Jeter wins the Clemente Award

In the midst of the World Series, Derek Jeter was recently presented with arguably the most important off the field performance award in baseball.  Many people outside of the baseball world may not be aware of the the Roberto Clemente Award that goes out to one MLB player each year who exemplifies sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contributions to the team.  The award was renamed after Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente following his death in a 1973 plane crash while delivering supplies to help out victims of the Nicaragua Earthquake.

This year the award was presented to Jeter, of the New York Yankees, for his work with the Turn 2 Foundation he started in 1996, the year he made his debute in MLB.  In 1996, Jeter turned a lifelong dream into reality when he established the Turn 2 Foundation to give back to the various communities that are a part of his life, including Western Michigan (he is from Kalamazoo); Tampa, Fla.; and New York.  Since its launch, the Turn 2 Foundation has awarded more than $10 million in grants to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and “TURN 2″ healthy lifestyles.  Through these ventures, the Foundation strives to create outlets that promote academic excellence, leadership development and positive behavior.

A quote from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig:

“Major League Baseball is proud to honor Derek Jeter for the lasting impact the Turn 2 Foundation has made on youth in communities across the country.  In a year of career milestones for Derek, receiving the Roberto Clemente Award will inspire future generations of ballplayers and fans to give back to those in need. I would also like to thank Chevy for their continued support in honoring Roberto Clemente’s legacy and spirit.”

You can read more about the award ceremony on the Yankees website at:

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091029&content_id=7573566&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

You can read more about Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foudantion on www.life4sports.com or at www.turn2foundation.org.

Past winners of the Roberto Clemente Award:

Year Player Team League Position
1971 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants National OF
1972 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles American 3B
1973 Al Kaline Detroit Tigers American OF
1974 Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates National OF
1975 Lou Brock St. Louis Cardinals National OF
1976 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds National 3B
1977 Rod Carew Minnesota Twins American 1B
1978 Greg Luzinski Philadelphia Phillies National OF
1979 Andre Thornton Cleveland Indians American 1B
1980 Phil Niekro Atlanta Braves National P
1981 Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers National 1B
1982 Ken Singleton Baltimore Orioles American DH
1983 Cecil Cooper Milwaukee Brewers American 1B
1984 Ron Guidry New York Yankees American P
1985 Don Baylor New York Yankees American DH
1986 Garry Maddox Philadelphia Phillies National OF
1987 Rick Sutcliffe Chicago Cubs National P
1988 Dale Murphy Atlanta Braves National OF
1989 Gary Carter New York Mets National C
1990 Dave Stewart Oakland Athletics American P
1991 Harold Reynolds Seattle Mariners American 2B
1992 Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore Orioles American SS
1993 Barry Larkin Cincinnati Reds National SS
1994 Dave Winfield Minnesota Twins American DH
1995 Ozzie Smith St. Louis Cardinals National SS
1996 Kirby Puckett Minnesota Twins American OF
1997 Eric Davis Baltimore Orioles American OF
1998 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National OF
1999 Tony Gwynn San Diego Padres National OF
2000 Al Leiter New York Mets National P
2001 Curt Schilling Arizona Diamondbacks National P
2002 Jim Thome Cleveland Indians American 1B
2003 Jamie Moyer Seattle Mariners American P
2004 Edgar Martínez Seattle Mariners American DH
2005 John Smoltz Atlanta Braves National P
2006 Carlos Delgado New York Mets National 1B
2007 Craig Biggio Houston Astros National 2B
2008 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals National 1B
2009 Derek Jeter New York Yankees American SS

Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Playpark

The construction for the Always Dream Playpark, located in Fremont, CA has finally begun this summer.  Initial talks between the Always Dream Foundation and Fremont city official started back in October of 2007.  Centrally located in the Central Park near Lake Elizabeth in Fremont, the Always Dream Playpark will provide children with all abilities the chance to develop, exercise, and most importantly, have fun!

The design is created by MIG Inc., who focus on planning, designing and sustaining environments that support human development.  And the construction is managed by Swinerton Builders, who are actually providing their services on a PRO-BONO basis.  We all have to love that!  Swinerton Builders have over 100 years of experience building and improving some of the most well-known landmarks such as the De Young Museum and MOMA in San Francisco.

About Always Dream Foundation:
Founded in 1996 as a 501c (3), Non-Profit, Public Charity, Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation was established to support organizations that have a positive influence on children. Since its inception, the Always Dream Foundation has purchased computers for an after-school mentoring program, provided “shopping sprees” for underprivileged children to purchase back-to-school clothing, organized Holiday parties for children’s shelters and sponsored summer camp for kids with disabilities.

For more information, visit www.alwaysdream.org

About Kristi Yamaguchi:
Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic Gold Medalist; two-time World Champion, U.S. National Champion and a four-time World Profession Champion. She was one of the first U.S. women to compete in both pairs’ events and ladies’ singles and win pairs titles in 1989 and 1990. She and her partner, Rudy Galindo, were the 1988 World Junior Pairs Champions. Kristi also won the Junior Ladies Title that same year. Kristi also was the first American to win the Olympic Gold Medal since Dorothy Hamill in 1976. Later, as a professional, she won four titles and was honored as 1996 Skater of the Year by American Skating World. Kristi was named to the U.S. Hall of Fame by the United States Figure Skating Association and to the World Skating Hall of Fame in 1999. On December 8, 2005, Kristi was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame.  In 2008, Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars.

Kristi’s Olympic victory encouraged millions of young American girls to strive for something better and ‘always dream.’ She has authored two book projects, Figure Skating for Dummies and Kristi Yamaguchi, Always Dream. Yamaguchi has been chosen favorite female athlete among adult fans by ESPN and Favorite Female Athlete by Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards in 1997 and 1998. In addition to her busy skating schedule and various commercial and charitable ventures, Kristi found time for love. Her July 2000 wedding to NHL star Bret Hedican drew hundreds of friends to Big Island in Hawaii. Kristi and Bret split their time among Raleigh, NC, San Francisco and Minnesota where she enjoys relaxing and spending time with her family. She and her husband welcomed their first child, daughter Keara, on October 1, 2003. Their second daughter, Emma Yoshiko Hedican, was born on November 17, 2005.

Welcome to Cleveland…

As I signed my contract to play professional soccer for the Cleveland City Stars, I realized a few things. This wasn’t your ordinary professional soccer team. As you look through the official team website a select but strong set of words catch the viewers eyes, “Serving the City & Changing the World”. My immediate reaction to seeing this motto was that of interest and curiosity. I began thinking back to my invaluable days at the University of California, Berkeley where I studied and majored in Social Welfare. Ahah!!! Finally I get to apply my knowledge of Social Welfare to the real world! After joining the team I quickly realized how involved the team is in the community. Immediately I was thrown into doing soccer clinics for underprivileged kids, feeding the homeless at local churches, and devoting my time to a number of just causes in the Cleveland area. Was I in over my head? Not at all! I’m definitely no stranger when it comes to lending a hand, as I have been put in positions to do so with hopes of impacting many people but thankful if its only one person. Like myself, many professional athletes are put in positions where their efforts can make a difference in their communities. We can turn our backs on those in need, or extend a helping hand. I’ve chosen the latter and will continue to do so…

With our blogs…

By now, everyone reading this might have somewhat of an idea of what Life4Sports is about after visiting life4sports.com.  It was started with the intention to help current professional athletes, athletic organizations, and aspiring future athletes promote their good causes that they are involved in outside of their respective playing fields.  On the life4sports.com website there is an extensive list of charities and foundations founded by different athletes and teams from all sports.

Moving forward, Life4Sports is always looking for ways to help athletes whether that’s starting up foundations or businesses which they can leave behind after they retire, or promoting and marketing their pre-existing foundations with a beneficial cause.  Contact us at admin@life4sports.com if you feel we can help in any way.  With our blogs, we intend to provide sports-related information and experiences that covers topics from finance and business of athletes to phycological and emotional aspects of playing sports.  Along the way, we will include interviews, in the Interviews section, with professional athletes as well as with other motivational individuals.