Sports
Cecil Martin & Allstate Team Up To Help Out The Youth
Cecil Martin, a former fullback from the University of Wisconsin and played some time in the NFL. He now works for Sky Sports as an analyst. Martin is a two-time member of the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team, one of college football’s most prestigious off-the-field honors, for his commitment to volunteerism and serving others.
He is working with Allstate and the Indy Parks and Recreation for the Allstate Big Ten Good Works Day. It is the third annual community service initiative featuring volunteers from Allstate and Martin supporting the Indianapolis community ahead of the Big Ten Football Championship Game.
Martin, alongside a team of Allstate volunteers will help refurbish Indianapolis’ historic Douglass Park, a popular site for community gatherings and athletic events. In addition to the refurbishments, a local youth football team who uses the facilities will be surprised with new uniforms and the chance to participate in an exciting football activity led by the former football legend.
As a former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member, Martin will also speak to the players about the importance of building character through teamwork and community service.
When I spoke with Cecil this morning I knew he was a great guy. He has enthusiasm as well as a big heart. His passion for helping others is just as big as his love for football. Here is my interview with Cecil. For more on the good work Cecil and others do with Allstate click here.
Art Eddy: Let’s talk about the good work you are doing with Allstate. It looks like you, Allstate and some volunteers are looking to refurbish a park. How did you connect with Allstate to work on this project?
Cecil Martin: You know Art it started back in college when I earned the Allstate Good Works Team award for community service. Basically every year they choose a handful of players from all over the country to be considered. I won this award two years in a row. They continue to do these programs even with the Big Ten Championship.
Now they have the Allstate Big Ten Good Works Day in conjunction with the Big Ten Championship. Every year we think about how we can give back to the community here in Indianapolis. This year we are refurbishing a park where some of these kids play. It is Douglass Park. We are going to do a bunch of football drills with one of the teams here. Then 
in the end we are going to unveil the refurbished park and hand all the kids in the inner city youth league new jerseys and new uniforms. Let me tell you Art it is going to be a great day.
AE: That is fantastic. Well done! What advice can you give to people on ways that they can help out their community?
CM: I think that the biggest thing that I would say is that there are always organizations out there that need help. Anytime an organization or a group of people need help is when you should look to help out your community. Companies like Allstate or places like the Indy Parks and Recreation were they provide a place for kids to be safe are areas where helping out goes a long way.
Anytime you are able to be positive and productive I would say do it. Look into the most basic things that kids need and see if those areas need improvement. Once you see what needs work go and help those places out.
AE: What are some of the things that you have learned from football and used it to help those in the community?
CM: Wow. Wow, Art that is great question. Giving back became something that was very important to me. I earned a National Community Service Award from the President of the United States because I started up a new public service group when I was in high school.
AE: Wow! That is great. Congrats.
CM: Thanks. For me there were people that looked to help me so I wanted to return the favor in many ways. When I look at football and what it has done for I would first say that it is like any other organization. You are talking about the ability of working with a team. You have people in any organization understanding what their role is. You also let the passion of that group’s goal motivate and fuel them up to get the job done.
In this case I have a role. Allstate has a role. The Indy Parks and Recreation has a role. Today we are all one big team. That is what is happening at the Big Ten Championship. You have two teams looking to each work as a team and accomplish the goal of winning the game.
AE: Speaking of that game what do you think of Wisconsin’s chances of beating Ohio State this Saturday?
CM: There is a great chance. Even though others might not think so, I feel Wisconsin has a great chance. I know that Urban Meyer has been there three years and he is making a difference coaching there. The team has won about 22 games straight. They never lost to the Big Ten. They are a powerhouse type of a team.
Now when you look at Wisconsin Badgers and see what Melvin Gordon is able to do. He is over 2,000 yards this year. He makes the offense a threat. Then I look at their defense. They are in the top ten in defense. So if you look at the defense of Wisconsin and the offense of Ohio State you are looking at a great matchup. They matchup very well if Wisconsin is playing their best ball. Plus with Ohio State playing their third string quarterback we need to make sure that he doesn’t have his coming out party. (Both laugh.)
AE: No doubt. You have played in the some big games in your college career. I think you are going to say The Rose Bowl, but do you have a game that stands out more than the others?
CM: Well we snapped Penn State’s winning streak which was impressive, but I will have to say the Rose Bowl. I was the captain of that team. People didn’t think we had a chance to win that game. We did and we proved the doubters wrong. We won 38 to 31.
AE: Do you like the new College Football Championship system that the NCAA has created for this year?
CM: I do. I think that with changing times you need to keep up with them. There is still that feeling of a bowl system, which I like. I like what the NCAA, the coaches, and the committee is looking to accomplish.
AE: You played in the NFL for a few teams. What did you take away from your time in the league?
CM: I would say that impact and the influence that you can have with young people or the community. I got to play football for living. I hope that I was able to motivate or inspire a young person. I think even then I got learn more about what it means to be humble while I was playing in the NFL. Plus to use that influence in any positive way you can.
AE: Finally who do you got playing in the Super Bowl this year?
CM: Who is going to the Super Bowl? That is a tough one. You dropped a bomb on me with that one. (Both laugh.) It is interesting because in the beginning I was thinking Seattle. Now it looks like the Green Bay Packers are the front runners in the NFC. In the AFC even though they lost to the Packers I would still say it has to be the Patriots. It looks like there might be a round two this year if those two teams meet up in the Super Bowl.
Dec 5th
Get In Triple H Shape With WWE’s New Workout
For the first time, fans will have the opportunity to work out with their favorite WWE Superstars and Divas with the Lionsgate Home Entertainment and WWE debut WWE Power Series: Triple H and WWE Fit Series: Stephanie McMahon workout DVDs.
WWE icons Triple H and Stephanie McMahon lead two top-of-the-line workout programs created by world-renowned fitness coach, Joe DeFranco to provide official WWE fitness programs for total body transformation. Filmed at the elite WWE Performance Center, both systems allow fans to complete a full body workout, focusing on upper and lower body, cardio and flexibility from the comfort of their own homes.
Featuring 8-time WWE Champion and 5-time World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, WWE Power Series: Triple H includes a total body workout with exercises designed for the upper and lower body along with cardio and mobility moves to build a strong, ripped and fit body. The DVD will feature a four-week workout calendar that helps users stay on track and achieve results. The WWE Power Series: Triple H features the following regimens:
- Warm-Up (6 minutes): Power up and prepare to sweat with moves like seal jacks and Cossack stretches to prevent injury and improve performance.
- Upper Body 1 (16 minutes): Pound out power circuits of serious strength moves like dumbbell rows and Zot curls that use progressive reps to shed inches and lay down Superstar muscle.
- Upper Body 2 (18 minutes): Develop muscle endurance with functional body weight and dumbbell exercises like high-tension planks and shoulder shockers to build both stamina and mega muscle.
- Lower Body (30 minutes): Experience muscle-mass mania with killer moves like single-leg Romanian dead lifts to improve balance, function and strength with this intense three-set system.
- Muscle-Building Cardio (12 minutes): Give those extra pounds a serious smack-down with four high-octane rounds of this cardio-strength circuit designed to pump the heart, shed fat and carve lean muscle.
- Mobility (14 minutes): Improve flexibility, reduce soreness and recover from workouts faster with DeFranco’s signature Agile 8 series of stretches and mobility drills.
*Requires a set of light to heavy dumbbells
In WWE Fit Series: Stephanie McMahon, the WWE mogul and mother of three helps viewers achieve the sculpted, sexy physique of the extraordinary WWE Divas. Complete with a four-week workout calendar the system transforms and strengthens your entire body while shedding fat. The WWE Fit Series: Stephanie McMahon features the following workout routines:
- Upper Body (14 minutes): Strut your stuff with this powerful strength circuit that uses bodyweight, dumbbells and progressive reps to sculpt sexy arms, defined shoulders and a gorgeous back.
- Lower Body (15 minutes): Tone, tighten and turn heads with butt-blasting rounds of a super circuit that tackles your trouble zones while increasing muscular strength and endurance.
- Abs/Core (12 minutes): Get tough and get ripped with Tabata-style circuits (4 moves/4 minutes) that challenge core strength and function to trim inches and shred strong, sexy abs.
- Cardio (17 minutes): Incinerate fat and calories with two heart-pumping circuits of fierce calisthenics like mountain climbers and T-plank rotations to improve endurance and drop pounds.
- Flexibility (7 minutes): Improve flexibility, reduce soreness and recover faster with an essential series of yoga poses and mobility moves that help create long, lean and limber muscle.
*Requires a set of light to heavy dumbbells
The WWE Power Series: Triple H and WWE Fit Series: Stephanie McMahon workouts are loaded with routines guaranteed to get any fan into top form. The all-new DVDs include custom workout capabilities and music only options and will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98 each.
Dec 4th
Jesse Palmer Talks Football And Tells Us How We Can Take Pride in Our Pregame
This fall, Jesse Palmer has teamed up with Unilever men’s brands to help guys take pride in their everyday grooming routines. As a former player and current top color commentator on the new SEC Network, Jesse Palmer knows all about pregame routines both on and off the field.
Calling the most marquee games in some of the biggest stadiums in the country this season, Jesse’s pregame routine is essential to his success, and he relies on a variety of Unilever products to the get the job done, such as Dove Men+Care body wash and Degree deodorant.
Whether it’s tailgating, face painting, or wearing a lucky shirt, college football Saturday is all about taking pride in pregame rituals. However, with all the support fans show for their teams on game day, it is just as important for men to develop strong everyday grooming habits with similar enthusiasm.
“As a former player and current analyst, taking pride in my pregame both on and off the field has been crucial to my success,” Jesse Palmer says, “what sports fans may not know is that my grooming routine is essential for my pregame preparation before a big broadcast too.”
By creating a simplified, one-stop shopping experience where men can find all of their grooming product needs in one place, the partnership is yet another example of how Unilever is revolutionizing the way men shop. Look for the products as well as grooming habits in stores throughout college football season.
I spoke with Jesse today on his work with Unilever, college football, his transition from college to the NFL, and more. Click here to listen to the interview!
For more info on Dove Men+Care Click Here! For Degree Click Here!
Nov 18th
Choose Your Winter
With falling temperatures and expected sub-freezing conditions on the horizon, it’s easy for some to sit back and let the weather dictate their workout. However, when equipped with the right baselayer it’s just another challenge to overcome. Athletes know that if they succumb to the elements, then someone else will
take their spot.
When training in the winter months, athletes have a choice to make – take the easy road and sit it out on the sidelines, or stay in the game and take on the weather while using it to their advantage.
Nike’s latest cold weather campaign takes a playful approach to tackling the elements and “choosing your winter.” The film is the first in a multi-part series, debunking the myth that just because it’s cold outside, you have to stay inside. By wearing Nike Hyperwarm baselayer, Nike athletes can lock in their performance while simultaneously locking out the elements.
The film features football athletes Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, soccer players Clint Dempsey and Brad Evans, distance runner Mary Cain, figure skater Gracie Gold, snowboarder Johnnie Paxson and actor Chris O’Dowd as a weatherman.
Nov 17th
Get To Know Bill Parcells In His Latest Book
If you are a football fan and love to get behind the scenes and hear stories from a Hall of Fame coach then you should pick up the book, “Parcells.” His latest book came out last month. It was a great read. I found myself wanting to read more and more each day. I loved reading about some of the stories the teams he coached, people he brought up in the ranks of coaching, and his take on the game itself.
Parcells may be the most iconic football coach of our time. Any fan of the NFL knows that he was able to turn around a few failing franchises into playoff teams. He brought two Super Bowl Championships to the city of New York. After that he turned the New England Patriots into an NFL powerhouse and reinvigorated the New York Jets.
He orchestrated the winning recipe to bring the Dallas Cowboys back to their time in limelight. It was a no brainer that he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. NFL fans will thoroughly enjoy his stories from his time with each organization.
Even more you will get to read his thoughts on his longtime former assistant head coach, Bill Belichick. We get to see from Bill’s view what went down as Belichick took the Jets job and then left a few days later to take the New England Patriots head coaching position.
In his new book Parcells writes, “He made a deal and then tried to get out of it. A deal’s a deal. You want out? You’re going to pay. Simple.”
Parcells did say later on that he didn’t “begrudge” Belichick for taking the Patriots job, and that he probably got it for him.
Parcells even talks about then-Jets offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Charlie was looking to Parcells for the head coaching job. Yet when Weis testified for Belichick during a grievance hearing, Parcells banned Weis from Jets facilities. You will definitely want to read that chapter.
He even talks about his relationship with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Parcells writes on Jones, “If you told Jerry, ‘Give me $10 million this November, and by next November I’ll give you $12 million,’ he’d have no interest in that proposition. But if you said, ‘Jerry, you give me $10 million, and next year at this time, there’s a 15 percent chance you’ll have $100 million,’ he’s in. Now, I could never understand that, but that’s the kind of guy he is; he’s a risk-taker.”
Parcells also credits himself with Cowboys QB, Tony Romo success. He wrote “If I had put in Romo in his first year and just let him play, he would have been out of football in a year and a half. He was just a gunslinger. He was indiscriminate. And he would do [expletive] that you just can’t succeed doing. But after a year or two of practicing in the preseason, getting his [reps], you could see he had a real good chance to come along.”
Like I said “Parcells” is a fascinating read and is must own for any football fan. To purchase the book click here!
Nov 11th
Jimmy Johnson Coaches Bud Light For Their New Up For Whatever NFL Spot
Have you ever wondered if you could beat a Super Bowl Champion Coach in a game of football? Maybe your chances are slim to none in real life, but what about electric football. I am talking about the old school game where the little guys shake and shimmy all over the field. You think you could? Well in the latest Bud Light Up For Whatever TV spot.
The video features an NFL fan who is randomly challenged to a game of “electric football” in a bar by none other than Jimmy Johnson. Yes, Sean is indeed a random fan (not an actor) and he had no idea that Jimmy was going to walk into the bar and challenge him to vibrating football while other patrons cheer along.
And remember, if you’re holding a Bud Light in your hand while watching a NFL game this season, it means you’re #UpForWhatever – and anything can happen.
Oct 16th
Football Guru Phil Steele Talks College Football, Mascot Challenge & More
The Capital One Mascot Challenge continues to celebrate the unsung heroes of college football—the mascots! Each mascot to make the Capital One All-America Mascot team receives $5,000 for its school’s mascot program, and the Capital One National Mascot of the year receives an additional $15,000. The rules are simple; the mascot with the most fan votes wins!
To help sort this all out and talk about college football I had the pleasure of talking with Phil Steele. Phil is a fantastic and 
detailed sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. Steele is also been called a highly respected prognosticator within the sports media.
His company, Phil Steele Publications, produces the annual preseason magazine Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, which he personally writes in almost its entirety. The first edition was published in 1995.
CLICK HERE to listen to my interview with Phil. You will find not only does he take college football seriously, but also the Capital One Mascot Challenge.
To vote for your favorite mascot CLICK HERE for the Capital One Mascot Challenge website.
Also follow Phil Steele on Twitter and check out his website HERE.
Oct 15th
Oberto Teams Up With Tough Mudder
Do you ever hear that little voice in your stomach? It yells at you when you feel hungry. You may have seen this voice that lives inside the bellies of soccer star, Clint Dempsey, all-star cornerback, Richard Sherman, and professional snowboarder, Louie Vito.
It’s all part of the Oberto’s campaign “You get out what you put in,” which implores active Americans to get the most out of their workout, their sport and their lives by eating All Natural Oberto Beef Jerky, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Which probably explains why they’re the official beef jerky of Tough Mudder. In fact, as part of the Tough Mudder sponsorship, if you purchase a package of Oberto Beef Jerky, you’ll get $10 off registration for an event.
Oct 14th
Nike Takes Us to (Hyper)School
This week I was invited to go back to school. Now some might cringe to think about going back to school, but this was a very cool campus. It was Nike’s Hyperschool. The curriculum was taught by Nike’s finest tech guys and gals. There was even a surprise guest, who shared his thoughts on why he loves playing in Nike gear. It was Atlanta Falcons running back, Steven Jackson. Here is a fun fact. Did you know that Steven was an intern at Nike? Well believe it or not he was.
And like Steven Jackson many athletes not only wear Nike sneakers, but the clothing from Nike. The technology and research that goes into Nike’s sneakers and clothing is tremendous. Parker Mangum is the Product Lead for Nike Pro Combat. I spoke with him about the development of the clothing and how they talk with athletes to improve their gear. Usually it is about a two to three year process from the initial talks to the finished product.
The Hyperschool went over a few items from their Nike Pro Hyperstrong, Nike Pro Combat Baselayer, and Hyperwarm Flex lines.
Over the past two years, Nike partnered with Stats, Inc. for an unprecedented analysis and look inside football’s significant uptick in pace and contact across all levels of the game. Using a proprietary database, historical play frequencies and balance charts were created to help analyze how the game is changing. In addition, countless hours of game film were used to quantify and specify contact – both in frequency and location.
Stats, Inc looked at a cross section of NCAA teams over the course of the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as well as six areas of an athlete’s body: shoulder, chest, hip, knee, thigh and back.
Over the years athletes have said that they want lightweight padding that isn’t distracting – without sacrificing speed or performance. Pads have gone from “big and bulky” to “fast and flexible,” just like the athletes. Originally launched in 2009, Nike Pro Combat Hyperstrong is ergonomically designed to provide sport-specific protection to athletes without restricting flexibility or speed. Today, Nike has re-engineered its Nike Pro Combat HyperStrong collection to be stronger, more breathable, and 30 percent lighter than before. Hyperstrong is designed to integrate seamlessly into the football uniform as a lightweight extension of the body.
Here is a breakdown of some their products.
•The Nike Pro Combat Hyperwarm Flex Tight is engineered for warmth and moisture-wicking. Dri-FIT pods are strategically placed for zoned warmth where you need it most. Breathability-variant mesh areas provide strategic ventilation for optimal thermoregulation. Seamless knit construction adds mobility and flexibility while also eliminating distraction in cold-weather conditions.
•The Nike Pro Combat Hyperwarm Dri-Fit Max Shield Fitted Mock keeps out rain and wind through a stretch-woven overlay in the chest and sleeves. Dri-Fit Max fabric wicks sweat for comfort in the cold. Mesh back pods increase airflow to keep you cool.
•The Nike Pro Combat Hyperwarm Dri-Fit Max Mock implements a Dri-FIT Max twill interior to accelerate the pull of moisture away from the skin’s surface, keeping the body dry and eliminating the chilling effect. Side mesh gussets allow for extra breathability and full range of motion, while lightweight jersey panels help reduce bulk and lock in warmth.
•The Nike Pro Combat Hyperstrong 3.0 Compression 4-Pad Top and ¾ Pant is part of Nike’s sport-specific range that includes strategically placed padding for impact protection. With newly-designed, ultra-flexible 7mm DeTech foam padding at the shoulders and ribs, it provides maximum protection and less bulk than its predecessor. Dri-FIT fabric wicks away sweat as four-way stretch material provides enhanced range of motion and optimal breathability when the action heats up.
•The Nike Pro Combat Hypercool Fitted Sleeveless 3.0 Top features open-mesh zones for ventilation and Dri-Fit fabric to help keep athletes dry and comfortable. Warp-knit material in the back creates tear-resistant durability.
•The Nike Pro Combat Recovery Hypertight is designed to be worn during active recovery, in between competition. The graduated compressive design strategically targets different zones of the leg at different pressures to reduce muscle swelling — firmest at the ankle where swelling can be the most severe. Foot stirrups are integrated for a secure fit. Dri-FIT material assists in keeping athletes warm and dry.
Nike designers, researchers and developers start with athlete insights in order to determine their needs. From there, they unlock these athlete insights in the Nike Explore Team Sport Research Lab by looking at athlete performance data. These insights help inform next steps in apparel innovation such as materials testing, fit and flexibility analysis, and more, in order to help designers create the best apparel to protect and prepare athletes for any condition.
To that end, Nike Pro Combat baselayer apparel keeps the body regulated for inclement weather through thermoregulation, breathability and a body-contoured streamlined fit. Nike Pro Combat Hyperwarm and Hypercool apparel provide an optimal fit with added mesh in high-heat zones for ventilation and comfort.
To dive a little deeper and better understand extreme weather conditions, Nike took a look at the traditional NFL “strength of schedule” from a very different perspective – the weather.
Although every team will face their share of formidable contenders this season, athletes will also compete with their external environment – extreme cold and heat, snow, rain and wind. As such, if extreme weather is considered, it requires a different level of protection and preparation – both in training and when it comes to baselayer. To that end, Nike explored the previous 10 years of Farmer’s Almanac weather data as well as the 2014 temperature predictions for every NFL game and team this season.
Leading into the 2014-2015 NFL season, it was predicted that the Oakland Raiders would have the toughest strength of schedule, while the Indianapolis Colts were perceived to have the easiest. But when looking at the schedule only through the lens of “predicted weather and temperature” it’s a very different story. The Green Bay Packers have the most extreme cold weather predictions, Seattle Seahawks have the mildest schedule, and the Miami Dolphins have the hottest.
Oct 7th
Warren Sapp and Bud Light Turn A “Buccaneer” Fan’s House Into Ultimate Sports Room
On Sunday, Bud Light, the official beer sponsor of the NFL, kicked off its NFL ad campaign for the season with a new Up For Whatever creative spot. The video features a Buccaneers fan who gets his house “Buccaneer’d” by NFL legend Warren Sapp wearing a parrot on his shoulder while facilitating a backyard cannon firing as beautiful pirate maidens cheer.
And remember, if you’re holding a Bud Light in your hand while watching a NFL game this season, it means you’re #UpForWhatever – and anything can happen!
Sep 29th
