OCTOBER 30 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Brooke Stevens, C, White Rock Renegades, CAN, to Oklahoma Baptist Univ.
Melissa Andrews, OF, So Cal Breakers verbal to St. Peters College (NJ)
Kara Harper, P,1st, CA Desperados, to University of Tennessee at Martin
JAMIE SOUTHERN
Bulldogs' Southern Candidate for Prestigious John Wooden
Trophy
FRESNO, Calif.— After more than 200 nominations were reviewed, Fresno
State softball All-American Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) is one of 24
candidates for the prestigious John Wooden Trophy, as announced today by
Athletes for a Better World (ABW).
The John Wooden Trophy is presented to two distinguished athletes --
one intercollegiate and one professional -- that best displays
character, teamwork and citizenship. In addition, the John Wooden
Trophy singles out athletes of excellence on and off the field and
spotlights these individuals as role models in performance and person.
Southern, who led the nation in ERA for the second time of her career
last spring, is a three-time All-American on the field and an Academic
All-American in the classroom while overcoming a near career-ending
injury as a freshman. Her community involvement has been equally
recognized as she volunteers with Big Heroes-Little Heroes events, walks
in causes such as Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence, participates in
Special Olympics, serves as a guest speaker a various community
organizations as well as work with young children in readings and
sports.
"I have an outstanding relationship with Jamie," Fresno State softball
head coach Margie Wright said. "She is a truly honest and trustworthy
student-athlete and has a very positive impact on her teammates who play
behind her. She will go out early or stay late to help a teammate or to
get better to help her team.
"Jamie hates to lose but wins and loses very gracefully," Wright
added. "She takes responsibility for her performance and is always
using any failure to get better. She is humble and never forgets to
acknowledge the performance of her teammates win or lose.
"Jamie is a very positive role model in the Fresno and Clovis
(California) communities," Wright stated. "She has a wonderful,
fun-loving personality and understands that her reputation is one of the
most important aspects of her life and portrays a very positive image to
all she comes into contact with. There is always a smile on her face
and the people of this community lover her. She is a genuine young
woman."
"Jamie is an impressive young woman," Fresno State Athletics Director
Scott Johnson said. "She exemplifies the spirit and core values of
Bulldog Athletics of pride, success, integrity and commitment. She'll
go down in Fresno State history as one of the best student-athletes
we've ever had."
--more--
In order to be nominated for the John Wooden Trophy, the athlete must
1). train with a discipline, consistent work ethic, 2). demonstrate
fair play and sportsmanship, 3). develop positive supportive
relationships with teammates and coaches, 4). win or lose with grace and
dignity, and 5). contribute to society through the gifts of time or
money.
The mission of ABW is to use sports to develop character, teamwork and
citizenship through commitment to an athletic Code for Living that
applies to life and to create a movement that will play a significant
role in the transformation of individuals, sports and society.
The goals for ABW is to have programs that are designed to encourage
acceptance and use of the Code for Living and reaffirm the decisions of
athletes to: work hard at their sport, demonstrate fair play, come
together as one team, win or lose with grace and dignity and give
something back to the community.
A committee will trim the field down to 12 by the end of the week.
After that, the executive committee will name the six athletes that will
appear on a national ballot. Ultimately, three athletes will be invited
to the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel on Mon., Jan. 10, 2005 for
presentation of the John Wooden Trophy.
Athletes for a Better World was founded by Mr. Fred Northup in June,
1998. The organization arose from a need for positive mentoring and
young people in sport. ABW is governed by a National Board of Directors
who utilizes a National Advisory Board and a National Athletic Advisory
Board to assist in program planning and advocacy with sports
organizations.
FINEST CITY SHOWCASE
(SPY COULD NOT DOWNLOAD)
WOMEN IN TRAFFIC
WOMEN IN
TRAFFIC
>
> (Written By A Very Wise Man)
>
> I was riding to work yesterday when I observed a
> female driver cut right in front of a pickup truck,
> causing him to have to drive on to the shoulder to avoid
> hitting her.
>
> This evidently angered the driver enough that he hung
> his arm out his window and "flipped" the woman off.
>
> "Man, that guy is stupid," I thought to myself.
>
> I ALWAYS smile nicely and wave in a sheepish manner
> whenever a female does anything to me in traffic, and
> here's why:
>
> I drive 48 miles each way every day to work.
>
> That's 96 miles each day.
>
> Of these, 16 miles each way is bumper-to-bumper.
>
> Most of the bumper-to-bumper is on an 8 lane highway.
>
> There are 7 cars every 40 feet for 32 miles.
>
> That works out to be 982 cars every mile, or 31,424 cars.
>
> Even though the rest of the 32 miles is not bumper-to-bumper,
> I figure I pass at least another 4000 cars.
>
> That brings the number to something like 36,000 cars
> that I pass every day.
>
> Statistically, females drive half of these.
>
> That's 18,000 women drivers!
>
> In any given group of females, 1 in 28 has PMS.
> That's 642.
>
> According to Cosmopolitan, 70% describe their love
> life as dissatisfying or unrewarding.
> That's 449.
>
> According to the National Institutes of Health, 22%
> of all females have seriously considered suicide or
> homicide. That's 98.
>
> And 34% describe men as their biggest problem.
> That's 33.
>
> According to the National Rifle Association, 5% of
> all females carry weapons, and this number is increasing.
>
> That means that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I drive past at
> least one female that has a lousy love life, thinks
> men are her biggest problem, has seriously considered
> suicide or homicide, has PMS, and is armed.
>
>
> Flip one off? ..... I think not.