Category: sports

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Ex-NFL Player Deangelo Williams Paid for 500 Mammograms to Honor His Mother Who Died from Breast Cancer

DeAngelo Williams retired from professional football a few years ago, but, by the looks of it, his work might just be getting started. The former running back for the Carolina Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers made news recently when he paid for 500 mammograms for women through his non-profit organization, the DeAngelo Williams Foundation.

Williams’ mother passed away five years ago from breast cancer, and since then the ex-NFL player has made it his mission to help women with mammogram screenings and other tests so they can hopefully catch any potential issues as early as possible.

Sandra Hill, Williams’ mother, was only 53 years old when she passed away in 2014. Williams also lost four of his aunts to breast cancer, all before they had reached 50 years of age. So for him, this work if incredibly important.

So far, Williams’ foundation has paid for 500 mammograms for women in Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Memphis, and Jonesboro, Arkansas. He said, “To be able to help all these women is amazing. This can be life-changing for these women. We are enabling them to get this care that no one should ever be denied or not have access to.”

Even though Williams has already done an amazing amount of work, he’s aiming much higher. He wants to host free mammogram screenings in all 50 states and expand the reach of his organization as far as is humanly possible.

Risalyn Williams, his wife and executive director of the foundation, said, “DeAngelo wants to ensure that no woman (or man) fights breast cancer alone.”

Keep up the excellent work, Mr. Williams!

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New Research Finds That Running Might Actually Be Good for Your Knees

Contrary to popular wisdom, running might not be so bad for your knees after all. In fact, it may actually improve your knee health.

One reason that running is assumed to be bad for your knees is the existence of “runner’s knee,” or patellofemoral pain syndrome. It’s fairly common for runners to experience knee pain, especially those who are new to the sport. That pain is often due to muscle weakness, overextending yourself, or running with old shoes.

But studies have shown that running is not associated with knee arthritis or other types of degenerative joint disease. In fact, it may be good for your knee joints, helping to protect the knee and keep it working smoothly.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

In one 2016 study, male and female runners either ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes or sat quietly for 30 minutes. Then they did the opposite activity on the next day. Before and after each session, the researchers drew blood from their arms and synovial fluid from their knees. They measured it for cells linked to inflammation and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), the substance that marks arthritis.

After 30 minutes on the treadmill, participants had lower levels of inflammation and lower levels of COMP. Sitting for 30 minutes increased those same levels. The study’s author Robert Hyldahl concluded that moderate runs are “not likely to harm healthy knees and probably offer protection,” per the New York Times.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

So you definitely shouldn’t let the fear of bad knees keep you from running.

Still, it’s important to practice good etiquette to avoid messing up your knees — wear proper running shoes, and don’t push yourself too far too soon.

Happy trails!

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These Viral Backflipping Kids Are Headed to Gymnastics School, Thanks to the Influence of Social Media

Jashika Khan and Mohammad Azajuddin are two children in Kolkata, India. The pair went viral for their impressive cartwheeling, and now they’re going to school to be full-time gymnasts.

A teacher took a video of Jashika, 11, and Mohammad, 12, doing their tumbling on the street on the way to school. Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci retweeted the video, calling it “awesome.”

And Jashika and Mohammad blew up.

Their gymnastics journey could have ended with the tweet, but fortunately, the video caught the attention of India’s Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. Jashika and Mohammad were soon called for trials at the Sports Authority of India, and the trainer, Manmeet Singh Goindi, said that he was impressed by what he saw.

“They are certainly talented and have the desire to achieve much,” he told The Telegraph.

Both children are going to be enrolled as full-time trainees. Manmeet explained:

“At SAI, not only will the children get food, lodging and proper education, they will also be trained under qualified gymnastics coaches. Plus, the right equipments will be made available to them. They will practice in proper indoor halls. No more will they have to jump around on the road and somersault on concrete, risking injuries.”

Both Jashika and Mohammad are thrilled about the new opportunity. Jashika even says she wants to become a gymnast like Nadia in the future — and with talent like hers, it’s totally possible.

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When the Pope visited…

When the Pope visited Arizona in 1987, 75,000 attended mass at a local university’s stadium. The name of the stadium and the image of the mascot had to be covered because their mascot is the devil holding a pitchfork and the stadium’s name was Sun Devil Stadium.

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A Fourth-Grader Got Bullied for His Homemade University of Tennessee Shirt and UT Made It Official Gear

Kids can be incredibly cruel.

That’s not news, but it still hurts when bullies come for you or your child – and that goes double when the child is hurt after trying his best to fit in with the rest.

It all started when Altamonte Elementary School in Florida encouraged its students to dress in their favorite college or university colors for College Colors Day. It was Laura Snyder, a fourth-grade teacher at the school, who shared the story of one of her students on Facebook.

9/6/19 – UT really outdid themselves🧡!! I was so excited to surprise my student today!! I’m not even sure I can put…

Posted by Laura Snyder on Wednesday, September 4, 2019

The young University of Tennessee Volunteers fan was “SO EXCITED” to show off his homemade t-shirt, but the day took a turn when he was confronted by some mean girls at lunch.

He returned in tears after “some girls at the lunch table next to his (who didn’t even participate in college colors day) had made fun of his sign that he had attached to his shirt.”

“He was DEVASTATED. I know kids can be cruel, I am aware that it’s not the fanciest sign, BUT this kid used the resources he had available to him to participate in a spirit day.”

Snyder wanted to buy him an official shirt and reached out to her Facebook friends to see if anyone had connections that could “make it a little extra special for him.”

Her post quickly went viral and caught the attention of the University of Tennessee itself, prompting a press conference.

UT associate athletics director Jimmy Delaney said the school’s official store was sending a “Volunteer Proud Pack” to the boy and his classroom.

Snyder shared an update after they received the pack.

“My student was so amazed at all the goodies in the box. He proudly put on the jersey and one of the many hats in the box. All who saw had either goosebumps or tears while we explained that he had inspired and touched the lives of so many people.”

“He had a big smile on his face, walked taller, and I could tell his confidence grew today! Thank you to the UT Nation for that!”

The University of Tennessee went one step further, announcing that they would be turning the student’s homemade shirt design into an official T-shirt and donating the proceeds to an anti-bullying foundation.

Overwhelming demand for the design caused the university’s servers to crash – over 16,000 have been purchased so far.

“As the Volunteers, the University of Tennessee believes in putting others before ourselves. We’re so glad we were able to support this student, put a smile on his face and bring more orange into his life. In the true spirit of UT, alumni, fans, and honorary Volunteers around the world have stepped up.”

As a college football fan, I can say without hesitation that more universities would do well to follow UT’s lead here – I might even be willing to say “Go Vols” this Saturday.

As long as they’re not playing my alma mater, I mean.

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This New Floating Tent Looks like It Might Be a Recipe for Disaster

A company invented a “floating tent,” then promptly got roasted by the people of the Internet, which they tend to do.

The Shoal Tent is an inflatable tent that allows you to camp on water instead of on land — an objectively terrible and dangerous idea. This contraption is somewhere between a raft and a boat, both of which already exist. Unlike a raft, this tent is huge and very expensive. And unlike a boat, you can’t steer it away from a waterfall.

Fun!

Photo Credit: Twitter

Mashable published a video showcasing the Shoal Tent on Twitter, where users tore it to shreds.

“Why camp by a river when you can camp on one?” the tweet read.

In addition to waterfalls, there’s also the danger of puncturing the raft and taking on water, leading to a watery death. Or running into predators, such as bears or alligators.

Or simply waking up 100 miles away from where you parked. Hilariously, the Shoal Tent boasts that it can “stand up to heavy winds” (by… being pushed around by them?).

Plus, how do you get out of the tent and back onto land? What happens if you have to pee?

Truly, it seems like the inventors of the floating tent are not at all concerned about what happens after you push off from shore. But even they understand that it could invite emergency scenarios. On the website, there is the somewhat disconcerting disclaimer that you can “get in and out easily through the sides if the need arises suddenly.”

Photo Credit: Twitter

As with all crappy inventions, some people will actually buy and use this product. In fact, it’s currently back-ordered due to popular demand, and there’s a wait time of at least six weeks. It’s available from SmithFly for the hefty price of $1999.

Or you could just “camp on water” in, y’know, ANY other way. Like on a boat.

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Need a New Fun Summer Game for the Kiddos? Try the Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge.

Here’s a viral Internet challenge with a twist: it’s for the kiddos. And trust us, you’ll want to use this one to wear them out.

The Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge was started by Raising Dragons, a site dedicated to “raising strong, smart, amazing kids.” Andrea, a mother of 4 boys, started blogging about creative and smart ways to entertain your kids, while also teaching them about science, math, and other important things in a fun way.

“I’m always looking for fun ways to entertain the kids outdoors when the weather is nice and this Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge is the perfect game to keep all my kids engaged and moving!”

How does it work?

Andrea states it’s super simple, and we agree. What you’ll need is a few balls, hula hoops, and string. Tie the string to each hula hoop and set out the balls around the yard, within “tossing” distance.

How to play

Each child is given a hula hoop lasso and tosses it toward each ball, capturing it. Once “snagged” they can reel it toward themselves. And voila! The Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge.

Here a quick video!

Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge – Fun Outdoor Kids Activity

Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge 🤠 ages 3+ 🤠 This fun, outdoor game is so simple to set up and is so much fun to play!! Full details >> https://www.raisingdragons.com/hula-hoop-lasso-challenge/

Posted by Raising Dragons – Activities For Kids on Wednesday, July 24, 2019

 

But what about the “challenge” part?

Easy. You can make this game competitive by having each child try to capture as many balls as possible. They can even play on teams to see which one captures the balls the fastest!

This easy-to-set-up game is great for birthday activities or playdates. It’s even great for kids games at picnics. You could even offer prizes to the winners.

This is bound to make the summer head out with a bang!

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After the breakup of the Soviet Union…

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian basketball team couldn’t afford to participate in the 1992 Olympics, so the Grateful Dead funded the team’s expenses, and the team wore tie-dye uniforms.

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A Fan Who Threw a 96 Mph Fastball in a Speed Challenge Signed with the Oakland A’s

You never know when your moment to be discovered might arrive. And that’s exactly what happened when a fan rose to the occasion at a speed challenge contest at a baseball game.

23-year-old Nathan Patterson went to a Colorado Rockies game on July 15 with his brother Christian to kick back and relax – but fate intervened when Patterson decided to step into the speed pitch challenge at the stadium…and he threw a 96 mph fastball.

Let’s get him signed, indeed.

Two weeks later, Nathan Patterson was signed by the Oakland A’s.

View this post on Instagram

“How can you not be romantic about baseball” -Billy Beane Words cannot describe this feeling and I cannot thank everyone enough who has been part of this journey so far! My family has given me nothing but constant love and support throughout the last 9 months as I pursue a dream of mine that I’ve had since I was a little kid. It’s been a roller coaster to get here with many challenges and overcoming adversity. I’m grateful for all the trainers, coaches, friends, @rsrbaseball and everyone else who has supported me thus far! And for those who tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams, use that as fuel to work even harder. Because those people are the ones that settle. I’m grateful for the @athletics organization for giving me this opportunity! This story is not over. It is not the beginning. I am writing the next chapters and excited for this journey! Time to focus even more, work even harder, and it all starts with your mindset. Go after your dreams and make them a reality!

A post shared by Nathan Patterson (@njpatterson12) on

Patterson hadn’t played baseball for a few years and last year he surprised himself by throwing a 96 mph fastball at a pitching booth at a minor-league baseball game in Nashville. After that night, he began training. Patterson experienced a setback when he hurt his non-throwing arm in a car accident and had to wear a cast. But he continued to train in the meantime. Here’s a video from January 2019 when Patterson was still wearing his cast.

Patterson began talking with the Oakland A’s back in February, and he got a call from the organization a few days after his brother’s Twitter videos of him throwing fastballs in Colorado went viral.

Let this be a lesson to all of us: when you are given an opportunity, grab it! It’ll be interesting to see how Nathan Patterson’s story evolves. Let’s hope we see him on the mound in Oakland sooner than later.

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Serena Williams Destroyed 3 Men at Once on the Tennis Court

What were these guys thinking?

Serena Williams is one of the best athletes in the world. She’s earned a record 23 grand slam singles titles, plus a list of other career achievements that is so long it would take up this entire article.

That’s why it’s hilarious that some totally regular, non-professional-tennis-playing men think they could win a point off Serena if they ever got the chance. One in eight men, to be exact.

YouGov, a global online survey company, found that 12 percent of men believe they could win a point in a game of tennis against Serena. That leaves 74 percent of men who actually understand the laws of physics.

The survey results caught a lot of attention online. Many people begged Serena to actually give some of those 12 percent fools a chance, because the footage would be hilarious.

Thankfully, that footage already exists.

Here, for your entertainment, is Serena Williams playing three average dudes at once and absolutely beasting the hell out of them.

Even better, these men appeared nothing but delighted to have their asses kicked by Serena.

In addition to the game of tennis, they presented her with a series of challenges, like breaking a water balloon with the tennis ball and hitting a ball into a basketball hoop from the top of the tennis stadium.

Needless to say, Serena effortlessly completed every task.

So, yeah. Whenever Serena has another second in her busy schedule as a living legend, we’d love her to film more videos demonstrating why no mere mortal man could possibly compete against her on the court.

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