TURNING FANS INTO HEROES

As a fan, what could actually increase the excitement of attending a professional football game? How about being able to go down on the field during pre-game, talk to players, coaches, get a few autographs, snap pictures, and a free bag of gear? Yeah, I’d say that would increase the excitement!!

The new United Football League (UFL) with teams in Florida, New York, Nevada, and California, decided they would do things different for the fans. I got to tag along with folks at the VIP Fan Experience at a recent Florida Tuskers game at the Orlando Citrus Bowl. From the looks of things, this VIP treatment is catching on quick with fans.

The emails came in soon after the game stating the fabulous results, “My kids think I’m a hero now cause I brought them down on the field.” Ralph Vuono, Senior Director of Marketing for the United Football League (UFL) says those messages from several fathers confirm the league is on the right track with their new fans. “That’s awesome and that’s what you want. Because if the kids’ are saying, ‘I want to watch the game and go to a game, then the parents are going to take them.”

As a way to generate a following for this four team league, the UFL created the VIP Fan Experience. The idea came from input by fans and blog sites before a down was played. League officials decided to incorporate this simple but unique method to bring folks closer to game day action. “One of the things they’ve never experienced at a professional football game is going on the field before a game which a lot of us take that for granted because we’ve been around this business our entire life,” says Vuono. “We didn’t realize that most people who go to a football game have never done that.”

The UFL VIP Fan Experience includes pre-game field access, a ‘swag’ bag full of hats, t-shirts, and concession vouchers. And most importantly, people meet and interact with players, coaches, and league officials. They can get autographs and pictures and enjoy the excitement of what is about to take place on the field. “I’ve been to just a few pro football level events but I’ve never had the opportunity to actually go down on the field to meet the players,” says Kristi Fralic who had the VIP treatment at the last Tuskers game. “I’m really excited to be here.”

As a player on the sidelines, I must admit the familiar feel. Players doing their thing, some on their own and some with one or two others. Camera folks running around, media setting up, trainers scurrying about, and the who’s who chatting amongst themselves. Several players stopped and signed autographs for the fans including Tuskers Head Coach Jim Haslett and former Baylor Bear Matt Bryant, the Tuskers kicker.

About 40 Tusker fans young and old strolled the sidelines the night I tagged along, the most of any UFL game so far. Richard Jones found it a great benefit offered to any level of ticket holder, “It’s something up close and personal and you don’t see that in other pro leagues.”  And, a number of fans from the UFL Access board believe this is what sets the UFL apart from other leagues. One fan posted the VIP experience “is awesome and exactly what the country needs, a fan friendly pro sports league.”

Ben Barilich, Marketing Coordinator for the UFL, is key link to the VIP Fan Experience. He organizes and coordinates the event, the fans, and the bag of gear. His attention to detail gets noticed, “Everyone had shirts that fit because Ben took the time to ask everyone what their size was. This was a nice personal touch,” noted Tusker fan Bob Bluestone.

For this Football Chick, I applaud the UFL for creating a wonderful experience for fans. Everyone I talked to walked away knowing they would be back to the Tuskers next game. Parents seemed just as star-struck as their kids watching the likes of Tatum Bell, Michael Pittman, Brooks Bollinger, Chas Gessner, Tim McGarigle, and Odell Thurman. Me, I was hoping to meet former Buckeye LB Anthony Schlegel, but unfortunately that did not happen. Next time...

To get the VIP treatment for any UFL game, fans can log onto www.uflaccess.com and email News Director Nation Hahn. Hahn calls this experience “the epitome of fan friendly.”

There are plenty of players with NFL experience and Texas ties in the UFL. Hopefully it won’t be long before there is a UFL team in Texas. Potential cities thrown out there include Austin and San Antonio, but what about Frisco! We are the capital of sports in Texas with the professional and minor league teams here including the Dallas Stars and Texas Tornados, Frisco Rough Riders, FC Dallas, and Donnie Nelson’s new basketball team. Frisco is home to incredible training facilities like The Fieldhouse and  Zoom Sports Performance (Athletic Republic)  where Florida Tuskers RB Shaud Williams trains. And, PizzaHutPark is a venue well suited for the high caliber, fan accessible football these guys are playing. I am, for one, thinking this is a great idea…Frisco Fire…how’s that for a name? To learn more about the league, check out their website: www.ufl-football.com . For more information on the Florida Tuskers, go to www.tuskerhouse.com .

Stay inspired and Bring it!

Kip

#45

(This is part two of a discussion I had with members of the coaching staff at Legacy Christian Academy. There guidance gives these young people great tools for real life.)

Two new coaches join the LegacyChristianAcademy athletic staff this year. Both take seriously the school’s mission statement to create strong leaders with Biblical convictions.

Christy Williams, a seasoned club coach and former coach at Skyline, comes on board to head the Eagles Volleyball program. Williams first order of business re-establishes the goal of ‘oneness’. She tells the young athletes they were called to travel on the same road and in the same direction together, “Oneness is my number one goal. We are really young and Ephesians 4:1-6 is my way of communicating this.”

She wrote to them, ‘I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules overall, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.’” And, this conveys Williams’ conviction 2009 is just the start of a great Volleyball system, “My long term goal is to work together as a team and build a program. Next year we will be more competitive than this year and in three years even better than two years ago.”

And even though these twelve are young and inexperienced, Williams expects them to help mentor and lead. She requires they walk along side the junior high volleyball players to “help them keep perspective on life and their Christian walk.”

Athletic Director Andrew Embry likes what he sees and praises Williams’ efforts to refocus the program, “Her attitude is great. She is very positive and stayed positive when she only had eight girls. She is now up to twelve. They are being pushed which is good. It is a different mentality, a tweak towards hard work and discipline and that yields fruit.”

Williams scouted out the Eagles district opponents and feels good about Legacy’s ability to play and succeed. And, she reported the parents noticed a shift in the girls’ play when they won their season opener against Garland Christian, “A lot of the parents said it was so good to see them working together and enjoying the game.”

Edward ‘Skip’ Lane also brings a new dynamic to Legacy. The long time Canyon Creek coach brings his experience to the Eagles as the Head Track Coach and Speed and Strength Coach for all athletes.

Utilizing the new space at LCA for sports training, Lane incorporates all the athletes into a strength and conditioning program not just the football players, “No athlete is left behind. From football to golf, everyone has the opportunity.” AD Embry embraces this philosophy and the new strength training techniques even though the students are not accustom to it, “It helps their walk with Jesus Christ. I think it parallels. As a Christian, your walk is many times difficult. It is not easy especially outside Legacy Christian. If you’re not fighting, you’re failing meaning that if your are not fighting in your walk with Christ, you are failing. It takes character, guts, and discipline to cultivate that relationship with Christ.”

Athletes are flipping huge tires in the field, pulling weighted sleds forwards and backwards, throwing medicine balls, and doing more explosive and dynamic training as well as the typical weight training associated with sports. “It is very taxing and the students are doing a great job with it,” says Lane.

Training will go year round with Coach Lane. “There is no such thing as an off season,” says Lane. “It gives us an edge to continue to train and have periodization year round to help build our programs as a whole.”

Lane, an Engineer by day for Raytheon, has worked with USA Track and Field athletes for over 15 years both at the collegiate and professional level. His love, however, remains with younger athletes, “The younger kids don’t have bad habits to break. You can teach them the proper way to lift and run.”

In taking over the cross country program, Lane plans to promote and build upon the four athletes he has this Fall, “Anyone who is not in a Fall sport, cross country would be very beneficial for them like soccer or tennis because of the endurance they need for their sport.”

The seasoned coach reminds his athletes that cross country is more than just running. He examines their mechanics, arm swing, speed, and core strength. In addition he helps develop the mental aspect of the sport, “You have to understand the concept and strategy of running. It is mental. It is getting ready to compete, nutrition, and putting those things together and help them be successful.”

For both Coach Lane and Coach Williams, the focus remains on these athletes success in and out of their chosen sport. Preparing them for life beyond LCA and beyond athletics. Embry agrees, “It’s not easy for a 14 to 17-year-old to be set in an arena where everyone is watching and sees your mistakes and your successes. Bottom line: how is my relationship with Christ. That is not a scapegoat. That is my identity. That is where my peace, my joy, my strength come from, not home plate, not in the end zone, not shooting a three-pointer, or spiking the ball.”

Stay inspired, work hard, have fun!

Kip #45

(I love sitting down and talking to coaches! Next to our parents, they influence our kids almost more than anyone else. LCA is home to exceptional coaches who influence this generation to lead and perform by example especially when facing adversity. Here is a portion of my conversation with a few of coaches. You'll meet new coaches Skip Lane and Christy Williams a little more next time.)

_________________

LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY'S FALL SPORTS

“I’ve got the best classroom in the school”, says Legacy Athletic Director Andrew Embry. And, with that belief, Embry goes to work everyday preparing LCA athletes for life.  “We don’t have the opportunity to test in a classroom. When we test, we test in front of thousands of people, it goes in the Dallas Morning News, the internet and everyone sees it. There is a little more to it when we test, so we better be prepared.”

Football

Right now Fall sports are being put to the test including football, cross country, and volleyball. For the Eagles football program, the test looms large. The team enters this season as District Champions and the State Runner-up. They finished last year just three points shy of a state title. And, while 12-2 is a great record, the team left some ‘unfinished business’, “With the taste the kids have in their mouth right now, they know they need to work a little harder, go a little bit longer, push a little bit more to make up that three points needed from last year,” says Embry

Head Coach Mike Hall, the current Texas Private School Coaches Association Coach of the Year, positioned ‘unfinished business’ as the team motto for this year. He believes it’s time to take care of it, “We made great progressions last year. There are still more steps to take and never be satisfied. We’ve got to be hungry because we remember how it felt to be so close yet so far.” Embry echoes Hall’s sentiment, “I don’t want any more red ribbons. Red is second. I want a blue one. That’s a championship. That’s a first place ribbon. I have enough red, I don’t need anymore.”

After losing a large group of key seniors, the Eagles enter this season young and inexperienced in some areas. Returning just four offensively and five defensively, Legacy developed from within and gained some great talent from the outside. Legacy Defensive back Connor Ward takes over as the Eagles’ prime quarterback and Joshua Atkinson comes from American Heritage as the second quarterback in Hall’s 2-QB system.

Atkinson, a junior, also contributes at wide receiver, a position he has never played before but says it’s a role feels comfortable in, “We started playing 7 on 7 and I actually like it. I thought, ‘I can get the hang of this.’”

LCA senior Nathanael Mattay makes a return to football at receiver and defensive back. He played his freshman year then made contributions to LCA with the band and as Drum Major. After seeing the big hole the seniors left, however, Mattay decided to return after prompts from the coaching staff, “The coaches were always throwing in little comments about coming back and playing football because of how much of an athlete I am, as they would say. I never really paid any attention to it until I realized just how many seniors were leaving.”

Several other players return who remember the difficult title game run. Andrew Journey, a senior running back and DB who rushed for nearly 1200 yards last year. Coach Hall says he enters the season in great shape and sits ready to make a huge impact.

Blake Snider, a senior 6’6” 280 lb lineman, returns and already is being recruited along with junior Burke Morris, a 6’4” 265 lb lineman. Hard-hitting junior linebacker and tight end Ben Trotter joins the Eagles. His contribution provides LCA some much needed depth in those areas.

Coach Hall says he loves the chemistry of this team. With only five seniors carrying the leadership role, he cites the team quickly has grown into a family, “The plus of being a small group is that they are not at all looking at each other going ‘who is going to be a leader’. They are all taking a leadership role. At camp, they were phenomenal.”

Cross Country

In their second year as a Fall sport, Cross Country athletes welcome a new  coach to LegacyChristianAcademy. Skip Lane joins the staff as the Head Track Coach and Speed and Strength Coach for all athletes.

Currently, there are four members of the Cross Country team Melissa Meeks, James Byrd, Ian Huxham, and Rhett Allen. Lane believes he can build on these four athletes and promote it more throughout the school. “Anyone who is not in a Fall sport, cross country would be very beneficial for them, like soccer, tennis, and basketball.” Track and field, says Lane, enhances every other sport.

Lane trains athletes from the junior high and high school level to Division 1 and professional. He knows that building the endurance factor in each athlete is key no matter what sport. And, with cross country, he notes, it is more than just running, “You have to understand the concept and strategy of running. It is mental.”

Volleyball

Volleyball also supports a new Head Coach in Christy Williams. Coming off a year the program struggled, Williams aims to bring unity back to the team. “Oneness is my number one goal. We are really young and Ephesians 4:1-6 is my way of communicating this.”

Williams, a seasoned club coach, says her long term goal is to build a program based on the new commitment of the young athletes she has today, “Next year we will be more competitive than this year and in three years even better than two years ago.”

With only eight girls starting out on the team, Williams is now up to 12. And, while some may look at this as a negative, Athletic Director Embry believes the team will reap their new sense of purpose and discipline, “They have been working hard and in my opinion hard work pays off and nothing replaces it.”

 _________

Stay inspired,

Kip #45

Tony Dungy Red Zone Kickoff 2009

When you enter the red zone in football, the intensity and pressure increases. You find out if the training you’ve done as an individual and team comes together to put points on the board…or deny points in the case of defense. Tony Dungy, NFL Super Bowl winning Coach for the Indianapolis Colts, recently shared with area players his keys for success in the red zone.

In front of thousands of young athletes, coaches, and fans at PrestonwoodBaptistChurch, Dungy and other notable NFL players and coaches offered insight on four elements: Performance, Conditioning, Teamwork, and Character (PCTC).

Starting with Performance, Dungy made an example out of Colts back up QB Jim Sorqi. While Sorqi rarely sees action in a game, Dungy says he works and prepares as if he starts. He studies the specifics of his craft, becomes the set of eyes to see what Peyton Manning can not, and he stands confident to take over if needed. And, Sorqi himself says Performance requires a commitment to doing your job 100%.

How incredible that Dungy took the QB we know least about and made him the example of Performance. We all know what Manning can do, right? That’s the key to Performance - you give 100% no matter your position or place on the team.

Conditioning, the second key to success in the red zone,requires more than just lifting weights and attending practice. According to John Torine, the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Colts, nutrition, hydration, and adequate rest all play a major role in players executing at their best level. According to studies, sites Torine, athletes need to be in bed before midnight to be ‘training ready’. He revealed to all of the players they need 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

Physical conditioning and preparation goes without saying, but what about mental conditioning? Football, like many sports, requires a high level of mental preparation. Peyton Manning put it this way, “Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing.” Thus, conditioning your mind to make the proper decisions when called upon moves you past average.

Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver, echoed Manning’s focus on decision making. Having learned from experience, Irving told the young football players to act wisely in who they hang around and who they follow, “Do not decide to give something in 15 minutes that will cost you 15 years.”

I can’t help but pause here for reflection. This is crucial in many of our lives. We feel pressure everyday at work and at home. And for many of you, daily pressure exists in regard to eating and exercising. How well are you conditioning your mind to make the right decision in 15 minutes that will not cost you 15 pounds later? How many of you physically condition well, then sabotage everything you just worked hard for by eating fast food or a dinner too high in sugar, fat, or alcohol?

Think about the situations you face that trigger you to drop the ball in the red zone so to speak. Start preparing your mind to make better decisions. Roll play in your head choosing different so you score the kind of points you want.

Teamwork, another key to success,hinges on a certain chemistry among players. Dungy says his teams have been made up of 53 guys who may not be the best in talent, but they are 53 guys who have chemistry together and will get the job done. The key, according to Dungy, is focusing on the relationships. He went back to Sorqi as an example. Sorqi may never play a down in the game, but he gets everyone ready. “When we win, I win,” says Sorqi who Manning trusts to step in at any time.

I hope all this is sounding familiar. I can not help but make the comparison between the keys to success Dungy shares with what many of you have asked with regard to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. We’ve talked about commitment, nutrition, hydration in this blog. We’ve mentioned surrounding yourself with right people and making wise decisions in the face of tough feelings as a part of a new healthier lifestyle. But where do we derive the above things? Dungy says for football players, they come from Character, the fourth and final key to success in the red zone. I think that holds true for the rest of us.

State Championship Head Coach Randy Allen of Highland Park confirmed Dungy’s conviction about Character with the audience, “I’d rather have a player of average ability and great character than a player with great ability and average character.”

Character relates to your attitude and actions when no one is looking. It defines your work ethic and decision-making. It enables you to put points on the board or deny points selflessly and in unity with your team. You alone decide what your Character gets you. Talent alone is not enough and sometimes a barrier to the hard work and chemistry needed to define success in the red zone.

Kip Fit Tip: Ask yourself how you are doing in each of these areas. Be honest in your evaluation and change what is needed for you to achieve a healthier lifestyle. When the intensity and pressure increase in life, how well prepared are you to perform clean eating and moving? Do you give 100%? Have you conditioned yourself to respond appropriately both mentally and physically to the demands of exercising and eating right? How well does character drive your decision making? Do you cave to peer pressure? Do you surround yourself with others who are leading the kind of lifestyle you desire?

Stay inspired,

Kip #45

This week, working a conditioning camp for football players at Zoom Sports Performance, I realized I contained the secret to the fountain of youth! At 43, I demonstrated the cone drills and then the final sprint and ladder timed drill. My 21-year-old counterpart exclaimed he’d rather be in bed. And, when my friend asked him why he was allowing me to do it, he replied, ‘because she loves it and I knew she would.’ He’s right!

So what enables me to keep up with and in some ways surpass 20-somethings? What’s the secret to the fountain of youth? What gives me more energy and desire?

The answer lies in two key things which I recently shared at Eden’s Organic Garden Market Days. First, you have to answer this question: Are you ready to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal to lose weight and keep it off.

If you answer ‘yes’, then it’s time to quit making excuses. The next 365 days will pass, what will be different a year from now? It starts now! Workout even if you don’t ‘feel’ like it. Go to the gym or head out into your neighborhood even if you feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.

For some of you who follow this blog, we started talking about ‘readiness’ back in January. So, how are you doing? Entering into the 4^th quarter of the year, you should be well on your way to a changed lifestyle. If you’re not or you’ve stumbled along the way, then consider this your chance to answer the question again and get a different result.

Family get-togethers, vacations, birthdays, and holidays are no longer excuses to indulge. Genetics, your age…nope, you can’t use those either to get you out of doing what you need to do to reach your goals. If you’re like me and the fat deposits on your body quicker than your best friend, then all that means is you have to work smarter and harder.

Taking the easy way out stops now. Drive thru fast food is not an option for you or your kids. Rain, snow, sleet no longer mean you can get out of doing what’s right.

The second key involves clean eating and moving. That should not be a shock to you. How else could I, at 43, keep up with those half my age out on a football field or sprint up five parking lot ramps during boot camp following 20 jump squats and 20 pushups?

By now I am certain you discovered diets don’t work. No quick fix or deprivation diet will yield you the results you want long term. And, whatever diet you choose, better make sure it’s something you can do for a lifetime. When you stop or go off the diet, I can pretty much guarantee the weight will return and so will your lack of energy.

Clean eating provides a healthy relationship with food, steady weight loss success, and a beautiful body. In fact 80% of the body you want directly involves the diet you employ.

Some basic principles of clean eating include:

1. 5 or 6 small meals every day

    

2. eating every 2-3 hours

    

3. combining a lean protein (chicken) with vegetables and complex carbohydrates (sweet potato)

    

4. never missing breakfast

    

5. avoiding processed, refined foods

    

6. depending on fresh fruits and vegetables

    

7. measuring your portions

    

8. drinking 2 liters or more of water per day

    

For nearly ten years, clean eating moved me an overweight housewife and mom to fit, professional athlete who engages in sports right along with her kids. The clean eating lifestyle improves and renews your body without denial and without going hungry. The cost of clean eating is no more than a regular grocery bill. There are no pre-packaged meals or supplements.

I highly recommend the Clean Eating Magazine and Tosca Reno’s series of books The Eat Clean Diet. It is easy to follow if you hate to cook like myself yet wonderfully creative if you do.

Equally important in remaining youthful is exercise. Again, if you are not seeing the results on your body you want, the first place to look is your nutrition. The second place to review focuses on the type, intensity, and duration of your exercise.

Only a small portion of us can blame metabolism and genetics as the true culprit. Inconsistent eating leave the body thinking its starving and holds the food as fat. Sedentary lifestyles decrease metabolism. Yet, metabolism is not a fixed number. You can change it. More lean muscle mass increases metabolism.

Your exercise program needs to include:

1. cardio exercise at least 5 days a week to lose weight for a minimum of 30-50 minutes where your intensity is testing you

    

2. heart rate between 60-80% of your maximum

    

3. resistance/weight training at least 3 days a week working all the major muscle groups of the body

    

4. regular stretching

    

5. changing up your exercise routine every 8-12 weeks

    

6. make sure you check with your doctor before starting any exercise program

    

Truth be told, a casual stroll through the neighborhood three nights a week will not cut it. It may sound like I am demanding perfection. No, but I do want you see how easy it is to give an excuse. And, I do want you to see the reality of life. It involves dedication, discipline, and hard work. You got this!

Kip Fit Tip: check out www.collagevideo.com or www.beachbody.com for great DVD’s to use at home. They are cost effective, provide a means to workout at home if you can’t get to a gym or rec center.

Stay Inspired,

Kip #45

If you want to know how to go from an overweight mom to a World Champion professional football player, then come hang with me and the gang at Eden's Organic 3rd Anniversary Market Day tomorrow morning from 9-Noon.

Located: 4710 Pioneer in Balch Springs

I'll be sharing my story about losing weight and keeping it off! And, I'll take your questions about fitness, nutrition, and how to incorporate that into your everyday family life! This is about a lifestyle that can fit into your daily routine!

Hope to see everyone there!!

Stay inspired,

Kip #45

The hardware arrived! Just days ago, during a ceremony hosted by Cowboys RB Deon Anderson and our own Diamonds Madness Man, the silver hunk of metal incrusted with purple and clear ice gemstones, my name, and #45 was placed in my hands. This large, beautiful piece of jewelry now rests comfortably on my finger!

As I sat and listened to the awards ceremony, I could not help but think this might be the most celebrated yet unknown group of athletes ever gathered in one room. You see, every so often, a team comes along that defines an era in time. I believe that team is the Dallas Diamonds. Winning world titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, and last year in 2008, the Diamonds created a legacy that labels them one of the best, if not the best, women’s professional tackle football franchise in history.

Just check this out: during their championship run in 2004, the Diamonds went 12-0 including 5 shutouts, scoring 478 points in the regular season and allowing 89 against. Moving to 2005, the Diamonds, again, go 12-0 with 6 shutouts, scoring 417 points during the regular season with 82 points allowed.

After back to back Championships, the girls of the gridiron did not let up. In 2006, they achieved a modern pro-football record of consecutive wins with 28 before losing to arch rival Houston Energy. Nonetheless, the Diamonds put 415 points up on the board for the season and allowed only 134.  

This brings us to the 2008 championship season where we went 11-0 with five shutouts, scoring 423 points during the regular season and allowing only 33 points against us. In the title game, we battled the Chicago Force in sudden death over time, winning the game 35-29.

So, when I say the Diamonds define an era, here are the stunning numbers in total including regular season and playoffs: four championships in five years, three undefeated seasons, one loss, a 28 game consecutive win streak, 18 shutouts in 44 games, 2071 points scored, 428 points allowed, an average of 47.06 points scored per game and 9.72 points allowed per game!!

Even during this 2009 season, we finished 8-0 with four shutouts, racking up 429 points during the regular season while allowing only 41.

I doubt Diamonds owner Dawn Berndt knew when she created the Diamonds in 2002, her team would come to define women’s professional football. Clearly, however, the various athletes who have made up this team over the years and the coaches who guided us raised the bar for the sport of women’s professional tackle football. Teams across the nation changed their game in order to compete with the caliber of the Diamonds.

This is a good thing! A few weeks ago, the Boston Militia, a team smaller in stature overall, played the game of their lives and beat us, the reigning champions, in a decisive victory 34-12 in the first round of the IWFL playoffs. And capturing the IWFL title for 2009, the Kansas City Tribe, a team we shutout once and beat twice last year. Kansas City stepped up their game and came in as underdogs this year to grab their first World Championship Title.

During these past two seasons, I’ve had the honor to play along side these incredible yet unknown and undervalued athletes. Many of them have become dear friends. They hold a special and unique place in my heart due to the experiences, hard work, battles on and off the field, joys, and spiritual connections.

As I think about next season, I look forward to playing again. Will I? I don’t know. Right now, I’m enjoying the view on my finger while I contemplate my next move.

(special thanks to Robert Powell for helping me with the stats!!) 

Stay inspired,

Kip #45

The result of just one hit? I’m addicted!!

While not new to the music scene, Nickelback made an enormous first impact on me. “If Today was your Last Day” explodes with truth and inspiration to boost even the laziest person off their couch and game remote. Let’s take a look:

“Each day’s a gift, and not a given right

Leave no stone unturned leave your fears behind

And try to take the path less traveled by

That first step you take is the longest stride”

If you’ve been a regular reader of Football Chick, then you know this song describes a simple but powerful life mantra I often encourage you to adopt: Don’t waste any more time with excuses. Today is the day to make the necessary changes to reach your goals. Often, it is the first step that is the longest stride towards better health and longevity.

Chorus

“If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say good bye to yesterday

Would you live each moment like your last

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you had

If today was your last day”

This reality set in today when I learned of the death of one of my Mom’s friends. Diane was my favorite of her friends. She was vibrant, creative, out-going, joyful, and the life of the room. She died too young and before seeing her new Grandchild.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. What would you do, say, or share if today was it for you? I doubt most of you desire to be entrapped by food and weight issues, and spending countless dollars and mental gymnastics worrying about food and what you look like. Life is far to precious and too short to be in bondage to this.

If today was your last day, how would you live it different?

“Against the grain should be a way of life

What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight

Every second counts cause there’s no second try

So live it like you’ve never live it twice

Don’t take the free ride in your own life”

Living against the grain these days involves difficult but necessary choices. It requires skipping the fast food joints, saying ‘no’ to sodas, stopping gluttonous activity and binging and purging. It involves sticking to your clean eating lifestyle no matter the date on the calendar, who makes fun of you, or the restaurant you visit.

The prize of a healthy and fit lifestyle is worth the discipline of clean eating and daily exercise. If you want a free ride in this life, then you’ll deal with the consequences of it at some point. More than likely, it leads to premature death, diabetes, heart and joint issues, and the like. You do not get this life twice. You have one shot to live a lifestyle than enables you to function in body, mind, and soul the way God intended.

“Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart

You know its never too late

Too shoot for the stars regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes

Cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life

Let nothing stand in your way

Cause the hands of time are never on your side”

Some of you tell me you hide in emotional eating related to troubled relationships. Forgive! Mend the brokenness you feel or delivered to someone else. Do whatever it takes to heal.

And, if you’ve been waiting on someone else to mend your heart, then let me make things clear: stop waiting and do whatever it takes to move on. You may live with a painful memory but you can stop emotional eating over it. Don’t waste another moment in this life eating your sorrows away. The hands of time are NOT on your side. Now is the time to forgive and strive for the dreams you left behind.

I am so addicted to this Nickelback song, I posted the song link on Facebook, made it my call back and ring tone, and now I’m blogging about it! So, if today was your last day…would you?

________________ 

Motivational Tip: Read a autobiography or biography of one of your heroes. Whether an athlete or not, more than likely, he or she offers some great insight as to their success in their given field. Adopt some their principles as your own.

Nutritional Tip: Skipping meals slows your metabolism. Eat proportioned meals and snacks on schedule. Your body will burn up the energy you provided at a more efficient rate. You’ll begin to notice about every two-and-a-half hours, your body will say it needs more food.

Fitness Tip: Keep a training log! Research proves writing down your plan and accomplishments is key. You can see your progress, remember what exercises and weights you did, and have a tangible record of your success.

Fun Football Fact: Dallas Diamonds are in the playoffs in our DRIVE FOR FIVE! That means we need funding for our travel to Boston. You can make donations at this website below through a secure paypal transaction.

www.nickelback.com

www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com

www.iwflsports.com

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Kip #45

Anthony Dorsett aims to change that with Dorsett33 Football Camps 

One of the greatest thrills in life involves coming face to face with athletes you’ve admired. During my two season with the Diamonds, I’ve had the incredible honor to meet some of mine including former Cowboys WR Drew Pearson. Nothing compares, however, to the weekly training I experience with the guys of the NFL and CFL at Zoom.

Several times a week, we work side by side on our agility skills, develop strength and speed, and push ourselves beyond what we thought we could do. So, when my friend Anthony Dorsett, Jr. (AD) decided to create a camp for kids to share his professional knowledge and enthusiasm, it was a ‘no brainer’, I jumped on board.

And, as we talked one day about the motivation behind Dorsett33 Football Camps, I vowed to help him. We both share a concern for the health and well-being of today’s kids.

We agreed the definition of an ‘at risk’ kid has changed. No longer does it only apply to kids coming from lower socio-economic areas. The term applies to kids living here in Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, The Colony, and so on. “TV and video games are parenting the kids more than the parents actually are,” says AD, son of legendary Cowboys RB Tony Dorsett.

AD plans to help change this trend with the launch of Dorsett33 Football Camps. “We are seeing more kids playing video games and not getting outside and being active enough, so we are stepping up as a place where kids can find mentors, big brothers, and big sisters to fill that gap.”

Both of us remembered our youth years with a focus on outside activity. Dorsett wants to see kids move and take care of their mind, body, and soul, “What comes with football is a good attitude and confidence in yourself. You have to get your mind right to retain the plays and learn stuff. You have to take it from the classroom to the field. You have to make sure your body is in the right place and conditioned properly. And, of course, with your soul, you want to make sure everything is aligned properly. The clearer your head is the clearer things are in your life and the better you can perform out there on the court or the field or whatever the case may be.”

Dorsett33 Camps begins a new chapter for the former NFL player. AD played high school ball locally at JJ Pearce in Richardson, followed by an outstanding career at the University of Pittsburgh and eight seasons in the NFL with two Super Bowl appearances. Now he desires to give back to his community, “This serves a bigger purpose than football,” he says, “It’s about helping kids with education as well as athletics. It’s not something I had to think long about. I want to give back. I see more kids with issues than ever before.”

Former Minnesota Viking Jake Reed, some of my Diamonds’ friends, along with other professional players join Dorsett during the non-contact two-day camp. While learning fundamental football skills for each position, kids 8-18 receive instruction on core strength and flexibility. “Jerry Rice told me that flexibility is the key to longevity,” explains Dorsett. “I’ve seen it and tested it out. There is less chance of muscle injuries and it benefits you in the long run.”

And, of course, the door is open for girls at Dorsett33 Camps, a rare and welcomed shift for football training. Anthony said he just invited a local softball player to attend, “Even if they never play women’s professional football, they will come out here at learn how to throw the ball, learn how catch a ball, and learn how to backpedal. Worse case scenario, they can sit down with their Dad on Sunday and enjoy the game a little bit better.”

Dorsett understands that girls want to play the sport and he supports the idea. One of his cousin’s played for the women’s tackle football team in Pittsburgh and several Diamonds players have trained with him at Zoom. When AD invited me out to the field with him, I went through the same drills and conditioning as the guys. AD, the Zoom trainers, and the other players are completely behind women playing football. So, if you are a girl and you want to play, then make every effort to be at his camp.

After two days of hard work, Dorsett believes the boys and girls will walk away with a better understanding of physical activity rather than video games, better fundamentals of football, and a step closer to their dream. “If you have a dream of being that player, this guy is in front of you right now. Go and talk to him. Go ask him how he did it. Don’t be scared,” he says. “They are people just like you are and started exactly where you are.”

Two Dorsett33 Football Camps are set for this summer at LibertyHigh School in Frisco. The first takes place June 19^th and 20^th from 8:30am to 3:00pm.The second camp follows July 17^th and 18^th. For more information or to sign up visit www.dorsett33.com or www.zoomsports.net or call 972-731-0055. The cost for the 2-day camp is $150.

Former UTA player aims to improve women's football

Black and the Diamonds (6-0) head to Houston this Saturday, June 6^th to take on the Energy (2-4). For more information on the Diamonds visit www.dallasdiamondsfootball.com and www.iwflsports.com .

Stay inspired,