http://blog.togetherwer.com Russell Athletic Mon, 14 May 2012 15:21:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.togetherwer.com/an-unselfish-wish/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/an-unselfish-wish/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 15:21:30 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=962
When given the opportunity to have a wish come true, many people probably think of their own personal dreams. But for Rayshawn King, the opportunity to make a wish meant much more than that. King, a high school senior, showed … Continue reading →]]>

When given the opportunity to have a wish come true, many people probably think of their own personal dreams. But for Rayshawn King, the opportunity to make a wish meant much more than that. King, a high school senior, showed true strength and commitment to his team when he chose to play football while undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia. His courage was inspiring, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation ultimately offered him the chance to make any of his dreams come true. Initially he chose to meet LeBron James at the NBA All-Star game, but then quickly changed his mind. As he told reporters, “I had made a selfish wish. I had a chance to really touch people and I was missing it.” So instead of meeting his NBA idol, his wish was to provide a free meal for his entire school as a way of thanking them for their support through his fight with cancer. While sports is an integral part of his life, he clearly understands that “team” extends beyond sports: “I was upset when I realized that I wasn’t as good as I had been, but I also knew I had changed. Sports used to be my life and sports isn’t my life anymore. I know that people love and care for me.” His generous wish didn’t go unrecognized. The president of Make-A-Wish was clearly impressed herself with King’s choice: “We’ve never had a wish like this. We’ve never had anyone who wanted to share his wish with this many people.” Photo courtesy of News & Observer]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/an-unselfish-wish/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/happy-mother%e2%80%99s-day-to-the-sports-mom/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/happy-mother%e2%80%99s-day-to-the-sports-mom/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 21:07:31 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=957
Here is to all of the sports moms who arrange their schedule to drive young athletes to practice and games. To all of the moms who make sure the uniforms are clean and snacks are ready. To all the moms … Continue reading →]]>

Here is to all of the sports moms who arrange their schedule to drive young athletes to practice and games. To all of the moms who make sure the uniforms are clean and snacks are ready. To all the moms who are there rain or shine, win or lose. Thank you for all that you do. Now make sure to call or hug your mother this weekend. Photo courtesy of sheknows.com]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/happy-mother%e2%80%99s-day-to-the-sports-mom/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/title-ix-turns-40/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/title-ix-turns-40/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 15:55:50 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=952
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Signed into law … Continue reading →]]>

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Signed into law June 23, 1972, these words form the basis of the groundbreaking legislation that marked a great achievement for women in the United States. Under Title IX, women have made incredible strides both on the field and in the classroom. To commemorate this significant moment in equality, Sports Illustrated released an issue celebrating the legislation with nine essential stories related to Title IX. According to the Sports Illustrated issue, 294,015 girls played high school sports 40 years ago. As of last year, that number is now well over 3 million and counting. We look forward to seeing this number continue to grow.]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/title-ix-turns-40/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/buccaneers-sign-paralyzed-player/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/buccaneers-sign-paralyzed-player/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 16:57:45 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=946
With the negativity that sometimes catches the headlines of professional sports, it is heartwarming to hear stories such as this one that encompass true compassion, loyalty, and perseverance. On Wednesday morning, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Rutgers defensive tackle … Continue reading →]]>

With the negativity that sometimes catches the headlines of professional sports, it is heartwarming to hear stories such as this one that encompass true compassion, loyalty, and perseverance. On Wednesday morning, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand to the team’s roster. LeGrand was severely injured in a game against Army in 2010. He was originally expected to be paralyzed from the neck down and need to remain on a ventilator, but he has since made a slow yet miraculous recovery and is expected to walk again. Bucs Coach Schiano, LeGrand’s coach at Rutgers, said, "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men."]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/buccaneers-sign-paralyzed-player/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/team-is-community/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/team-is-community/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 15:13:47 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=939
How great is the scene when a sports arena is all decked out in the same color shirt? The fans in Oklahoma City took that to the next level last night. Watching the Thunder-Mavs game last night, it looked like … Continue reading →]]>

How great is the scene when a sports arena is all decked out in the same color shirt? The fans in Oklahoma City took that to the next level last night. Watching the Thunder-Mavs game last night, it looked like nearly every person who wasn’t a player or coach was wearing a white shirt reading “Team is Community.” Beyond just a group of players in the same uniform, a team really is a community. From the star player, to the last man on the bench, to the cheerleaders, to the bus driver, everyone has a role and everyone contributes to the group in their own way. Last night, the fans in Oklahoma City did their part to cheer their Thunder to a W. Photo courtesy of Royce Young/@dailythunder]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/team-is-community/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/nfl-draft/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/nfl-draft/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:45:39 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=931
After months of eager anticipation, the NFL draft is finally here. Which team is yours? Who are they going to select? Photo courtesy of Ben Liebenberg/NFL]]>

After months of eager anticipation, the NFL draft is finally here. Which team is yours? Who are they going to select? Photo courtesy of Ben Liebenberg/NFL]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/nfl-draft/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/rebuilding-team-unity/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/rebuilding-team-unity/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=925
In 2011, The Jets were surrounded in a negative light after some discord and conflict between some of the teammates. But last Monday, The Jets’ coach Rex Ryan launched the offseason with a voluntary workout – hoping to rebuild their … Continue reading →]]>

In 2011, The Jets were surrounded in a negative light after some discord and conflict between some of the teammates. But last Monday, The Jets’ coach Rex Ryan launched the offseason with a voluntary workout – hoping to rebuild their team and move everyone past the downfalls of 2011. “I know we’re going to build a great [team]. I don’t care what you call it – a brotherhood, a tribe, whatever – but we want to be special.” Jets guard Matt Slauson spoke about the voluntary workout and shed light on the experience: “It was like a long-lost family coming together again. There wasn’t any reference to the past. I feel like everybody’s put that to bed. We saw what getting wrapped up in that junk will do. We don’t want any part of that now.” Not every team is perfect. And many will have to overcome some obstacles along the way. How do you help your team come back together when things get rough? Photo courtesy of William Perlman/The Star-Ledger]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/rebuilding-team-unity/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/someone-to-watch-in-the-nfl-draft/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/someone-to-watch-in-the-nfl-draft/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:23:58 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=920
For all the football junkies out there (and count us among them), the NFL draft can’t come soon enough. While meaningful football games of any kind are still at least 5 months away, the draft represents a chance to whet … Continue reading →]]>

For all the football junkies out there (and count us among them), the NFL draft can’t come soon enough. While meaningful football games of any kind are still at least 5 months away, the draft represents a chance to whet our football whistles. As you watch the primetime first round coverage next week (April 26, 8p ET on ESPN), keep an eye out for Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill who is ranked 33^rd in Mel Kiper’s latest ranker. Hill’s combination of size and speed just might allow him to sneak into the first round. We have a soft spot for the Yellow Jackets who proudly wear the Russell “R”. Best of luck next week, Stephen. We’ll be pulling for you. Together we R. AP Photo]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/someone-to-watch-in-the-nfl-draft/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/trent-richardson-goes-to-prom/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/trent-richardson-goes-to-prom/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:00:18 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=915 Continue reading →]]>

In the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, young prospects usually focus all their time and efforts towards improving their draft stock through various public workouts and displays of athletic ability. However, with one future star, we saw a public display of compassion. After battling Leukemia for more than a year, Courtney Alvis, a high school senior from Alabama, is now on the road to recovery. Like any typical high school senior, Courtney was excited to attend the prom. But she had one problem. She had no date.  Hearing that no one had asked Courtney to senior prom, former Alabama running back, Trent Richardson asked her to go to the dance with him.]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/trent-richardson-goes-to-prom/feed/ 0 http://blog.togetherwer.com/there-is-no-offseason/ http://blog.togetherwer.com/there-is-no-offseason/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000 Russell Athletic http://blog.togetherwer.com/?p=909
What are you doing to improve your game today? What are you doing to be better in the fourth quarter? What are you doing to be able to scrap to get that extra yard, that extra bucket, or that extra … Continue reading →]]>

What are you doing to improve your game today? What are you doing to be better in the fourth quarter? What are you doing to be able to scrap to get that extra yard, that extra bucket, or that extra goal? Did you run the extra sprint? That extra set in the weight room? It all counts. Your competition is working hard. Are you and your teammates building sweat equity during the offseason?]]> http://blog.togetherwer.com/there-is-no-offseason/feed/ 0