DECEMBER 2002

Kurt Thomas Aims to Teach Students Financial Literacy by Tom Kertes

Incredible, but true: sometimes spending time with a lawyer can be a good thing.

“One day, about five years ago, I was just sitting around talking to my attorney kind of randomly, about all kinds of things,” Knicks center-forward Kurt Thomas said. “Then, suddenly, he stopped me in my tracks by asking... READ MORE

NOVEMBER 2002

“Kindness Prevails” in Competitive Skateboarding
by Tom Kertes

Baseball? Football? Basketball? Soccer? No (and no, and no, and no.) Not one of these enormously popular American and/or world sports could claim to be the number one participatory athletic activity for young people under 25 in the United States last year. Shockingly, the list was topped by skateboarding (and its close relative, in-line skating) with an indeed impressive number of 26 million. READ MORE

SEPTEMBER 2002

Wendy Hilliard Brings Gymnastics to Harlem
by Tom Kertes

The first African-American to make the U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team–she later became its captain and coach–Wendy Hilliard also heads her own foundation, a successful non-profit group devoted to bringing gymnastics to children in disadvantaged communities. She’s been an active and important athlete-representative on the United States Olympic Committee. READ MORE

AUGUST 2002

Interns Immersed In Coral Research at The New York Aquarium by Tom Kertes

“The Osborne Laboratories of Marine Sciences is a very special place,” said Ariana Chan, a junior at Midwood High School and one of students who have the opportunity to work as interns at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium at Coney Island this summer. “You learn so much. And that’s not all: I believe that the coral research program I participate in is accomplishing something very important.” READ MORE

JULY 2002

Building Fields, Building Character
by Tom Kertes

The crumbling athletic fields of New York City Public High Schools haven’t had public funding in 25 years.

Shocking, isn’t it? And this is only made more shocking by the fact that New York City has the highest percentage of students not participating in physical activity; that the City has the highest percentage of child obesity and other health problems of any major American city; and that it has the highest percentage of school absenteeism, while athletics has always been known to serve as the great equalizer when it comes to school attendance. READ MORE

JUNE 2002

NOT NO MORE!!:
St. John's Women's Basketball
by Tom Kertes

“Not no More!” is sure to become the battle-cry for the St. John's Women's Basketball team this season. Though grammatically incorrect, it's certainly right on target in expressing the emotions of a ready-to-fight-back team coming off of an atrocious 3-24 season.

Then again, while Hungarians may not be big on grammar, emotions have always been their strong point. So the Red Storm should be an emotional juggernaut with no less than three Hungarian girls on next season's roster. READ MORE

MAY 2002

My Teacher is My Hero by Tom Kertes

He may defy gravity on his “can’t miss jump-shot” but, unlike the overwhelming majority of sports multi-millionaires, Allan Houston also has his feet planted firmly on the ground. The Knicks guard admits that he’s only gotten his priorities properly ordered for one simple reason: both of his parents are teachers. And, so is his wife. READ MORE

APRIL 2002

Andre, a Giant Walk-On at St. Johnís
by Tom Kertes
If you look up the definition of a "college basketball walk-on" in Websterís, youíll see the expression "practice fodder." Walk-ons are hoop-enthused regular college students who, without a basketball scholarship, try out for the team for the mere honor of practicing withñand getting beaten up byñthe "real players. READ MORE

If They Can Pitch, Revamped Mets Should Be a Hit
by Tom Kertes
Tom Hanksí aging rummy of a manager said in the wonderful A League of Their Own, "Thereís no crying in baseball". And thatís a good thing, tooñor Mets fans everywhere would be shedding tons of tears over the teamís shoddy spring training performance. READ MORE

From the City to the Slopes:
Columbiaís Ski/Snowboard Team Dedicates Its Time To the Outdoors
by Aleksah Visco
It is 6:30AM on Sunday morning. With my skis strapped over my shoulder and my pack and ski boots hanging off my back, I hike across 116th and Broadway through Columbiaís campus to Amsterdam Ave. where I meet the other members of the team and board a charter bus. READ MORE

MARCH 2002

Murphy Center at Asphalt Green Reopens READ MORE

Renee Brown, VP, Women’s Basketball Assn READ MORE

Vonetta Flowers: Bobsledder READ MORE

Tiffeny Milbrett: Soccer Star READ MORE

Chris Witty: Gold Olympic Speed Skater READ MORE

FEBRUARY 2002

Ice Hockey School:
The New York Rangers are Cheering for Children
by Tom Kertes
The New York Rangers may be struggling a bit as a hockey team, but their commitment to the community in general, and education in particular, is well-thought-out and organized. READ MORE

A Very Special Olympics
by Tom Kertes
Throughout the 1960s Eunice Kennedy Shriver—President Kennedy’s sister and the wife of Sargent Shriver, the creator of the Peace Corps—maintained a day camp for children with special needs on her farm in Maryland. The activities that took place at that camp were the original impetus for the special Olympics, an event that leaves no one who watches it unmoved. READ MORE

JANUARY 2002

Marc-us it Down: Camby is the Principal of the Future
by Tom Kertes READ MORE

Playing Is Universal
What to Look for in a Quality Sports Program
by M.C. Cohen
Jeff took two deep rhythmic breaths. He was ready to shoot his foul shot. He picked up the ball and placed his hand over his head. He listened for the teacher to ring the bell on the basket six feet above the ground and with a perfectly cocked wrist he released the ball.
READ MORE