Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites, killing between one to three million people every year. The disease is especially prevalent in Africa, taking the lives of many youth before they ever get the chance to shine as human beings.
Rick Reilly is an award-winning sportswriter recognized as among the best in his industry. He typically incorporates a hysterical level of humor, poking fun at athletes for their annoying intricacies and their disrespect towards “us lesser beings.” However, he does sometimes illustrate his serious side, writing articles focusing on themes of family, heroism, and human spirit. Recently, Reilly wrote about a young group of kids battling a serious illness, getting to carry out a dream at Yankee Stadium, getting to hang out with the New York Yankees, including star-pitcher A.J. Burnett
On May 1, 2006—my birthday—Reilly requested donations for these nets. This request—this seed, a simple 815-word article has bloomed into over $25 million of support. The Nothing But Nets Foundation was created in 2006 to try and combat malaria by providing nets to children in Africa to help give protection.
The influence of this simple column—the effect Rick Reilly has had on a fight for humanity and safety—is truly remarkable and inspiring.
Formally with Sports Illustrated, Reilly currently writes for ESPN. His columns are linked to a blog that archives all of his work. His contributions can always been seen on the front page of ESPN.com as well as ESPN’s bi-monthly publication, ESPN The Magazine. His columns/blog-posts come out around once a week and always have either a profound impact or provide a great laugh.
His academic work relates specifically to my blog topic and my passion of sports. I am among a whole slew of sports fans who are avid followers of Reilly’s work. His writing, though, extends to an audience that goes beyond just the simple, big-time, or hardcore sports fan, especially with his human-interest stories that reach out to anyone that has a beating heart.
With my blog, I would like to take a similar approach to Reilly. Through his blog and his work, Reilly acts as an anonymous mentor. I will sometimes draw from his stories and taker my own approach. I do not plan to shadow his writing or copy his ideas. I plan to learn from him and use his work to help mold my style and to make my blog something worth reading.
Eight-hundred and fifteen words led to over $25 million dollars, money going towards an honorable, life-saving cause, Money inspired by one idea…one column…one man. I don’t know if I will ever write anything, say anything, or do anything that will save lives or help out a cause to such a strong degree. However, I do know that I will always write what I believe and not write what I think people want to hear. I will stand up for causes and people and hope that one day I can impact a single life with my actions the way Rick Reilly impacted thousands upon thousands of lives helping the fight of malaria in Africa.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Welcome to the Stadium
Welcome to the stadium! May I please see your ticket?
…Section 48, that’s right over there. Enjoy the game!
Stepping into a stadium, an arena, a ballpark—wherever—is one of the coolest feelings I get inside. I get tingly, knowing I am inside a building filled with history—both good and bad—and about to watch a sporting event. I get to watch the same athletes that many consider “God-like” perform in ways that only they can. You never know what you are going to get at a sporting event. Inside the lines, anything can happen. Every day or every night, you might be a part of history.
Sports is a passion of mine. I come from a sports family. My dad played professionally. My brothers played at the college level. I passed up an opportunity to play at smaller D1 schools to advance my desire to make it in this world as a sports broadcaster. I am still a fixture in the intramural world and still practice with the baseball team. I am constantly talking about sports, playing sports, thinking about sports, or watching sports. While I am not an ‘ESPN’ expert, I have worked in and around sports since the age of 13, and at the age of seven had a weekly radio segment at Dallas’ #1 Sports Radio Station, KTCK Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket, in which I was interviewed about my sports knowledge. I don’t have official credidation yet, but it’s coming.
Sports fascinates me in so many ways. I could go toe-to-toe all day long talking about strategy, free agent signings, who’s hot and who’s not, among other points of interest. But there is more to sports than just what goes on inside the offices and within the boundaries of their respective athletic venues.
However, in this blog I am going to bring up the cultural impact of sports—the athletes and their actions.
Reporter: Did you visit the Parthenon while in Greece?
Shaquille O’Neal: I can’t really remember the names of all the clubs we went to.
Athletes are incredibly interesting—among other descriptive labels—inside the lines, but more so, outside the lines. They do some of the most caring, intelligent, incredible things, and other times some of the stupidest, cruelest, darndest things. These actions stir all sorts of emotions and impact all sorts of people, including those who don’t know what a touchdown, slam dunk, or home run even is. Whether people want to acknowledge their presence and power or not, sports play an incredibly significant part of our society and have a tremendous impact.
For instance, the Michael Vick fiasco had such a tremendous effect on people that have never even seen a football game. Steroids is a polarizing issue that eats away at every baseball fan, but has an external impact that many people don’t consider, or that parents don’t realize until it is too late. However, for every story with a negative undertone, there are a variety of stories involving athletes that are uplifting inspirational, and put athletes in a good light. How about Hurricane Katrina? Want a list of all the work—not just money donated—put in by various athletes in the effected parts of New Orleans and beyond? Or what about the superstar athlete who stands up for a cause and boycotts an opportunity to make money in support of what he believes in as it pertains to global issues. These are the types of stories and issues that will be covered in this blog. Stay in your seats. You never know when you will come across something special.
…Section 48, that’s right over there. Enjoy the game!
Stepping into a stadium, an arena, a ballpark—wherever—is one of the coolest feelings I get inside. I get tingly, knowing I am inside a building filled with history—both good and bad—and about to watch a sporting event. I get to watch the same athletes that many consider “God-like” perform in ways that only they can. You never know what you are going to get at a sporting event. Inside the lines, anything can happen. Every day or every night, you might be a part of history.
Sports is a passion of mine. I come from a sports family. My dad played professionally. My brothers played at the college level. I passed up an opportunity to play at smaller D1 schools to advance my desire to make it in this world as a sports broadcaster. I am still a fixture in the intramural world and still practice with the baseball team. I am constantly talking about sports, playing sports, thinking about sports, or watching sports. While I am not an ‘ESPN’ expert, I have worked in and around sports since the age of 13, and at the age of seven had a weekly radio segment at Dallas’ #1 Sports Radio Station, KTCK Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket, in which I was interviewed about my sports knowledge. I don’t have official credidation yet, but it’s coming.
Sports fascinates me in so many ways. I could go toe-to-toe all day long talking about strategy, free agent signings, who’s hot and who’s not, among other points of interest. But there is more to sports than just what goes on inside the offices and within the boundaries of their respective athletic venues.
However, in this blog I am going to bring up the cultural impact of sports—the athletes and their actions.
Reporter: Did you visit the Parthenon while in Greece?
Shaquille O’Neal: I can’t really remember the names of all the clubs we went to.
Athletes are incredibly interesting—among other descriptive labels—inside the lines, but more so, outside the lines. They do some of the most caring, intelligent, incredible things, and other times some of the stupidest, cruelest, darndest things. These actions stir all sorts of emotions and impact all sorts of people, including those who don’t know what a touchdown, slam dunk, or home run even is. Whether people want to acknowledge their presence and power or not, sports play an incredibly significant part of our society and have a tremendous impact.
For instance, the Michael Vick fiasco had such a tremendous effect on people that have never even seen a football game. Steroids is a polarizing issue that eats away at every baseball fan, but has an external impact that many people don’t consider, or that parents don’t realize until it is too late. However, for every story with a negative undertone, there are a variety of stories involving athletes that are uplifting inspirational, and put athletes in a good light. How about Hurricane Katrina? Want a list of all the work—not just money donated—put in by various athletes in the effected parts of New Orleans and beyond? Or what about the superstar athlete who stands up for a cause and boycotts an opportunity to make money in support of what he believes in as it pertains to global issues. These are the types of stories and issues that will be covered in this blog. Stay in your seats. You never know when you will come across something special.
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