Sports
Chocolate Milk REFUELS The Winter Olympics
Got Chocolate Milk’s new documentary series REFUEL USA follows USA Men’s Hockey’s Zach Parise and the Women’s Ski Jumping Team on their way to compete in Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
In this trailer Parise and the Ski Jumpers talk about what it means to be able to compete internationally and what drives them to perform at their best. The debut episode of the REFUEL USA series introduces the women, their personalities, while giving us an inside glimpse into the world of Ski Jumping athletes.
Ski jumping has always been one of the most thrilling extreme sports, but this is the first year women have been allowed to participate alongside their male counterparts at the highest level. Plus recent studies have shown drinking 16 oz. of fat-free chocolate milk led to greater replenishment of glycogen, a principal storage carbohydrate, in muscles post-workout.
Dec 23rd
Shaquille O’Neal Interview
NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal has been doing great charitable work for a few years now with Toys R Us for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The 2013 Toys for Tots campaign is currently underway and O’Neal, who is better known as “Shaq-A-Claus” this time of year started up a new tradition this year. It is called the “No Wish Too Big” campaign. Kids in need can wish for whatever they want as Toys R Us and Shaq try to fulfill those wishes.
If you want to help click here to go to the Toys for Tots website at Toys R Us.
Shaq and I were able to talk about his charitable work, his career in the NBA, and dancing.
Art Eddy: First off let’s talk about the great work you do with Toys R Us for the Toys for Tots program. You have done this for some time now. What inspired you to help out with this program?
Shaquille O’Neal: Well it is a great program that has been going on for a numerous amount of years. In 1992 my mother called me. She wanted to buy some kid toys. She was at a center that had about 500 children. I asked her what she was doing. She told me that these kids won’t be getting anything for Christmas because of their family situations.
I told her to have the kids write down about 10 items of what they want. She faxed me the list a couple hours later. Me and a couple of friends of mine went to Toys R Us and racked up a bunch of toys. That is how “Shaq-A-Claus” started.
I was contacted by Toys R Us about five years ago because they wanted to do that on a bigger scale. “Shaq-A-Claus” goes on in five states. It goes on in New Jersey and New York. We did it in Atlanta. We did it in Orlando. We are going to finish it off in L.A.
Toys R Us has always been my favorite store. My favorite song has always been (starts to sing) I don’t want to grow up. I am a Toys R Us kid. I love Geoffrey the Giraffe. Toys R Us is a great organization. They do great things. They showed me some alarming stats. I think 10 to 20 million kids will wake up on Christmas and not receive anything. With the help of Toys for Tots, people giving monetary donations and giving toy 
donations I think we can cut down that number.
AE: How can people help you guys out with this great cause?
SO: You can go to Toys R Us dot com slash Toys for Tots. You can donate at your local Toys R Us or Babies R Us. You will see a big ol’ box there. You can donate money, gift cards, and toys and we will get them out.
AE: Talk about the “No Wish Is Too Big” campaign for this year.
SO: Whatever you want just holler at Shaq and Toys R Us and we will try and make it happen. This year a lot of kids want XBOX’s and all those things. I am putting out a call to all my friends and family. Bikes, iPods, iPads, Monster headphones, Shaq shoes and other stuff to try and do our best to make these kids happy.
I was one of those kids that didn’t get a lot for Christmas. There was one toy that changed my life. It created the Shaquille O’Neal brand. It was a Dr. J. autographed basketball.
AE: I remember you saying that before in an interview. It is great to have that story about a toy that stands the test of time for you. To me that is exactly what you are doing with Toys R Us for this program. These toys will create a memory for them just like the Dr. J. basketball did for you. You guys are doing such a wonderful campaign.
SO: Thank you. Imagine seeing a kid wake up on Christmas and opening up gifts and saying thank you to their mom and their dad. Christmas should be joyous time for everyone.
AE: Moving to basketball do you have one moment or season in your great career that stands out the most? Or do all of the seasons in your outstanding career mesh together for you?
SO: Everything is kind of pushed together. I am happy for the four titles. The only thing that is disappointing is that I missed over 200 games due to injury. I averaged about 25 points a game. That is about another 5,000 points that could have been added to my career. Then that would have put me at number two in scoring. Then of course I missed 10,000 free throws. If I made half those that would have brought up closer to Kareem.
There is always the talk about who is the best big man. Who is the most dominant? I think accolades and stats will never lie. I really wanted to pass Wilt Chamberlain in points so I could woefully and modestly brag to say I was the most dominant big man ever. I think I am 1,800 behind Wilt.
AE: One thing that I loved about watching you play was that you looked like you were having fun. You still were focused and I know that the NBA is a player’s livelihood, but do you feel that some players might take the game too seriously?
SO: I don’t want to speak for other players, but economically you have to understand that dads and moms pay a lot of money for these seats. I was like okay if you are going to pay this much money to watch me play I am going to put on a Broadway type of performance for you. That is why I did what I did. I wanted to play hard. I wanted to smile at little kids and throw them wristbands.
If you can just make one person happy or change their life or make the whole arena happy than I think that you are doing your job. We make a lot of money and they charge a lot of money. My job was to always put on a good show. If a dad is going to pay $200 to have him and son watch Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers play up against the Miami Heat, I have to give them a good show.
You never want to have someone say ‘Oh my God. Why did I pay for these tickets? This game was awful.’ So my job was to put on a great show for them.
AE: Was your first NBA title the sweetest?
SO: Yes. The first one was the sweetest. I had accomplished a lot before I got there. There were critics out there that would say he is not concentrating. He is doing this. He is doing that. He will never win a championship. Then to have the rite of passage to being considered one of the greatest is nice to have on your resume.
AE: I would love to finish our chat with a quick round of about four questions. Is that cool with you?
SO: Yeah!
AE: What is your favorite shoe from your line?
SO: The Shaq Ones.
AE: What is your favorite nickname that you had during your playing days?
SO: My favorite nickname is “Diesel.” I am like an 18 wheeler with no brakes coming down the hill onto 
oncoming traffic.
AE: Where was your favorite place to play in the NBA?
SO: Favorite place to play was Miami. It was always sunny and my joints were feeling nice.
AE: I loved your dance routine with Jabbawockeez during the NBA All-Star Game. How long did you prep for that?
SO: I didn’t prep for that. It took me two minutes because when I was young I was already a break dancer.
Dec 19th
Anthony Becht Interview
Anthony Becht played 12 years in the NFL at the tight end position. In his career he has played for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs. Since retiring Becht is still involved with football. He works for ESPN and is the Buccaneers Pre and Post Game Host for 620 WDAE.
Recently he has teamed up with Mohan’s Custom Tailors and the Doe Fund to help those in need this holiday season. Mohan’s is looking for people to donate suits or overcoats that they don’t use anymore. This charity event kicks-off a holiday season of giving at Mohan’s. When people come in and donate their suits they will receive a $100 credit toward a new custom tailored overcoat. Then those donations will be cleaned and donated to charity.
I was able to chat with Anthony about his playing days in the NFL, fatherhood, the work he is doing with Mohan’s and the Doe Fund, and this current season in the NFL.
Art Eddy: Let’s talk about the great work that you are doing with Mohan’s Custom Tailors and the Doe Fund to help those in need this holiday season.
Anthony Becht: I really think it is outstanding. I have teamed up with Mohan’s Custom Tailors after my career. Just for the fact that they have some great suits. They wanted to team up and work together to work with a charity each and every month of 2014. To kick off the year they are going to work with the Doe Fund.
Basically Mohan’s are going to donate suit jackets and suits that customers bring in. They will clean them up and give them to the Doe Fund. We see a lot of charities that supply the homeless with shelter and food. I think the Doe Fund really does a great job. What they do is actually get those in need in the workforce. They find them jobs, get them educated, and get them back on their feet so their long term success is greater than the short term.
Those people can’t afford suits or jackets. For Mohan’s to provide jackets and reach out to this charity and work with them is bar none an outstanding idea in the long term for these people in need.
AE: How can people help you guys out?
AB: They can go to Mohan Tailors dot com. They can reach out to Mohan’s if they have a suit or anything they have that they are no longer using. They can go to Mohan’s and receive a $100 discount towards the purchase of a new suit, custom suit, or overcoat. Basically the goal is to get these coats and overcoats to those people in need.
Hopefully we will be able to get over a thousand of these jackets back to the people in need. I just think it is a great idea. Just reach out to Mohan’s. Go to their website. You can call them at 212-697-0050 to get more information.
AE: Moving to sports, you played for 12 years in the NFL as a tight end for the Jets, Bucs, Rams, Cardinals, and Chiefs. Looking back at your career what do you take away the most from your days in the league?
AB: One thing Art is that it goes fast. You don’t realize how the years pile up. All of a sudden bam it kind of hits you and your career is over. I have been very fortunate. The average in the NFL is three and a half years. I definitely surpassed that playing 12 seasons.
I got to play in New York, one of the greatest cities in the world. I came down to Tampa, where I live now, and I got to go to a few places at the end of my career. I really got to see the country and see the fans, and play with different coaches and teammates.
The fact that I got to play such a long time and the longevity to stay somewhat healthy throughout my career and not miss many games was great. Being that blue collar type of tight end playing in the NFL opened up many opportunities when I was playing and now with my post football career in the media world.
AE: You played for a few different quarterbacks in your career. How long did it take you to build a chemistry with a quarterback when you started playing for a new team?
AB: As a tight end that was the first thing I did. When I came to New York I had Chad Pennington and Vinnie Testaverde sitting right next to me at my locker. Immediately you try to build those bonds. That is important. I think any wide receiver, tight end, running back in this league the first person you are trying to make friends with is the quarterback.
Anything you can do to build that extra work or continuity and getting on the same page is huge. As I grew into my career and went to different teams I was kind of a guy that got gravitated to as a leader. I would be with those quarterbacks from just an experience standpoint.
For any young guy coming into the league build a relationship with the quarterback, the coordinators, and just everybody to get on the same page and put that extra work in. It can really help you develop yourself as a better player and extend your career.
AE: Did you have a few guys on opposing teams that you enjoyed matching up against?
AB: Yeah, there had been some opponents obviously playing against different teams especially in the AFC East. You look at the Miami Dolphins. They were always a big rival. You are playing against Jason Taylor twice a year. He was one of the more phenomenal defensive players to play during my time.
You look at the Patriots. Guys like Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi, these guys were just hard-nosed defensive players that accentuated what the NFL was really all about. There were challenges for me. When I was a young guy with the Jets going against these high caliber players was tough early, but made me a better player as I went on in my career. It helped me extend my career and play a long time in the NFL.
AE: Switching to this year, who is your pick to win the Super Bowl?
AB: When I look at the NFC I really see teams that are in the bottom tier of the playoff situation are really trying to fight for their position. Originally I thought the Saints were going to be a team that could really make some noise moving forward. They had an outstanding season. We see them have their struggles with the Rams recently.
I think the big thing for me is the consistency. The Seattle Seahawks have been the most consistent team. When you look at the quarterback play in Russell Wilson everyone is picking them, but that is really the main factor. Every single week they have had the ability to go out and play hard, play good, and win each and every game. They could easily be undefeated.
On the AFC side you think that it will be the Denver Broncos, but you are starting to see some flaws with this team. They struggle on defense. I feel that no matter how many stats Peyton Manning puts up they need every single yard and every touchdown. That could be a problem moving forward.
Look at the Patriots and the Ravens. I think it is going to be one of those cold weather teams that if they can just get into the playoffs, they can make some noise. Look at the Ravens. They are a team that understands the situation. They can play hard-nosed defense. They have an experienced quarterback that can make some noise. Overall though if the Broncos get hot and they can do anything with their defense then they would be the favorite going in to the playoffs.
AE: Any team surprise you this year either in a positive or negative way?
AB: I think in a positive way the Carolina Panthers have done an outstanding job this year. You talk about the head coach, Ron Rivera. Everyone wanted to fire him last season, but all of a sudden they stuck with him. Cam Newton became a better player. They get a few defensive players like Luke Kuechly and other defensive linemen that come in and really help build that team.
Now they are really a complete football team. They can run the football. They can play defense. To me they have been the surprise. I thought that they would be better, but I didn’t think that they would be in the mix to potentially with the division.
Dec 18th
Tamika Catchings Interview
Tamika Catchings is a household name for many basketball fans. The former NCAA champion and WNBA legend has even won gold in the Olympics. Catchings doesn’t just excel on the court. She is a leader in her community and has her own charity called Catch the Stars.
She also assists with the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team program. This campaign nominates 10 college basketball players from all divisions of the sport who participates in community service activities is a well-rounded student-athlete. There were 84 nominations submitted by athletic departments from colleges and universities. Catchings, along with other select voters, will name the final award recipients in February.
Tamika was kind enough to take time from her busy schedule and chat with me about basketball, the Good Works Team, and what she looks to do after the WNBA.
Art Eddy: Recently, you partnered with Allstate and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to be part of the WBCA Good Works Team. What has this experience been like for you?
Tameka Catchings: This has been a great partnership. It’s a combination of the things that I believe in with young ladies playing basketball, but most importantly realizing the impact they have off the court in their respective communities and abroad.
AE: The WBCA Good Works Team recognizes student-athletes for their commitment to serving others. What is the process like for these finalists and when will a winner be announced?
TC: These young ladies are selected by their Athletic Directors who send a form talking about the players and a list of all of their charity work. From there, there’s a selection group that goes through each of the nominations.
We eventually have to get the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team down to a total of 10 female student-athletes. Five of the ladies come from a D1 school, and the other five come from D2, D3 and NAIA schools.
AE: Speaking of community service you have your own charity called “Catch the Stars.” Tell me a bit about that program and what inspired you to start that up.
TC: My Catch the Stars Foundation empowers youth to achieve their dreams by providing goal setting programs that promote literacy, fitness and mentoring. We serve boys and girls ages 7 to 16 and offer about 12 different programs throughout the year that tie to our three buckets: literacy, fitness and mentoring.
I was inspired to start it up because of all of the people that came into my life throughout my journey of being a professional basketball player. Everyone played a little or big role in my life, and my goal is to turn around and help these kids realize their dreams and passions as well.
AE: Moving onto the court. You played at the University of Tennessee and won a NCAA National Title there. You played for legendary head coach Pat Summitt. What did you take away the most from Coach Summitt?
TC: One of the main things I took away from being under Coach Summitt was just about being great women overall. She didn’t just focus on one aspect, she focused on what we did on the court, what we did off the court, and what we did in our community to help others. That’s another reason why I’m so passionate in helping our youth.
AE: You also won an Olympic Gold medal. What was it like to play for your country and come out on top?
TC: It’s a true blessing and honor to be able to represent the USA. Every time I have an opportunity to play for my country, I think about playing on the highest level and with the best players in the world.
AE: Your success didn’t just end there. In the WNBA you made a name for yourself as a WNBA Champion as well as a WNBA MVP. With all these accolades what keeps the fire burning for you to compete at the pro level? 
TC: The thing that keeps me burning is that I can be better. When I’m done playing I want to know that I gave everything that I had every time I stepped on the court. As long as I’m playing, I will continue to strive to be better today than I was yesterday.
AE: Reading up on everything you do it seems that you are always on the go. When you do have free time what are you doing to relax?
TC: Free time? What is that? (Laughs) Just kidding. I love being with my family so every day that I’m here in Indianapolis I try to end my day spending time with my little nephews before coming home and hanging with my oldest nephew, he lives with me.
AE: After your pro career is done have you thought about your next goal you want to accomplish? Would you get into coaching?
TC: When I’m finished playing I ultimately want to be a General Manager for a WNBA or NBA Team. I don’t want to coach because I don’t know if I have the patience to do that, but I love the thought of being a GM. I also would love to get married to the man of my dreams and have kids and a family.
Dec 18th
Kurt Warner Interview
Kurt Warner had a brilliant career in the NFL. Whether it was him leading the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory in 1999 or taking the Arizona Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl berth in 2008, Warner left his mark in the NFL. Kurt has been named MVP in the league as well as in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Besides excelling on the field Kurt does even more off the field with the work he does with his foundation, First Things First. The foundation is devoted to impacting the lives of others using Christian values, providing aid and supporting those in need. The foundation supports children’s hospitals, people with developmental disabilities, and single parents to name a few.
Kurt Warner is now an analyst for the NFL Network. Check him out every Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning at 9:00 AM ET.
Kurt was able to chat with me about who he thinks has the best shot at winning this year’s Super Bowl, his playing days, and his foundation.
Art Eddy: You do an excellent job breaking down games for the NFL Network. You are a few years retired from the league. What are some of the major changes to the game since you retired?
Kurt Warner: I think the biggest thing is passing aspect of the game due to the new rule changes. Also the nature of the talent that has come into the league like the tight end positions. The athletes that are coming into those positions now has really driven it to become a pass first league more so than any other time in the history of the game. I think that has been the biggest change. It has become difficult to play really good defense.
AE: Which teams are fun to watch for you and the crew at the NFL Network?
KW: I appreciate the game having played it. I enjoy watching a lot of different things. Of course I enjoy watching passing teams, their passing concepts, and a good quarterback on how they read and decipher defenses.
I also like watching good defenses. To see how teams like Seattle are able to week in and week out just come up with schemes and have the talent and the ability to stop teams. Like when they played the Saints. It is rare because of the changes and the athleticisms of offenses. It is rare for defenses to come out and shut down really good offenses like that. You have to appreciate what they are doing and how they are able to do that week in and week out.
AE: Who is your pick to win the Super Bowl?
KW: Right now I think that it is still between Denver and Seattle. I think that those are the two best teams from an all-around team standpoint. What a great battle it would be to see a Seattle defense up against Peyton Manning and the crew that he has.
I think it would be a great matchup. I think it would be fun. There would be a lot of great storylines. I think that those are the two best teams right now. I think what you are going to see is what will happen on the other side of the ball. Denver’s defense, can they step up and be able to make the plays needed to win a championship.
It is the same with Seattle’s offense. Russell Wilson is playing great right now. You want to see that offense continue to do that. If so I would give them a slight edge because they are better on both sides of the ball. I think it would be a great matchup.
AE: What is your take on having the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium this year where it could snow or rain?
KW: I am not a big fan of it. I don’t want the history of our game to be determined by weather. I understand why you have home field advantage and why you play the games during the regular season, but if you are a team that plays in a dome it is not your fault.
The problem is that it is hard to really prepare to go out into the elements. I think we get to see that a lot. Teams get a week to prepare and spend some time in the city, but it is very difficult to acclimate yourself with the weather. These teams that are dome teams or warm weather teams I think it is an unfair advantage if you are putting them into a poor weather situation with a team that is used to it.
I understand all about football and how it has been built. It is a game that is played outdoors and in the elements. I want there to be a situation where both teams have an equal opportunity to play their best football. So with that, may the best team win. I am not a big fan of that. I know other people really like that and think that it is part of the game.
I think that certain teams would have a disadvantage by going out in the elements, especially in that kind of game.
AE: Speaking of Super Bowls, you and the St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. To me that was one of the best Super Bowls in the history of the NFL. You won the MVP award and that game is known to many as the “One Yard Short” game. What did you take away from that game?
KW: Anytime you win the Super Bowl and get to the pinnacle of your job, your career in the business that you are in is phenomenal. To win such a great football game, I have been fortunate. I played in three unbelievable Super Bowls. Two Super Bowls that could have gone either way came down to final plays.
It was great to be able to get that win in my first Super Bowl. It was great to see how the team had to step up. The offense had to make a big play to get us ahead and then the defense had to make a big stop. That is what football for me is really all about. You win championships as a team. All sides have to come together. I definitely saw that in my first Super Bowl and that was one that I will never forget.
AE: You have played with some great guys like Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin. As a quarterback it must have been a dream to have those players as teammates. 
KW: No great quarterback is ever great without having great players around him. You can go down the list. To have those kind of guys to count on, guys who were big time players in big time moments was so much fun. It made my job so much easier to know that those guys were on the other side and know what they could do and trust them in any situation.
I was really, really fortunate to play with some really great players. It was a huge reason of why I had the success that I did.
AE: How tough was it to step away from the game?
KW: It really wasn’t that hard to step away. The reason was that the last few years were extremely rewarding. No one really gave us a chance. We didn’t necessarily have a great team, but we were able to overcome a lot. We were able to come together at the right time to do some really special things. It was rewarding, but at the same time it took a lot out of me.
I was asked to do a lot. The mental stress and the pressure to live up to certain expectations was really hard. It had an effect on me both mentally and physically. Understanding that and knowing how much I had to give, you understand the reward, but also the cost of it. When I weighed all of those things it was actually an easy decision to walk away.
The game had been tremendous to me. I accomplished more than many people expected me to. I was very proud of what I was able to do in my career. It became much easier for me to say that I am not willing and able to give what my team and teammates deserve that I have to step away. As hard of a decision that it was just because it is never easy to say goodbye, at the same time it was the right decision. I knew I didn’t have what it takes to give what I always had.
AE: Tell me about the outstanding work you do for your foundation First Things First.
KW: It something that we started about 12 years ago. We started it because we didn’t want to limit God in his reach with our lives. We didn’t design to say hey we are going to focus on this group or that group. We have been varied in the programs that we have run.
From working with Make-A-Wish and taking families down to Disney with us every year to doing homeownership programs like Habitat for Humanity and working with children’s homes and orphanages. We just have a variety of things.
We just are now working to help with supportive living for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our son was injured when he was young and deals with these challenges on day to day basis. We have come to understand that when he gets passed high school all the challenges that are out there to really allow them to thrive and have a purpose and derive in live.
That is our next endeavor is to build what we call Treasure House for these individuals and these families to have a next step and have dreams in life. Our foundation encompasses a lot of different things, but wherever God directs us or takes us in life He usually seems to open up a door to allow us to help in that area. That is how we designed our foundation from day one. We will be where God takes us and if a door opens up we will go through it and see how we can help.
Dec 16th
Chris Cole Interview
“Live rad and die proud,” is a saying that street skater Chris Cole lives by. At the age of 14 Chris found his passion. That passion was and still is skateboarding. As a kid living just outside of Philadelphia, Cole started to participate in local and regional skateboarding contests.
As he won more and more contests, Chris started to make a name for himself in the skateboarding industry. Not only did fans pay attentions, but so did corporations. At age 16, Chris got his first corporate sponsorship, which helped to launch his career.
Chris was named Thrasher Magazine’s “Skater of the Year” twice and won back-to-back street skate gold medals at the X Games. Check out all his accomplishments at his website!
Even with all the fame, I found through talking with Chris that he is still a down to Earth type of guy. Chris loves to give back to the community with his skate camp called “Chris Cole’s Excellent Adventure” at Camp Woodland. As you read his answers below you will find out just like me that Chris gets it and knows what is important in life.
Art Eddy: When you were growing up did you ever imagine that you would become a professional skateboarder?
Chris Cole: It was funny because when I started I didn’t know it could be a profession. Some people were pros and I have seen them in magazines. It was so far out of my reach at that time. There were only a handful of pros. It is not like today where there are hundreds of pros.
I would look at magazines and it wasn’t until I started looking at colleges that I realized that I wasn’t going to college. I was sitting there looking at the Savannah School of Art and I thought to myself that I am really not going to fill out any applications. I was probably about 15 years old at that time.
I was going to finish high school because I spent all this time in high school. To go without a high school diploma I felt was so wasteful. I stuck it out. I didn’t have any dire reason to leave anyway. I stuck it out because I knew that skateboarding was going to be my future.
AE: Do you remember the first trick you ever performed?
CC: I remember when I started I was skating alone. When I first stepped on a skateboard it consumed my thoughts and consumed everything that I was. I never stopped skating. I didn’t have anyone to skate with. There was one kid who taught me how to Ollie. He just taught me how to Ollie and that was it. I mostly skated alone.
I started doing tricks myself. A lot of them I thought I made up. There is a pop shove it which is basically a 180. Your body doesn’t turn 180, but you just pop the board it does a 180 and you land back on it. I remember telling my friend about it.
I would do boardslides on the curb, but I would Ollie and turn 180 into a boardslide. That is called a lift slide, but I thought I made it up. Out of all of those the first kickflip I did was over a Campbell’s soup can. I did it totally wrong. My foot placement was completely wrong because this dude showed me how to do it. He showed me the completely wrong foot placement. I did it like that. Later that week I realized that I was doing it wrong. I broke it down in my head and did it correctly from then on.
AE: Was there a significant moment in your career where you felt like you made it in the skateboarding world?
CC: Man that is a good question because you are always achieving a little bit more. I did a few video parts on some skateboarding videos. Each one was a little bit of a milestone. I didn’t feel that I fully made it until a year after a very monumental video part. When kids come up to you and tell you that you are the reason why the skate.
They tell you that they saw you skate in a video and that is why they started skateboarding, that is the moment where you feel like you have made it. Through my love for this sport and what I have done and sacrificed to be really good at it, I have done exactly what I wanted to do with my talent. That is to inspire others and make them want to go out and do it for themselves.
That’s all you wanted in the first place. You want to pay it forward. These people inspired me. I picked up a skateboard. Now if I can inspire others to pick up a skateboard and enrich their lives like that then the world is a better place.
AE: I am a sneakerhead and I was taking a look at your DC shoe line. How cool is it to have your own sneaker?
CC: It is incredible to have my own shoe. Like you I am a sneakerhead. I am not nearly advanced as the dudes who go to sneakers cons, but I have a rolodex in my mind of shoes that have inspired me. I try to take all of that information that is in my brain and use it to make my shoes. I try to put out a shoe that embodies all of the others ones that have inspired me.
It is such a cool position to be in. It is great to help out with the design especially when I nitpick things. I don’t freak out about small things, but I do notice certain things. For my shoe from the DC line that comes out next year in March, is the most advanced shoe that we have done. It has every piece of technology that DC does in one shoe.
AE: Tell me about your camp called Chris Cole’s Excellent Adventure and the great work you do with the Police Athletic League in Philly.
CC: We team up with the Police Athletic League in Philadelphia. They have a bunch of kids that they work with that love skateboarding. Unfortunately those kids just don’t have the means. Whether they come from a broken home or they have two parents who are working as hard as they can and can’t make ends meet for their kids. We help them out.
These kids love skateboarding just like I did when I was their age. They don’t have the money to get them to a place like Woodward Skate Camp. It is the greatest place for a skateboarder to go. It is just acres and acres and acres of skate parks in central Pennsylvania. It is gorgeous out there. It is a place that they would never get to go to.
We work with the Athletic League and handpick kids to go to camp with us. Along with Reign Skate Shop we pick out kids we think that would really benefit and appreciate going to the camp. We take them out for a weekend. It is fully comped by Woodward Skate Camp. The Police Athletic league shuttles them out there. Plus a bunch of my sponsors chip in and give these kids a bunch of products.
They have a great time. What we really want is to make memories. I hope that they will remember it for the rest of their lives. I tell them every year that this time right now is the best time in their life. You don’t have responsibility, but you are old enough to have freedom. I tell them that they might not be able to process that right now, but live in the moment and enjoy it.
Dec 9th
adidas Unveils 2014 World Cup Items
adidas is not only getting teams ready for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but fans everywhere. Recently adidas released images of the brazuca, the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as well as the two top ranked FIFA teams – Spain and Germany.
The kits stand out with fresh designs and top-end tech specs, most notably the 2014 FIFA World Cup federation kits are the lightest ever produced by adidas – more than 40 percent lighter than the equivalent 2012 kits. This advancement will give the world’s best players extra freedom of movement and comfort, while retaining resilience and durability on the field in Brazil.
Let’s first take a look at the brazuca. Brazuca is a breakthrough innovation featuring a revolutionary six-panel design. Created for every player on the field, the ball features six identical panels alongside a unique surface that will provide improved grip, touch stability and aerodynamics on the field. Brazuca has been thoroughly tested to meet and exceed all FIFA metrics for an official match ball, ensuring top performance for every condition.
Brazuca was named in September 2012 following a public vote in Brazil involving 1 million soccer fans. The name “brazuca” is an informal local term which means “Brazilian,” or to describe the Brazilian way of life. The colors and ribbon design of the ball panels symbolize the traditional multicolored wish bracelets worn in the country in addition to reflecting the vibrancy and fun associated with soccer in Brazil.
“The FIFA World Cup match ball is the icon of the tournament as the centerpiece of every goal, every play and every touch,” said Ernesto Bruce, director of soccer, adidas America. “adidas has a rich legacy at the World Cup, providing the official match ball for every tournament since 1970. The brazuca is a breakthrough innovation built for every player on the field.”
The brazuca’s thorough two and a half year testing process involved more than 600 of the world’s top players and 30 teams in 10 countries across three continents, making it the most tested ball ever by adidas.
Lionel Messi, Iker Casillas, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Zinedine Zidane, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Palmeiras and Fluminese were among the top athletes and clubs who tested brazuca. The ball was also tested in competitive international matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a different print design and in a friendly match between Sweden and Argentina in February 2013.
“Brazuca has a stunning design that feels inspired by Brazil,” said 2010 FIFA World Cup winning Spanish captain Iker Casillas. “Now that the ball has been launched the tournament feels a lot closer. I’m looking forward to playing in Brazil with a great ball. Hopefully with brazuca we can get the same result as in 2010.”
Fans can purchase brazuca today at www.adidas.com/soccer and starting Wednesday at adidas retail locations, sporting goods and soccer speciality stores nationwide. Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/adidasSoccer or on Twitter via @adidasSoccer #WorldCup.
Now looking at the jerseys, from a design perspective, the jerseys stand out with designs inspired by each country. The new German kit is inspired by a sense of understated brilliance, and the value placed in quality and hard work and makes references to industrial architecture.
While the deep red color of the home jersey unites Spain, while the gold flashes symbolize the current golden era of Spanish football.
Dec 4th
Brian Deegan Interview
Brian Deegan is an innovator in action sports. He is considered to be motocross legend and as a businessman has been nicknamed “The General.” At the young age of 17 Deegan moved from his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska and traveled to Southern California with hopes of making a name for himself in the world of motocross.
In 1997 at the Coliseum in LA, Brian made history with the Freestyle Motocross move called “ghost riding” as he crossed the finish line. Brian has won many awards in actions sports. Brian currently competes in Motocross, Freestyle Motocross, Rally Car, and Short Course Trucks as founder and co-owner of the Metal Mulisha.
I caught up with Brian to chat with him about how he entered the world of motocross, injuries, and his clothing line.
Art Eddy: Let’s go back a bit in time. At age 17 you left Omaha, Nebraska for Southern California. You had big dreams of making a name for yourself in the world of motocross. Can you recall that one moment that made you take that big leap?
Brian Deegan: Growing up in Nebraska and going to high school there I had already traveled all over the United States racing in amateur motocross. I think that just getting to see all the parts of the country and places like Southern California really made me want to do that move there. The lifestyle there made me want to take the leap from Nebraska and go to California. Or maybe it was the girls there. I don’t know. (Both laugh)
AE: Was there ever a time in the beginning where you thought you had made a mistake?
BD: When I moved out there I didn’t have anything. I went out there with a pick-up truck, two dirt bikes and a credit card. I was sleeping on my buddy’s floor. I was renting a room and just trying to make things happen. There were points where it got tough, but I realized that I never wanted to go back.
I had to make it work. If I went back my dad wanted me to go to college. I thought that if I did that I would fall back into the normal routine, which is fine, but that was not what I wanted to do.
AE: When you look back do you have one moment that you can say to yourself that you made it?
BD: Yeah, I think it was the moment where I started getting paid by sponsors. That was when Freestyle Motocross started and X-Games as well. I got my first few main sponsors that were actually paying me really good money. That was when I realized that I was on to something. I feel like I hit the sport at the right time. We were the guys that pioneered in action sports. I realized at that moment that it was the right move. It worked out well.
AE: Out of the many accolades and awards you have won does one award stand out more than the others?
BD: I would say that the biggest moment that stands out the most was when I won the L.A. Coliseum Supercross. I went against all odds and beat the best guys as a privateer. I ghost rode my bike over the finish line, which at that time was unheard of.
I walked away from the sport and started up freestyle and did the first 360 on a dirt bike at the L.A. Coliseum. I won the gold medal there that year in best trick. Those were probably the biggest highlights. That was before I got into four wheels, which was a whole new realm of highlights.
AE: To say that you are fearless is a total understatement. From what I read you have experienced multiple near-death experiences, several broken bones, a lost kidney, and a severe spleen injury. What gets you back on the track time and time again?
BD: I would say it was the will to win. Injuries are never something you plan. So really what they do is just stall you out. They are like hurdles on your way to your original goal. I always saw it as just that. I had injuries and a few near death experiences. Those basically just slowed me up for my goals. I still move forward and was always able to block it out and get back to compete. Yet getting older and having kids your priorities change.
AE: Tell me about the company you started up in Metal Mulisha?
BD: I feel like when I was walking away from racing we were kind of the rebels of the sport. We went into Freestyle Motocross and actions sports at the X-Games as the characters of that sport. We came into the sport at the time where skateboarding and BMX was big.
Motocross stepped in and we were on the big stage where the cameras where rolling. It was time to play it up. We were the guys in all black, in spikes, and heavy metal. It kind of just took off. I was able to use my business sense and with my dad being there to help me I thought how are we going to monetize this. We turned it into a clothing brand and selling other product as well. It just took off. Now it is one of the biggest action sports brands out there.
Dec 2nd
Cam Neely Interview
Cam Neely had an outstanding playing career in the NHL. He played 13 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. Most of his playing career was in a Bruins uniform. In 2005 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Currently Cam serves as the president of the Boston Bruins. Cam was instrumental in organizing the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Championship.
Cam set up The Cam Neely Foundation. He set this foundation up to help those who are battling cancer and assist their family members as well. Neely lost both of his parents to cancer. Cam knows the pain of seeing a loved one battle this disease. He and longtime friend, Denis Leary work together to run their annual “Comics Come Home” comedy night that raises money for Cam’s foundation.
Neely also has been in a few TV shows and most notably played the cult classic role of Sea Bass in the movie “Dumb and Dumber.”
Cam was gracious enough to take the time to talk with me about the current state of the NHL, his playing career, his work as the president of the Bruins, and his role in “Dumb and Dumber.”
Art Eddy: First off let’s talk a bit about some of the possible changes to the NHL. Most notably the change to overtime play. What is your take on the possible change to overtime?
Cam Neely: I am not a fan of the shootout. I have never been a fan of the shootout. So if we can decide a game before we get to a shootout I am all for it. If we get into a three on three there will be a lot of scoring opportunities and you will be able to finish out a game.
My feelings are if we can figure out to do a four on four for a period of time and then get into a three on three it should work. If there is no score to settle a game after a three on three then go onto a shootout. I do feel that there will be plenty of scoring opportunities to finish a game if we can go three on three.
AE: In your great career was there one moment or playing against a certain rival that sticks out the most in your mind?
CN: I really enjoyed playing against Montreal. It is such a rivalry. When I first got to Boston it was always a big deal when you went and played Montreal. Whether it was in Boston or in Montreal, which I really enjoyed playing in Montreal, it is such a great hockey atmosphere. Like I said it was a huge rivalry and so everybody was up for those games.
AE: In 2005 you were inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame. When you were notified of your induction what was your initial reaction?
CN: Just shock in the sense that you are put in a place with these guys where you looked up to for years and years and years playing the game of hockey. You also think about the people who helped you along the way. It is just quite an honor. I felt very honored to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
AE: You are now the president for the Boston Bruins. Has being a player helped you out with your current position?
CN: I believe it has. I can certainly look at a lot of situations with our players and think like a player. So that is beneficial. Playing in the league as long as I did and going through a lot of things as a player I certainly reflect back on that.
I know that the game is a little different and times have changed, but bottom line is that you are still a hockey player. I can reflect on a lot of those things whether it is playing a lot of games in a short period of time or having some time off. Now I think about what it would be like for a player now that I have the experience. Being able to look back and think about some moments in time where I had some questions, but didn’t have the answers.
AE: As someone who lost a parent to cancer and I know you lost both of your parents, I want to thank you for setting up The Cam Neely Foundation. How did your foundation come to be?
CN: Well as most people know being an athlete you get to help out in various ways and different charities. When I was going through what I was with my parents I gravitated towards more cancer related causes. Then I figured why not do something I know is needed based on my experience my family had with my parents.
For us we wanted to find a way to provide comfort, support, and hope to cancer patients and their families. Being a family member of a cancer patient as I am sure you know going through with one of your parents is that there not really a lot you can do. The doctors really don’t fill you in too much. They don’t give you too much information of what is going on. You feel kind of left out, but you are still affected by that terrible disease. So that is the reason why I decided to start up the foundation.
AE: You and Denis Leary have the great “Comics Come Home” fundraiser that has a tremendous lineup of comedians. This year’s event just happened. How did it go?
CN: We say this every year, but this year it was said by many that this was the best show. It was a fantastic show. First of all I have to commend and give Denis and Apostle Pictures a ton of credit. They go above and beyond. They put this line up and great show together. It is really a fantastic way to take your mind off for a couple of hours of some of the things that you are dealing with and also raise money for cancer patients and their families. It is a nonstop laugh fest. It is a great way to raise money.
AE: Lastly outside of hockey fans, what do you get recognized more for? Is it your great hockey career or your amazing role as Sea Bass in “Dumb and Dumber?” 
CN: (Laughs.) It is really a combination. Hockey more, but I do hear a lot of “Kick his ass Sea Bass” while I am walking the streets now and then.
Nov 25th
Brandi Chastain Interview
In sports there are certain moments or plays that become iconic. There can be that one picture that as soon as your eyes see it you travel back in time to that moment. Whether it is Michael Jordan soaring from the free throw line or Carlton Fisk using body language to will a home run, we as sports fans live for moments like those.
One of these images that captures that essence is when Brandi Chastain kicked a game winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women’s World Cup. After scoring the fifth kick in the penalty shootout to give the United States the win over China in the final game, she took over her jersey and fell to the ground in jubilation. That moment will forever remain in the hearts of USA soccer fans.
I had the great pleasure of chatting with Brandi about soccer and her work with Capital One to promote the Capital One Cup. This campaign celebrates both men and women student athletes. For the past four years the Capital One Cup has rewarded the best Division I programs for their cumulative athletic performances across 39 men’s and women’s sports. After the spring season, the winning men’s and women’s programs will receive a trophy and $400,000 in scholarships for student-athletes.
Check out the Capital One Cup Facebook page to see how your team is doing!
Art Eddy: You are working with Capital One looking to find the best men’s and women’s NCAA Division I college athletics programs in the country. Tell me about this campaign.
Brandi Chastain: This is the fourth year of the campaign. When it first started I immediately fell in love with it. One reason was that I was a collegiate student female athlete. I was always looking for women’s sports to be recognized on the same level as men’s sports. Even though the awareness of women’s sports have become more prevalent in our society, I think that this promotion provides an even better awareness with sports like lacrosse and soccer.
For these types of sports that do not get the national headlines like football or basketball do, now are given the same amount of validity through the Capital One Cup. Plus both sides, men and women are awarded a trophy. I think that this is important because it recognizes the great performances from the men’s side as well as the women’s side.
AE: Tell me your thoughts for the 2013 Women’s College Cup. Which school has the best chance of winning it?
BC: 64 very deserving teams were announced for this year’s College Cup for women’s soccer. I am partial to Santa Clara because my husband is the coach there and I am the volunteer assistant there. So I would like to throw us into the mix. It is an interesting mix of teams.
There are four number one seeds all from the ACC. That is unusual and something to look at. There are some colleges who haven’t been there in a while. There are some colleges out there that have not made their mark yet and now they get the chance to do so with the Women’s College Cup.
I think the big names are always the ones to look at. Virginia has only lost one game this season. It was to Virginia Tech in the ACC semifinals. They are probably feeling the sting from that so I am guessing that they will be on a tear in this series.
North Carolina has won a bunch of championships, but they are in a bracket with UCLA, who has been having a very successful year. That bracket should be interesting. This is a toss-up year. There has not been one dominating team, except for the one hiccup that Virginia had. This year’s tournament looks to be very exciting.
AE: Any colleges that might give the number one seeds a run for their money?
BC: I think that sports fans have to know that the tournament is different from the regular season. It is different because this season is only one game long. You lose and you are out of it. You could be a better team on paper, but you can throw that to the wind. Sports are emotional. They are physical. Weather plays a big part in soccer. There are so many variables that in a season you can overcome, but not in a tournament.
You have to look at teams like Portland. They might not be having a great season, but they have a great team. You look at a school like Marquette, who won the Big East. Those are two teams that people should look out for in the tournament.
AE: How has the landscape of college soccer changed since your playing days?
BC: Number one is Title IX. It has been such a huge proponent in women’s education and therefore women in sports. When I played there was 75 Division I teams. Now there are over 325 Division I teams vying for a National Championship. That just speaks volumes. You multiply those schools by 30 people, that is a lot of players. So that alone is amazing.
AE: What advice do you have for student athletes?
BC: I would say in general that their time in college is unique. It is precious and goes by very quickly. It is hard to sometimes enjoy that time in college. There is pressure in the classroom and also on the field of play. The students that I have the great pleasure of working with at Santa Clara are probably similar to college kids all around the country. They are instinctually motivated to win and be successful.
I think it is hard for these students to balance their time with academics and sports. There is a bigger picture then these games these athletes are playing. I would say to these athletes to try and enjoy the training aspect of sports. The training is really the foundation for the rest of your life. The lessons you learn about being successful in college are things you can take with you in life.
The idea of balance is something that should be thought of for these student athletes. A person should try their best and give it their all in sports, but there are other things out there. Sports or whatever it is at that time is not the only part of you. They need to realize that and create a balance in life.
AE: Moving from college to the pros, what is your take on the current USA women’s soccer team?
BC: In past games like the 4-1 victory over Brazil, the U.S. women’s soccer team has been very strong. When you have goal scorers like Abby Wambach, Sydney Leroux, and Alex Morgan the list goes on you can see that.
I think defending is the number one problem. Finding the right combination of four backs, three backs, or whatever it is will be the challenge for Tom Sermanni. So I think that is the focus. The attacking part of it has never been their thorn in their side. I think finding the right combination of players who can play soccer, defend, and be organized is key.
AE: Do you have one memory in your great career that stands out the most?
BC: Gosh. I would say that I have loved soccer ever since I kicked a ball at seven years old. There is a lot of wonderful memories. The majority of them, well maybe half of the memories have been ones on the field. Obviously people go right to the penalty kick.
I would have to say that my number one memory was when I kicked a really good left footed goal. I was eleven years old. I can shut my eyes and remember that goal vividly. It felt really good. Then I think the moment in the 1999 Women’s World Cup where I scored an own goal in the game against Germany. The interaction that followed that will be something I will always remember. Carla Overbeck told me not to worry about it and told me that we were going to win the game and you are going to help us. After that I scored a goal and we went on to win that game.
I think that memory stands out because I was able to fix my mistake and go on to win that game. In sports there are times where you can literally change someone’s life in a moment. Carla did that for me. She told me that my mistake was okay and we were still going to win. Ever since that day I am looking for the opportunity to do that for someone else.
You can use moments like those to reflect on and tell yourself that things are going to be alright. That is why I cherish moments like those.
Nov 18th
