Cam Newton, what is going to happen in the near future?

By: Coach Brown

When you are a top flight high school athlete and schools start recruiting you, you are going to see and hear things that normal 17, 18 & 19 year olds never see or hear. You will be treated differently and there is a possibility that you may start believing the hype, and that's where the problems may begin if your parents and/or your advisory team doesn't help keep you humble and focused on making the best possible decision in choosing the college where you will get an education and play collegiate sports, even if for only 1 year.

You've heard the stories. This kid was given cash, a car. The parents have been given a house, a job. It's all been done before and it will always continue. Why, you ask? Because all alumni and especially booster's will pay the price to make things happen! What young student-athlete do you know will turn down extra incentives when that student-athlete knows that the college/university is literally making millions off of them. The only student-athletes that probably don't take "extra" are the ones from well-off families and those student athletes most likely take their fair share of "extras" too.

The NCAA should be ashamed of themselves for what they are doing with the Cam Newton situation. I do not know if Cam or his parents received any extra benefits, but the NCAA should use this issue to put in place a payment system for these Division 1-A (FBS) football & basketball student athletes to get paid a monthly stipend ($500 - $1000). That way, these "Cam Newton" and "Reggie Bush" stories will stop happening on such a high frequency.

Coaches at these FBS schools get radio & tv shows, shoe deals & other endorsement deals to make millions for themselves and the student athlete is supposed be cool with his scholarship while everybody in their state and beyond is walking around with their jersey # on and they bought the jersey from the school. It's an insult.

Cam, here's my suggestion to you. Go ahead and declare for the NFL Draft as soon as your season is finished regardless if you are found innocent or not of these Pay-to-Play allegations. Your time at the University of Florida was marred with scandal, and now your time at Auburn University is being marred with scandal. It appears that your time at Blinn College was your most peaceful time and you won the Junior College National Championship! Don't worry about the National Championship (We need a playoff system to really determine that anyway.) and definitely don't worry about the Heisman Trophy (It's nice to win, but it is tremendously overrated). You are Blessed with outstanding football skills and it is time for you to go on to the NFL where you are supposed to get PAID!!!

Parents, be very, very, very careful about asking for extra benefits for you superstar student-athletes. It may not be worth it to jeapordize your child's education and elgibility. By far, every player is not going to make it to the Professional Level (That's an absolute fact!), but every player can graduate from college if they apply themselves!

May God Bless you Cam and your Family!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Youth Soccer - Concorde Fire Soccer Club

By: Coach Brown

I must give major props to the Concorde Fire Soccer Club (Atlanta, GA) and in particular the coaches on the southside, Brian Moore & Jeff Golston. These gentlemen are tireless coaches that represent the game of soccer and teach the game of soccer with the passion and knowledge that makes the game exciting and fun for the young people in their program.

Along with the coaches of the Central Area & North Area, Concorde Fire is Ranked #28 in Soccer America's Top Boy's Soccer Clubs in America.

I have personally seen some awesome talent that is being developed from as young as six (6) years old, and I can't wait to see how this talent continues to develop!

Congratulations to Concorde Fire and keep up the great work!

If you would like to get more information, please visit:

http://www.concordefire.com

Congratulations to Bria Sanders!!!

Thanks to all of Bria's hard work and your vote,.... Memphis City School student Bria' Sanders (Cordova Middle School), won the inaugural Golf Digest Scholars Program contest, and has been awarded a four year scholarship to the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA). Way to go Bria'! Scholarship includes tuition, room and board for the academic year.


Hank Haney IJGA is the only academy in the
world to combine training, academics, and competition for serious junior golfers. The primary
focus of the Hank Haney IJGA is to prepare students academically and athletically for the next
stage in their career. In 2009, 94% of students received a college golf scholarship.


Thank you for your help, and look for Bria' in the upcoming issue of ESPN Women Magazine. Thanks again for your support!


B. Brown
Business & Entertainment Consultant
Bar-Red Entertainment Group (BREG)

--- B. Brown

The letter below is from my niece, Bria Sanders. She is one of the outstanding Female Junior Golfers in the United States! I am very proud of her academic & golf achievements thus far in her young life, and I am very excited to see her develop even more during her high school career.

I take my hat off to her parents, Michael & Sharon, because they have worked very hard & sacrificed tremendously to propel Bria to a championship caliber level!

I cannot leave out Khia, Bria's younger sister, who supports and cheers for her older sister without fail! It is sibling love at its best!

Bria, Uncle Barry loves you and wishes you continued success in golf & life!

Now, a letter from Bria Sanders . . .

I am Bria’ Sanders and have the opportunity to be trained at an excellent Junior Golf Academy. Golf Digest has been searching for two highly-motivated junior golfers - one male and one female - with the drive and passion to excel in a highly competitive and unique private golf boarding school environment, known as the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

I have entered into this competition to attend the academy and am asking for your support with your vote. The contestant with the most votes wins this great opportunity.

I have loved and been playing golf since I was three years old. In addition, I am a Memphis City Schools honors student and the first African American to receive Player of the Year Awards on the Tennessee Golf Association Junior Tour and the United States Junior Golf Tour.

Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (Hank Haney IJGA) is the only academy in the world to combine training, academics, and competition for serious junior golfers. The primary focus of the Hank Haney IJGA is to prepare students academically and athletically for the next stage in their career. In 2009, 94% of their students received a college golf scholarship.

Your vote in helping me reach this goal would greatly be appreciated!


The Voting period is between February 24 - March 24, 2010

Please visit http://www.golfdigestscholars.com to cast your vote.




Thank you!!!


Sincerely,

Bria J. Sanders


visit me at http://www.briasanders.org

In Support of Earthquake-Torn Haiti!!!

By: B. Brown

I would like to take my hat off to the people of the United States of America!!!

We have supported Haiti in record-breaking fashion and I am very proud of that fact.

We have Wyclef's "Yele'" Organization, The Red Cross, The Clinton-Bush Fund, etc. That is what has really tripped me out, Former Presidents Clinton & Bush have united for a cause. Unbelievable! President Obama has made it clear that his administration is going to help Haiti through its tragedy and help it rebuild. As one of the strongest countries in the world even during our recession, we are still committed to helping an ailing country that desparately needs help. I am very proud of that committment!

I have personally supported Haiti by donating to Wyclef's organization and you can too by texting YELE to 501501 to donate $5.00. Let's continue to show our compassionate side and do what we would want someone to do for us.

God Bless the people of New Orleans, LA & Mississippi that experienced Hurricane Katrina and God Bless the people of Haiti and all the workers who are there helping!!!

God is good!!!

One Love!

Sportsman of the Year!

By: Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated; Dec. 7, 2009; pg. 60)


"He (Derek Jeter; Shortstop for the New York Yankees) was brought up to respect his environment and respect himself," Dorothy (Derek Jeter's Mother) says.

"When you like who you are, you're going to respect others. It's very simple."

"You've got to have strong values because there are people who don't want to see you attain or achieve," Charles (Derek Jeter's Father) says. "I don't think you magically get those values when you're successful. If you don't have it by then, you're going to be in a lot of trouble."

"I would be the same person regardless of what I was doing or where I was playing," says Jeter, who still talks to his parents each day. "It's not like I'm trying to act a certain way to make people happy. I'm just who I am. But again, it's something that I learned at a young age."


Coach Brown's Thoughts: Derek Jeter has always appeared to be a man of integrity and after reading this article, now I know where he got his wonderful values from. His Mother & Father made sure that their son & daughter received the love, knowledge & discipline to become strong, conscious & humble young people that would Prayerfully grow into successful adults. From what I have seen, it has worked. It is a beautiful thing!

Congratulations to Derek Jeter on being chosen as the 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year!

Joe Peterno - Still has something to teach!

By: Joe Posnanski (Sports Illustrated; Oct. 26, 2009 pg. 61)

"I'm not going to embarrass this university," he says, not angrily but with an edge in his voice, as if he could not imagine how anyone could miss the point: He still has something left to teach these kids. Times have not changed that much. "I think kids today, they are confused," Joe says. "They long for some kind of discipline. They want something bigger than themselves, something bigger to be a part of. We can still offer that here [at Penn State University]."

Coach Brown's Thoughts: Joe Peterno is a coaching icon! At 82 years old and about to turn 83 around x-mas time, his coaching legacy has long been secured & established.

Young scholar-athletes today want to show-out as soon as possible. I went to two (2) recreation football Super Bowls last weekend and these young men were in the sixth (6th) to eighth (8th) grades. I actually saw them doing the same celebratory things that I see in college & in the pros. Now, I am the 1st person to celebrate and get pumped up, but I don't remember jumping around and showing out during my recreation, junior high & high school playing days; and trust me, I made a lot of plays during my career. I started show-boat celebrating when I got to college. Joe Peterno's teams are usually classy, respectful and play a hard-nosed brand of football. His teams usually exemplify a very disciplined group of young men that win in the classroom as well as on the field! That's why he is the winningest coach in the history of Division I-A College Football with 389 wins and counting.

Coaches, let's strive to be men of integrity & instill discipline in our players and let's continue to make a positive difference in the lives of young people that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives and start a positive cycle that will continue for a very long time!!!

Happy Holidays!!!

Levi Michael - New UNC Baseball Star!!!

By Andy Gardiner, USA TODAY (Spring 2009)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Levi Michael dreamed of playing baseball for the University of North Carolina from the time he was a boy. When the opportunity arrived to turn that dream into a reality in unprecedented fashion, Michael grabbed it.
Michael has done something rare at college baseball's elite level. He graduated from high school in January, enrolled at UNC three days later and was the Tar Heels' starting second baseman by the time the season began the third week of February.
With a week left in the regular season Michael, 18, has become a mainstay on a North Carolina team that has made three consecutive trips to the College World Series and is No. 1 in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll. Without a transition period, the switch-hitting freshman flourished.

"I probably shouldn't be, but I'm shocked at how this has turned out," said UNC coach Mike Fox. "I'm amazed when I watch what this kid has done. "
Freshmen have become increasingly important to the nation's top programs. Because many premier players sign pro contracts after their junior seasons, there is a constant need for schools to restock quickly.

Second-ranked California-Irvine starts three freshmen. No. 4 Rice's top hitter is first-year player Anthony Rendon. Daniel Hultzen is 6-1 on the mound and batting .338 as a first baseman for 14th-ranked Virginia. But all had a semester to become acclimated to college life and become familiar with new teammates and coaches.

Michael went from taking five final exams in high school on a Friday to moving into his dorm on Saturday and sitting in freshman English on Monday. Formal practice began three weeks later. "I thought it was going to be very challenging, and it has turned out to be even more difficult than that," Michael said. "But Coach Fox offered me the opportunity of a lifetime."

Early love for the Tar Heels --- Michael grew up in Welcome, N.C., a town of 3,500 just south of Winston-Salem and 90 minutes west of Chapel Hill. The youngest of Tony and Rhonda Michael's three children, he attended North Davidson High in nearby Lexington. His sister, Keeli, starts at second base on the Campbell University softball team. Rhonda, a technology specialist at North Davidson, said the family has always been UNC fans, and Levi was determined to become a Tar Heel from the time he began attending Fox's summer camps as an 8-year-old.
"When Levi sets his mind to something, that's it," she said.

Fox followed Michael's career closely. "We had seen Levi play more than any player we've recruited, and he accepted a scholarship on the first day possible," Fox said.
But that was based on a traditional timetable of Michael entering North Carolina in the fall of 2009 and beginning his baseball career in the spring of 2010. He still had his senior season at North Davidson. That schedule began to shift in late summer when six UNC recruits signed pro contracts.

"Going into the fall, we saw we only had one infielder at each position, Fox said."
A Tar Heels assistant coach wondered whether Michael was ready to play now. "It was said jokingly, but then we began to think about it seriously," Fox said.
Fox felt hypocritical for even broaching the idea.

"We talk a lot here about living in the moment and enjoying the journey," he said. "I had a ball my senior year and I don't think any kid should miss that.
"I visited Levi and his parents. I spent most of my time listing all the reasons why he shouldn't come early. Levi looked right at me and said, 'Tell me what I have to do to make this happen.' "Fox told Rhonda Michael he spent hours rehearsing his recruiting speech. It didn't take Levi 10 minutes to say yes," she said. "I was a little apprehensive, but Levi never was."

Move blessed by UNC players Fox polled his players on how they felt about a freshman joining the team at mid-year. "All we asked was whether he could help our team," said junior first baseman Dustin Ackley, a career .400 hitter expected to be among the first 10 players taken in the June draft. "Once practice started we saw right away that he could. But I can't imagine doing what he's done."
Michael struggled during the early weeks of practice, in part because he was shifted from shortstop to second base.

"I was so nervous I couldn't stand still. I was shaking the whole time out there," he said. That disappeared in the first intrasquad scrimmage. Michael homered, beat out an infield hit and played with poise. "It was clear to the coaching staff after a week of practice that Levi needed to be in the lineup somewhere right out of the gate," Fox said. "After that first scrimmage the rest of the team saw that he belonged."

Michael has started 51 of UNC's 52 games (he sat out against East Carolina after oversleeping and arriving late for the team bus) and is hitting .297 with 12 home runs, 45 RBI and a .574 slugging percentage. "He's hit some clutch home runs from both sides of the plate and done everything we've asked at second base," Fox said.

Michael is still a little startled at the turn his life has taken. "Last year at this time I was just playing high school ball," he said. "I never imagined being in this spot." Michael missed his senior prom, missed formal graduation. He came to UNC behind the rest of the team with no guarantees. "I did think, what happens if I come in and don't perform and have to sit my freshman year?" he said. "That wasn't too big of a deal for me because I felt that whatever happened, I would be part of the team. "I would learn more about the game being here than playing my senior season. Ultimately I would develop and become a better baseball player. But I'm blessed and grateful for how things have gone."

Coaches say they don't expect a wave of Levi Michaels. "Typically the jump and transition for a freshman is not an easy one, and it would be more natural that they not be a big success their first year," said Cal-Irvine coach Mike Gillespie. "You magnify those hurdles if you're talking about a mid-year freshman.

"I think Levi Michael is a case of a good player playing well. There is no reason to say this can't happen more frequently, but I don't see it as a trend."
Even with how well things have gone, Fox is still conflicted. "It has to be a perfect storm of conditions for this to work," he said. "You have to have the blessing of the parents and the high school coach. You have to have the right mix of maturity and leadership on your team. The kid has to have the maturity to make the jump. "I don't expect to see this happen again in my coaching lifetime."
Michael avoids thinking about all this too much. "It is a unique situation, but now I think of myself as just another college baseball player, no different from anybody else," he said. "It's definitely a lot to undergo, but once you make the decision, you can't second-guess yourself. Deal with what you have and stick with the process."