I even entertained the idea that it shouldn't matter what's between (or not between) an athlete's legs that determine where s/he fit in competition, but it's how the athlete identifies that should determine how s/he competes. But of course, these ideas would completely change the face of sport. Sports agents and executives would have to readjust their PR strategies, sports marketing companies and sports industry giants like NIKE would have to figure out new and alternatives ways to use athletes to advertise their products, and the next time some dude hollered "you throw like a girl!" he'd be forced to contemplate what the hell "girl" means in the context of throwing. Way too much for one generation to handle. Perhaps. Picture this: The year is . . . well, sometime in the future. Under a blistering hot August sun, competitors from all around the world gather for the opening ceremony for what will be the first ever gender neutral Olympics. World leaders, world class athletes, and foreign press all eagerly anticipate an historical two weeks of world class competition. Athletes who identify as gender neutral, despite biological hormone tests, will chose to compete in traditionally sex-segregated sports like gymnastics, basketball, and track field. Reaching this level of competition is no walk in the park, all athletes would have to compete with other athletes (men, women, and otherwise) to qualify for this level of competion in their given sport. Gender categories will finally be suspended for the Olympic games. If you recall back in 2009, South African track field athlete, Caster Semenya, garnered world wide media attention from sports industry officials who believed she had an abnormal hormone deficiency that allowed her to unfairly benefit as a female competitor. Even though Semenya's birth certificate clearly indicates she was born female, but her hormone tests indicate her levels were well within the normal range she is both a woman and a man, folks still couldn't leave well enough alone. Unfortunately, Semenya found herself amidst even more controversy in her home country while having to confront its gender policing issues. You see, at that time, the entire world couldn't get over itself and its rules about who we are as people, and how we ought to 'perform' our gender. Though I wouldn't wish Semenya's ordeal on anyone, it was because of her experience that leaders around the world urged people to once and for all reevalute our social and cultural rules about who wo/men are and how wo/men perform as athletes and otherwise. Okay, back to 2009. The reality. Will we ever see the day when the way athletes identify determine how they compete? If so, how will this shift our understanding of supposed gender-based inequities of athletic ability, strength, and stamina in adult athletes? (Because the idea of nuetralizing the playing field seems to be an issue with adult male/female athletes, and not necessarily child athletes. Growing up, I always competitively ran and played basketbal with boys and girls together but the older I got, the more segregated the field became.) Will society ever surrender it's hangups about gender construction, and free itself from this sporting sexual aparteid in which we find ourselves? Will Caster Semenya wake up one morning and not have to read about her 'looking like a man,' taking a 'sex verification test,' or 'proving her femininity' with a birth certificate her father had to provide to the press? No one knows, for certain. And while I understand the issue of gender neutral sports is as complicated as the issue of gender politics itself, I still can help but wonder what if. *UPDATE: 9/10/2009 As indicated above, new tests reveal that Caster Semenya is 'intersex.' Images courtesy: Ampersans Flickr Post Gazette (Mark Schreiber/AP) Daily Mail/Rueters Huffington Post (Themba Hadebe/AP) http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18465 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18285 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:26:06 GMT Growing up in northeast Ohio meant a few things: bearing rough winters, longing for spring, and anticipating the next game or track meet. I was a child athlete. I lived and breathed basketball and track. I was also a firecracker. No doubt, I need guidance. My first ever experience with coaches was when my dad and older brother taught me how to play basketball. Both taught me strategy, form, mental toughness - and how to play rough with the boys. My father taught me to mentally visualize winning the night before a game or a track meet. He also taught me that winning wasn't necessarily everything, and that it's okay to cry even when no one's looking. My first experience with organized sports was around 4th grade (eleven-years-old) playing AAU basketball. (I had to wait two years before the school would let me run track - and it felt like an eternity!). Ever since then, I've had amazing coaches; men and women who not only taught me how to shoot a basketball or run fast, but also taught me the importance of work ethic and sportsmanship. Needless to say, my experience with coaches - especially from middle school on up to high school, have been amazing. I always felt as though each one of my coaches saw something special within me that no one else did. Like for instance, my high school basketball coach, Calvin Washington. When I tell you that Cal had to 'deal' with me, I mean, he literally had to work with me. It was never easy for me to accept what I deemed as failure on the court, whether that be in the form of a missed lay-up or foul shot, or that always-unforeseen technical foul. I was taunted a lot on the court because the opposing team knew that I had a short fuse. Yep, I was a hot head and everyone knew it. But Cal knew how to calm the beast. He always managed to help me focus at my most vulnerable times on the court, and for that, I'm grateful. Like my dad and brother who came before him, Cal taught me mental toughness. He, along with the Solon High School coaching staff, helped me understand the meaning of playing smart both on and off the court. And this is why we celebrate coaches who understand that their roles influence not just the player but the person as well. These people have incredible insight into what the future holds for their athletes beyond the court or field. They choose the rigors of coaching in spite of over-zealous parents, under-appreciative athletes, and reluctant school boards. There's a reason why we make movies and documentaries about inspirational coaches - and there's a reason why folks like me with a public platform mention my father, my brother, Cal Washington, and Chad Ramlow (my high school track coach) years after all is said and done with my athletic career. It's because these folks deserve our recognition for making us the people we are today; still imperfect, but nonetheless better people. It's because of an amazing support system; family and coaches, that I was a state champion. (Thanks, Coach Ramlow!) This upcoming week, YouthNoise will spotlight the amazing coaches in your life with our Play It Forward campaign. In partnership with Nike, LinkTV, and Up2Us.org (an organization that promotes individuals, organizations, and research that support youth development through sport), YouthNoise will be looking to you - the inspired - to help celebrate coaches that have changed our lives. Tell us about your favorite coaches! Image courtesy of PositiveSports.net http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18285 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18195 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:45:39 GMT Remember several weeks back when the folks here at Play City covered Nike's Skatepark dedication ceremony featuring P-Rod in Pacioma, California? Well, looks like community activist, and cutie-pie, P-Rod is at again. This time around, he's featured in a Nike ad with Hip-Hop legend Ice Cube and NBA star Kobe Bryant called Nike SB - Today Was A Good Day. When I tell you this video is hot, I mean smoking hot! Gotta give props to Nike for another fabulous ad featuring some really cool shots, music, and a foine athlete-activist! Incidentally, you can read more about P-Rod Skate Park along with updates on his new shoe, the 'P-Rod III' on ESPN.com. And since we're all about finding alternative means of transportation this week (including skateboarding), don't forget to show us how you beat gasoline! Follow P-Rod on Twitter. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18195 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18001 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:11:55 GMT Recently, I got a chance to ask 'Brickfish Most Viral' winner, Rachael Thomas a few questions about her win and what she hopes to accomplish in the future with Taekwando and her newfound YN celebrity. Check out the 'view! 1. How does it feel to have the most viral Brickfish submission on the net? Did you expect that your photo would be so popular and inspiring? It feels humbling. I had no idea that that photo would be so successful on the net! I was great learning about viral potential through this campaign since I'm going be going into the advertising industry. 2. Who took the picture of you practicing Taekwondo? Mandy Mauk, my best friend since early childhood, took the photo. I remember we were trying to do some still motion shots for her photography club and in the middle of joking around and generally being unproductive, we got actually got a couple good shots. 3. You mentioned in your entry that you've been practicing Taekwondo for 5 years and that you competed in the 2007 USA Taekwondo Nationals, featherweight division. Do you have any plans of competing professionally in the near future? Perhaps the Olympics? Ever since I entered college full-time, I haven't had adequate time to devote to training for major competition. However, I am maintaining a good level of fitness, so would tell people not to count me out yet! I might get back into professional competition after I obtain my degrees. 4. You wrote in your submission that you are using your skills to teach women in [your] area how to defend themselves and how to strengthen their own inner confidence. Do you feel women respond positively to Taekwondo? And how do you plan to continue to introduce Taekwondo into the lives of women in your area? I had the opportunity to teach alongside a Karate instructor at a local church in Indianapolis and teach women my age how to defend themselves. It was a very enriching experience! Lately, I've considered conducting a self-defense workshop that would be open to college-age women and would take place on my college campus. However, it's only in the brain-storming stages at present. I hope to involve the Indianapolis Police, several Masters and Instructors that i know in Tae kwon do and Karate, and some of the professors that teach martial art electives on camus. 5. What advice would you give someone who aspires to learn Taekwondo? Just try it! Sometimes doing something different is intimidating. However, if you put your best foot forward, you'll never regret overcoming that first belt test and learning ways to stay and shape and defend yourself. 6. Now that you're a bonafide Brickfish winner, what do you plan to do now with your newfound success and popularity? Haha, I just plan on giving back to the Brickfish community by supporting my friends' entries and spreading the viral mirth across the web! I am really grateful to both Brickfish and Youthnoise for this opportunity to further my education and aspirations. You can read more about Rachael Thomas by visiting Brickfish! Many thanks to Rachael for the interview and sharing her photos with the YN community! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/18001 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17898 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:03:45 GMT From The NY Times. Thirteen-year-old Alexis Page is an Olympic hopeful, but if you ask her, her mother, or her coaches, they'd all admit that the Olympics isn't priority right now. Says Page's gymnastic coach Lucy Kerznerman She cannot think about the Olympics. No, no, no, no. She must have little goals, every day. Page is a rhythmic gymnast from uptown Manhattan - Harlem. She, like many young gymnasts her age practice everyday, but unlike many of her counter parts, Page takes the train (then the bus) to practice. Page also depends on organizations like the Wendy Hilliard Foundation to finance her young career. She's also African-American, and from the looks of the USA Gymnastic roster, African-American women make up less than 2% of the national senior and junior rhythmic gymnastics teams. But perhaps it's not so much about the numbers, as in, how many black athletes vs. white athletes make up the national teams, but more so about the issue of access and oppotunity provided to young black female gymnasts. Alone, Wendy Hilliard (the first African American rhythmic gymnasts to represent the U.S. National team) and her foundation foot much of Alexis Page's bill to compete. Hilliard s foundation has covered more than $5,000 in expenses this year, but [Alexis' mother] estimates the expenses will run to $25,000 four custom-made leotards, at more than $600 each, a dozen entry fees at $125 each, higher costs for higher competition. I've written previously on YouthNoise about the conundrum facing many African-American females athletes in the United States. I've also paid homage to the firsts like fellow gymnasts Dominique Dawes, who continue to pave the way for future black female athletes like Alexis Page. This issue remains near and dear to my heart as a former college athlete and woman of color. While it seems like race is having the best week ever in 2009 *sarcasm*, it's evident that racial disparities in sports like gymnastic, tennis, and golf (a.k.a. the expensive sports) still exist. Yet despite the reality of these disparities, young athletes like Alexis Page continue to inspire me, along with an entire generation of young black athletes with remarkable talent. Check out Alexis in action! Please visit the Wendy Hilliard Foundation for more information on how you can help young athletes like Alexis Page avoid another dream deferred. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17898 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17560 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:40:22 GMT What better way to utilize eight wheels and four furry K-9 legs than to Rollerblade with your pup! Apparently, there's a phenomenon going on across the United States that I'm just now privy to (as if squirrels dancing a tribute to Michael Jackson isn't enough!). Here's kinda where the journey to discovery began.. Last weekend, I went to Central Park with a friend and witnessed what I believed to be a Rollerblade prodigy. This kid literally had rubber legs. Swear. He swerved in and out of these small cones that had to have been no more than several inches apart. While watching him, I thought about the art of Rollerblading (yes, the art) and how it's one of the best ways to Beat Gasoline nowadays. I even snagged a pic of this Rollerblading prodigy while I sat on a bench across from him.. Everyone in CP does it (except me - still gotta get me a pair of 'Blades). But one thing I hadn't noticed too much in CP was folks Rollerblading with their dogs. And I don't mean simply 'Blading with your pooch running next to you . . . . . or behind you (depending on the pup). Nope. I mean, your dog actually pulling you as you Rollerblade. There are tons of websites and YouTube videos dedicated to this type of sport. There's even a Yahoo Answers forum that discusses Rollerblading with your dog (although, the author makes it a point to disclose that she is not looking to have [her] dog pull [her]. Understandable.) Oh, but wait! This video (below) takes the cake. Yes, ladies and gents, prepare to witness a dog pulling his Rollerblading professor . . . in a school parking lot. According to the YouTube description, Professor Shadow tests an alternative green transportation method at a local school parking lot. Shadow asks that you [p]lease excuse [his] inept human assistant, he's family, and works cheap. Ha . . the 'ole professor's got jokes! Check it out. While some might think that a dog pulling a human being on eight wheels might be a tad bit nutty, I'm convinced that, for the most part, these folks are treating their family members and furry friends humanely. From my knowledge, PETA hasn't issued a statement decrying this sort of activity, nor has Geraldo Rivera launched an investigative report on Fox News. So with that being said, I leave you with Sophie, the Rottweiler-Lab Pulling Rollerblader. Additional photos courtesy of Colby Stewart and Kcolwell Flickrpages. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17560 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17385 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:33:11 GMT These days I don't have to force myself to think alternatively when it comes to transportation. Living in New York City, I've gotten use to relying on bikes, skates, and my dogs (i.e. feet) to get from point A to point B. It's a good thing especially because I've probably dropped several pounds since I moved here from LA (all I do is walk, run, and climb hella steps everyday!). But I admit, I miss my car. A friend of mine and I were talking about having a car in the city, and while it's not really practical, it does give you a sense of freedom; as in I can get in my car and just 'go' whenever I please. (Growing up in the 'burbs places this unfortunate sense of entitlement on your shoulders when it comes to driving and owning a car.) In any event, city living has been good for me and for my personal carbon footprint. Living in such an environment keeps me on my toes . . . literally. Thinking of alternative means of transportation isn't a rarity out here, it's actually a necessity. All of which begs the questions, where do you live and how do you get around? If you find yourself relying too much on the moving metal box, can you think of other ways that might off set such a dependence? How might you beat gas these days? While you ponder, check out a cartoon strip I put together for the Beat Gas contest sponsored by YouthNoise/Playcity and Nike. I had so much fun working on this video alongside my newly found friend (via Craigslist) Akira Oni, who created the illustrations. Basically, I came up with this poem a few weeks back and I thought it would be really cool to show cartoon characters doing responsible (and very cute) things all in effort to beat gas. Beat Gas: The Cartoon Beat gas with your toes Beat gas with your nose It s easy breezy beautiful days when you can beat gas and smell a rose. Beat gas with a friend Beat gas using tin Beat gas on a roller blade, a skateboard, or in a tent. Beat gas with a cape Beat gas with a date Beat gas on green flippers in the ocean or a lake. Beat gas in a yellow car Beat gas with a yellow bar Beat gas on a city bus, painted purple with pink stars Beat gas on one wheel Beat gas on two wheels Beat gas on three wheels, with a flag and a banana peel Beat gas in a balloon Beat gas at high noon Beat gas on a hot day eating a Popsicle in June Beat gas down a hill In a bubble or a tire wheel Beating gas ain't just responsible, it s fun with a thrill! Beat gas to lose weight Beat gas and beat hate Beat gas for your health and for the planet to feel great! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17385 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17220 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:46:11 GMT Theresa, our Regional Coordinator in NYC, passed along some footage of our Step It Up dancers jamming out to Michael Jackson recently. I thought I'd share these unique clips with the YN community since this week has kinda sucked. Lots of folks have passed away, including the legendary Michael Jackson (check out Debbie's post, which includes the two MJs facing off!). I've done a lot of reflecting this week as a result of MJs untimely death. Not sure if there's some sort of Universal quota that needs to be filled, but it sure seems crazy that folks are dying left and right this week (Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, and Walter Cronkite is reportedly in critical condition). Anywho, I thought it was pretty awesome that our Step It Up dancers - a generation of young people who are the last to experience MJ while he was a live - bust a move to the greatest bust a mover of our time. Rest in peace Michael Jackson from all of us here at YouthNoise/Playcity. And don't forget the June 30th performances are right around the corner! Here's the info: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:00pm-8:00pm The Battle of the Boroughs Columbia University Miller Theater 2960 Broadway (@116th Street) New York, NY 10026 1:00pm to 4:00pm Finalist Tech Rehearsals 5:30pm Doors open for Competition 6:00pm 8:00pm The Battle of the Boroughs Competition http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17220 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17077 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:11:01 GMT Hundreds came out this past Sunday for the Nike/LA84 Skate Park Dedication Ceremony in Pacoima, California. P-Rod, one of professional skate boarding's premier athletes, came out along with his father, comedian Paul Rodriguez. Youth from all around the community came out to witness an historic event at the Ritchie Valens Community Center (yep, the LaBamba legend!). Upon arriving bright and early at the park, I soon realized that this event was more than just a cool skate park dedication ceremony involving the cutie pie that is P-Rod - it was about a community just outside of Los Angeles coming together for something special and long past due. (oh and this shot too...can't help it. P-Rod is foine!!) (you go boy! Walk it out...;-) (doing what he does best!) Since Sunday's event fell on Father's Day, it was even more special for folks like Paul Rodriguez Sr., who when talking about his son's success to a local television station, said This is the best Father's Day gift I could've ever asked for. His remarks certainly tugged at my heart strings because I lost my father just six months ago and this past Sunday was the first Father's Day without him. I could empathize with Paul Rodriguez Sr.'s heartfelt sentiment. It's not everyday you get to witness the special bond between a son and his father. It was nice to see that connection between P-Rod and his dad. Fortunately, however, I not only got to spend Father's Day chillin out with P-Rod and company, but mi familia came out as well to celebrate this historic event (as proven by my own mother, Momma B, playing photog, snapping this one of a kind pic of me and Paul Rodriguez Sr. Thanks, Mom ;-) In another interview, Paul Rodriguez Sr. also talked about his feeling regarding his son's influence as a professional skater. He's a great role model especially for inner city youth. Being that the population of Pacoima, California is largely Latina/o, it made sense why so many kids in attendance considered P-Rod - who in an interview with Link TV said that he began skating at 11 years old - as someone they could look up to and aspire to be like. When you consider that many lower income communities of color are in desperate need of some revitalization, it certainly helps the cause when two activist celebrities can put their name and face on a project so dear to many kids in the area. During the dedication ceremony, Paul Rodriguez Sr. mentioned how the park itself would hopefully encourage local kids stay out of trouble and away from gangs. The purpose of the park also gives folks in the community hope and lets them know that they aren't forgotten in an era of Wall Street greed and rampant gang and drug related violence. If Sunday's participation was any indication of long-term park attendance by kids in the community, then I'd say that Paul Rodriguez and his son's hope for a better and safer community might actually be realized. Because in the end, this event was really about the kids and fellow skateboard enthusiasts. One kid walked up to the YouthNoise table and gave us, the PlayCity team, an interesting perspective that perhaps many of these young kids share regarding their favorite past time. I'm not an athlete. I just skateboard. With his tight purple pants and black shirt, he--like the rest of his 'alternative'-dressing compadres--probably recognized in his own way that skateboarding is his only chosen refuge. While the rest might be playing pick up games on the basketball court or hitting home runs across the street at the local baseball field, these kids skate - and boy can they skate their a**es off. For more photos, including action shots and celebrity pics, check out YN's Flickr page! While they might not consider themselves 'athletes,' to me, they certainly have a unique ability to physically maneuver their bodies on those narrow pieces of rolling wood. And coming from and athlete, I couldn't even imagine hopping on one of those things without twisting, spraining, or breaking something. Not only are these kids athletes in my eyes, but they're also fortunate to have their own space where they can just be. And because of that, big ups goes out to Nike, the LA 84 Foundation, P-Rod and fellow pro skaters, Paul Rodriguez Sr., the impeccable architects who designed the park, local city officials, and community members for making Sunday's event spectacular and dedicating this awesome space to a community that certainly deserves it! The shin-dig was so awesome, in fact, that even the DJ had a blast! **All photography by Tara L. Conley (other than the one taken by Momma B:-). http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/17077 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/16926 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:15:01 GMT We're just days away from the Nike Skatepark Dedication in Los Angeles. Set to open this weekend, the brand new skate park will be a place where community members and fellow skater enthusiasts can enjoy a space of fun of their own. You can read more about the site where the skate park will soon call home, including some exclusive 'before' shots, by checking out Jason's blog post. I'll be heading back to Los Angeles this weekend to snag some interviews, photos, and footage of the upcoming event. I'm interested in hearing more about how community members feel about the new park. A little birdie told me that while most of the residents, including kids, teens, and adults are all geeked about the park, there are still some community members who aren't too excited about having a park apparently impose upon their neighborhood. Here's askin, why not? I'm sure I'll get more info on some of those, and other compelling stories. So if you're in town definitely stop by the Ritchie Valens Community Center at 10731 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Pacoima, CA 91331 for this historical event. Oh, and did I mention P-Rod is gonna be there? Mmmhmmm... http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/16926