This 29-year-old, 5'9 former Stanford volleyball setter proves to be an agent of change for women in sports - at least that's what SF Chronicle says. And I actually agree.
While serving as the captain of Standford's 1997 National Championship volleyball squad, Kagawa received her BA in political science. Later she would return to her alma mater and earn an MA in sociology.
Kagawa's passion for sports is evident, but her business savvy and go-get 'em attitude is what makes this senior director of player management at BDA Sports Management a hot comodity among WNBA players, like friend an client Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury).
Photo courtesy of WNBA.com
I'm about a year shy under Kagawa in age, and she has certainly inspired me as a woman with high career hopes. What makes Ms. Kagawa's story most compelling is her focus on social and community activism. Kagawa has been involved in many social justice projects, like AIDS advocacy program Until There's A Cure with her clients and other young athletes in the SF Bay area.
For more information about Kagawa's fellowship program in SF, Standford Athletes & Kids United (SAKU), vitist Stanford's athletic page
I love public parks. They make cities happy by giving urban dwellers space to run around, host activities and events, and see some green in the midst of an overwhelming tangle of concrete. But when cold strikes Chicago, casual meandering through the park transforms into impatient shivering while waiting for pet dogs to do their business. Alas, the winter months usually result in less outdoor exercise and more efforts to rationalize indoor laziness.
The Chicago Park District offers an excellent solution to this problem: free access to indoor fitness facilities. Between Jauary 2 and the 16th, Chicago residents can kick off the New Year—and perhaps address their New Year's resolutions to adopt healthier lifestyles—by using gym equipment and fitness centers in 60 locations around the city. This program makes fitness more accessible to those who 1) aren't sure if they're ready to commit to a gym membership, and 2) can't really afford a private gym membership.
It's an excellent excuse to bust out of the house and get away from the television for awhile. Comcast cable service isn't that great, anyway.
[Below: Chicago Park District promotional video about Free Fitness Weeks]
The BCS comes under fire every year for its somewhat arbitrary ranking system. Should what a team does off the field contribute to their success on the field? Should the BCS try to make players better people?
No, not that kind of trashed. We're talking recycling here, people.
Global Inheritance came up with the brilliant idea of turning environmentally friendly practices into currency. You can't refute the fact that Americans love to buy stuff. At the very least, we can persuade others to dispose of their waste responsibly by offering stuff-crazy consumers more stuff.
Here's how it works: the TRASHed Recycling Store sets up shop at wicked cool events around the country. The store encourages participants to collect "points" by contributing old bottles and cans, or passing brainy eco-knowledge tests. Accumulated points can then be traded for a range of hot items, from skateboards to Netflix.
The Store will travel to Colorado later this month for the Winter X Games, tapping into the green conscience of extreme sports fanatics.
While I support recycling and environmental awareness, I wanna mention that recycling alone is not enough. Recycling helps, but you can't just chuck a bottle into a blue bin and assume that our ecosystems are hunky-dory. Offering treats for good behavior is an effective strategy, but it's misguided to think that you can simply buy your way to sustainability. We need to celebrate innovative recycling incentives AND push for environmentally friendly legislation, corporate responsibility, and sustainable lifestyle choices.
Today was another cold one, and even though I got my share of outside time for the day, I'm left with a little bit of cabin fever. It's got me thinking about Ice Fishing. The idea that people can be so impervious to cold that sitting on in the middle of a frozen lake and fishing for hours becomes recreation-- that's inspiring. Especially when faced with a long winter season, you can't let the tough weather turn you into a vegetable. Check this video out-- it makes me want to go ice fishing myself.
No, not that kind of trashed. We're talking recycling here, people.
