While most of the US is still locked in the deep freeze it is a 'balmy' 43 degrees here in North Texas this morning. However these 3 notes from the world of sports should at least warm your heart if not your body! First up is the University of Miami, known as The U, who has released an excellent You Can Play video that includes members of all the school's varsity sports, including head
football coach Al Golden, women's basketball coach Katie Meier and
men's basketball coach Jim Larranaga. The video features athletes of
various ethnicities and nationalities with the clever tagline, "If U can
play, U can play."
Down in Brazil, inspired by Olympian Tom Daley, that country's top diver Ian Matos has come out as Gay. Matos, born in Bethlehem, PA but now living in Rio de Janiero was advised by a friend to stay closeted until after the 2016 Rio Olympics. However he said "the pressure of hiding boyfriends, avoiding gay parties and not being himself proved too much." Matos also said he hoped that his coming out would not impact his diving or his sponsorship potential.
While I am admittedly not a fan of the New York Football Giants or their wide receiver Victor Cruz, I must commend them both for some recent off the field activity. As part of the Characters Unite partnership between the NFL and the USA Network, Cruz recently hosted Joey Kemmerling on a tour of the Giants Met Life Stadium Locker Room. Kemmerling, who came out at age 13 in middle school, was so badly bullied that he quit football and considered suicide. Thankfully Kemmerling overcame his obstacles going on to form a youth led anti-bullying organization, is active in GLSEN and has spoken to students, educators and members of Congress about bullying. Cruz who was also bullied as a youth because he was half Puerto Rican and half African American swapped stories with Kemmerling while touring the Giants facilities. This was especially meaningful to Kemmerling as some of the most relentless bullying he experienced came from athletes in the locker room. Cruz provided both the opportunity for closure as well as inspiration to Kemmerling in the ongoing process of overcoming the effects of bullying. Well done Victor Cruz and the Giants.
Your Midweek Musical Moment features Volume 1 of the Bassoon Concerti of Antonio Vivaldi as recorded by The English Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Philip Ledger and featuring Daniel Smith as the Bassoon Soloist. Included in this play list are Concerti in C major RV 467; F major, RV 491; A minor, RV 500; A minor, RV 499; C major, RV 466; F major, RV 486; C major, RV 474 and F major, RV 487.
Then to remind you that is is still warm somewhere in the world, and that there will be hunks and hotties cavorting about the pools, beaches and baths there is this week's edition of Wet Wednesday to inspire you on your slow scroll down the page. Thanks for sharing your day with me, see you again soon. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
Down in Brazil, inspired by Olympian Tom Daley, that country's top diver Ian Matos has come out as Gay. Matos, born in Bethlehem, PA but now living in Rio de Janiero was advised by a friend to stay closeted until after the 2016 Rio Olympics. However he said "the pressure of hiding boyfriends, avoiding gay parties and not being himself proved too much." Matos also said he hoped that his coming out would not impact his diving or his sponsorship potential.
While I am admittedly not a fan of the New York Football Giants or their wide receiver Victor Cruz, I must commend them both for some recent off the field activity. As part of the Characters Unite partnership between the NFL and the USA Network, Cruz recently hosted Joey Kemmerling on a tour of the Giants Met Life Stadium Locker Room. Kemmerling, who came out at age 13 in middle school, was so badly bullied that he quit football and considered suicide. Thankfully Kemmerling overcame his obstacles going on to form a youth led anti-bullying organization, is active in GLSEN and has spoken to students, educators and members of Congress about bullying. Cruz who was also bullied as a youth because he was half Puerto Rican and half African American swapped stories with Kemmerling while touring the Giants facilities. This was especially meaningful to Kemmerling as some of the most relentless bullying he experienced came from athletes in the locker room. Cruz provided both the opportunity for closure as well as inspiration to Kemmerling in the ongoing process of overcoming the effects of bullying. Well done Victor Cruz and the Giants.
Your Midweek Musical Moment features Volume 1 of the Bassoon Concerti of Antonio Vivaldi as recorded by The English Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Philip Ledger and featuring Daniel Smith as the Bassoon Soloist. Included in this play list are Concerti in C major RV 467; F major, RV 491; A minor, RV 500; A minor, RV 499; C major, RV 466; F major, RV 486; C major, RV 474 and F major, RV 487.
Then to remind you that is is still warm somewhere in the world, and that there will be hunks and hotties cavorting about the pools, beaches and baths there is this week's edition of Wet Wednesday to inspire you on your slow scroll down the page. Thanks for sharing your day with me, see you again soon. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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