Zach Thornton's

Smart Guy Rob Smith Honored by the JT Dorsey Foundation

2011-08-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

We are proud of 'Smart Guy' Rob Smith, Vice President of Soccer Development and Relations for the Philadelphia Union who is being honored this week by the JT Dorsey Foundation with a 'Service Through Soccer' Award for his hard work in the community. Smart guys give back!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 22, 2011

PHILADELPHIA UNION VICE PRESIDENT ROB SMITH AND HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS OWNER ERIC PETTIS RECEIVING ‘SERVICE THROUGH SOCCER’ AWARDS FROM THE JT DORSEY FOUNDATION DURING THE AUGUST 24^TH MATCH BETWEEN THE TEAMS IN HARRISBURG, PA

Harrisburg, Pa. – The JT Dorsey Foundation’s 1st Annual JTDF Service through Soccer Award will be presented August 24th during a halftime ceremony at the Philly Union vs Harrisburg City Islanders game to Eric Pettis of the Harrisburg City Islanders and Rob Smith of the Philadelphia Union, in honor of their impactful work with young people and their communities.

The JT Dorsey Foundation is committed to providing opportunities to expose youth, particularly those who have limited resources and services, to soccer and the positive youth development skills that come along with team sports and cooperative activities. The organization firmly believes that soccer can be a developmental vehicle for life, and this experience is enhanced by the role models and dedicated coaches who graciously volunteer their time and services to help young people learn the sport and all of its life lessons.

Two such role models are Eric Pettis and Rob Smith who have worked with and supported the organization since its inception. Rob and Eric have both provided opportunities for JTDF youth to attend both Union and Islander games and have provided equipment, resources and community partnerships to allow participants to learn valuable life skills while playing, coaching and officiating the game of soccer. Rob and Eric’s involvement has model team work, good sportsmanship, and philanthropy to the teens participating in the JTDF, their families and their communities.

From its inception, the JT Dorsey Foundation has run on the core belief that every child, regardless of their origins or station in life, has potential and promise. “Having community leaders support this belief and reach out again and again, year after year, asking what they can do to support youth development through soccer has allowed this program to grow so rapidly in a short amount of time. Last year we served over 700 young people, exposing them to soccer and all of its life lessons.” Said JT Dorsey, founder of the organization. “Rob and Eric not only support us with resources, they attend the events, meet the young people and make them feel valuable. This award is a way to show them (Rob & Eric) how valuable they are to us and the young people in our communities.”

The awards will be given at halftime of the Union v. Islanders match on August 24^th. The match will be the Union’s second appearance at City Island, after playing to a 1-1 draw on July 27, 2010. The Union (www.philadelphiaunion.com) is expected to bring their full squad to the match, which will be a great treat for fans that support both organizations. All tickets for the match, youth and adult, will be $15 general admission. Ages 3 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at www.cityislanders.com or by calling 717-441-GOAL. Tickets will be limited; purchasing in advance is strongly recommended.

About the JT Dorsey Foundation:

The JT Dorsey Foundation currently offers programs for youth ages 5-16 located in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York, Pennsylvania. The JT Dorsey Foundation provides key youth development services that are lacking, but necessary, to underserved populations in those areas. The JTDF model contains programs that address children and adolescent’s academic, physical, character, social and emotional needs. www.jtdorsey.org

Smart Moves: Beads by Wood on the Rise

2011-08-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

Being a 'Smart Guy' is a ongoing behavior, so we are checking in with some of our favorite 'Smart Guys'. Young businessman on the rise, Guy Wood Jr., shares with us what he's been up to in the past few months and how he is staying smart...

A lot of things have been happening since we last spoke to you. What does it mean to you to now be a college graduate?

The experience was like no other. I graduated in may with a bachelors in Business Management. My course of study helped me develop the skills I need to run my business. I got a chance to mature and learn, and I felt very accomplished walking across the stage. I want kids to know the value of staying in school, make it all the way through, even when it gets hard.

Are you still working two jobs or just Beads by Woods exclusively?

Actually, I have been working three jobs in order to reach my goals! All summer I have been working with my father, Guy Wood Sr. at his company, 5001 Flavors, plus the part time job I've had throughout college, and of course, Beads by Wood.

So update us on what has been happening with Beads by Woods in the last six months?

R & B Singer Lloyd and Guy Jr.

My biggest job has been developing my brand and getting a good name behind it and putting out quality products. My business has depended on word of mouth advertising, so the product has to be high quality for people to recommend it to others. Customer satisfaction has been my number one goal and I want to be known for having a good, quality product. I have continued to work with a diverse client base, expanding my business internationally as well as working with some prominent artists in the hip-hop culture. Terrance J. and Lloyd from 106 & Park have both been wearing Beads by Wood. Vado and Jadakiss are also wearing bracelets. David Rush has a chain and bracelet and wears it all the time.

What have been some of the challenges?

The biggest challenge has been managing all of the work as my business expands. Product development, management and customer service are all done by me. But even with that challenge, I just finished a photo shoot for the company and launced our website beadsbywoods.com

'Elegence' by Beads by Wood

How are you staying motivated?

The feedback I get from my customers helps me to go forward and not give up. I also have goals I set for myself that I keep in the forefront of my mind and know that I refuse to give up on my goals. I keep creating new designs and new styles of jewelry. The spike bracelets that we recently launched are doing really well and I just launched men and women necklaces that are getting great feedback. Five years from now I see Beads by Wood with an even bigger international presence, better name recognition and a larger market share within the industry. I'm also working towards incorporating medal work jewelry.

**********

'Sharp' & 'Silver Bullet'

We love the pieces that Beads by Wood has shown and the fact that the company has already incorporated giving back, participating in fundraisers for community based organizations and being a role model for other young men. When we touched based with Guys father, 'Smart Guy' Guy Wood Sr. he said the following about Guy Jr.'s achievements: "I am so proud of the overall success and overwhelming positive response that Beads by Woods has received. The superb product is well crafted and undeniably fashionable. Glad that the entrepreneurial spirit that I possess has been passed on to my son. I see how focused, creative, hard working, forward thinking and detail oriented he is about every aspect of his business. I'm very proud."

A Good Life--Lorenzo Alexander's Story

2011-06-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

As he approaches the front door of his home after a long day of work, his stress begins to evaporate into thin air as he hears a sound that brightens up his day and delivers a smile across his face. It’s the pitter pat of little feet as his kids sprint towards the door. At work he is used to being the one delivering punishing hits to his opposition but ironically at home he is the one on the receiving end, getting group tackled by his two daughters and son screaming at the top of their little lungs, “Hey Daddy!”

These are experiences that our newest California Smart Guy and Washington Redskins outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander did not experience as a child. Alexander grew up in Oakland, California and was raised primarily by his mother, Stephanie Moore; whom he credits for shaping and molding him into the husband and father that he is today. “My mom held everything down as a single mother,” Alexander said. “She made a lot of sacrifices, now that I am married and a parent; I understand how hard it was for her to do.”

Alexander grew up in Oakland, during a time of heavy gang violence, drugs and where more people around him were doing the wrong things instead of the right things. “I had to make the conscience decision not to go that route,” Alexander said. "It can be so enticing especially when you are in need of money right now to buy the latest shoes and clothes that you may not have or have another way to get. It is an easy fix but you have to realize that something that comes easy is not really anything that is going to last you a long time.”

“My uncle, Steven Moore, stepped into my life at an early age to fill in that father role.” Alexander explained. “Although he had his own family, he was married with three daughters, he always took out time to spend with me. Whether he was coaching me in baseball or football, he really showed me the value of having good work ethic. He never just bought me a pair of cleats, I had to cut the grass or do something to earn them. He taught me self-worth and was a steadfast positive male influence in my life.”

Alexander maintained that work ethic throughout middle, high school, college and continues to hold on to it in his professional career. He graduated from St. Mary’s high school in Albany, California with a 3.8 GPA, which helped him earn a scholarship to the University of California at Berkeley. During his time at Cal, Alexander was a four year starter for the Golden Bears and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies and All-American honors. But despite his success, when the 2005 NFL draft rolled around, Alexander was not selected. He eventually signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted rookie free agent. Alexander was released by the Panthers and later signed by the Baltimore Ravens but again was released in September of 2006.

“I was always gifted athletically,” Alexander recalled. “I have always been an All American or the top guy on my team until I got to the NFL, where I didn’t even get drafted when I thought I was supposed to. I could have easily given up on my dream at that point.” This humbling experience made Alexander more determined to make his dream come true Alexander kept pushing forward and tried to learn everything he could to make himself more valuable to a team. Alexander displayed versatility in practice, playing several different positions along the defense and even on offense. Currently, Alexander is one of the starting outside linebacker for the Washington Redskins.

“It took me about a year and a half to break through and make the team.” Alexander said. “Just battling through, making sacrifices, always believing in myself and once I got my opportunity, showing up and producing. Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs gave me that opportunity in ‘07 and I made sure to show up and make plays when I had the opportunity to do so. I seized the moment and I have never looked back.”

Alexander wants young people to know that they will have to make choices in life. Choices that will on one hand look easy but could eventually land them in some trouble or other choices that may look hard but will be the right thing to do. He advises young people not to be afraid to reach out to the people around them that are positive. “There are people in the community who are doing the right things. Find those people that are in the community who are successful and find different programs that can help you,” said Alexander, “ if you really want to help yourself, reach. There are a lot of people out there that are willing to help you, you don’t have to do it all on your own. No one ever makes it on their own. Even the most successful people in the world have had someone to help them along the way. There are always resources around you that you can take advantage of like going down to the Youth For Tomorrow centers. These resources can help you be successful and give back to your community one day.”

Lorenzo views himself as a Smart Guy because he successful negotiated the struggles of a single parent environment and the pressures that come from growing up in the heart of Oakland, CA. His choices to associate himself with the right people and do the right things led him down the Smart Guy path. “I am a Smart Guy because I surround myself with people that are smarter than me, who can help me make great decisions.” Alexander continued. “I think sometimes we get caught up in our own ego and think that we can do everything on our own and think we know best, but unless you have great people around you to help you do those things, you will never reach your full potential.”

Giving back to his community is something that Alexander takes great pride in. He created the Lorenzo Alexander ACES Foundation in 2008, where the mission is to support youth through emphasizing self-Accountability, taking pride in our Community, striving for Educational Excellence while promoting a healthy mind and body through Sports.

The Lorenzo Alexander ACES Foundation hosted its annual Hold The Line football camp on June 25-26 from 9:30-2:00 pm at Oakland Tech High School. Camp participants were taught some of the basic athletic drills and also some things that they can do on their own to stay healthy and to become better athletes. The camp also had mentoring talks, life skills discussions, with people who grew up in the area that are no longer playing ball, but they have become successful in different career paths such as fire fighters, personal trainers or accountants etc. These guys have played college ball but have transitioned to another profession. “I really want kids to see that there are other things in the world outside of being and entertainer or an athlete and it is all up to them to take advantage of it.” Alexander said. “These guys that they will see before them came from the same place that they are right now.”

The ACES Foundation also puts on back to school events where students are provided with backpacks and school supplies. The ACES Foundation has partnered up with Claremont Middle School (where Alexander attended) and established mentoring programs throughout the school year for about 20 kids where the goal is to stress the importance of going to college. The foundation also holds fundraisers throughout the year, hosts a celebrity bowling event and provide grants to help the kids pay for their AAU or Babe Ruth teams.

Alexander was honored to be invited to join President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll to help kids learn the value of good health during the 2010 season. “Anyway we can give back and make the community better for the kids.” Alexander said.

To learn more about Smart Guy Lorenzo Alexander and The ACES Foundation’s upcoming events, like Lorenzo Alexander Foundation on Facebook, follow him on twitter at onemangang@twitter, or go to the foundation website at www.lorenzoalexander.org.

A Focused 'Smart Guy',
Lorenzo

Knowing Your Name--The Starting Point for Greatness

2011-06-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

Marcellus Wiley, ESPN analyst, former NFL player and co-host of the Max and Marcellus radio show on ESPN radio, has accumulated a lot of titles, names, accolades, and distinctions in his young life. Marcellus can proudly claim the titles, Valedictorian, All-Conference, National Type Writing Champion, First-team All American, All Ivy League, NFL Pro Bowler, Ivy League Graduate, All Pro Defensive End, Business Owner, Sarah Brady Advocate Award Winner, and Member of the National Honor Society. All incredible accomplishments, none of which he believes he could have obtained if he had not learned what he considers one of the most important lessons of his life: learning his name. Marcellus' journey is far from over, but he believes that young people, parents, educators and coaches alike, can change the way young people see themselves, their futures and the challenges they face if we examine and challenge our perspectives and make a child's name the touchstone of their world...

I’m from a humble background, my first thoughts about future and potential came from looking around and seeing so much unrecognized talent. It seemed that nobody was who they wanted to be, people were going to jobs they didn’t want, but had to take because of limited options. I remember thinking at 6 years old that I needed to do something to help my family. The thought, the dream, wasn’t materialistic it was more about levels of fulfillment and happiness. The unrealized talent and unfulfilled dreams that I observed in my social circles created a lot of unhappy people. I started saying to myself, 'how can I not be one of those people at 40 doing what they don’t want to do?' With my parents' guidance, I stuck to the cliches-- I showed up on time, I worked hard, I never gave up. I was one of those kids who never got caught up in athletics like other people did because I knew at a young age that it was a short lived thing. So the whole time I was growing up, I wasn’t thinking about riches, I was thinking about potential and opportunities. I wanted to have as many opportunities as possible when I was an adult so that I would not have unrealized talent. Preparing yourself and creating choices in life is the equivalent to being in great shape for football, it allows you to be ready when people come to tackle you, you can recognize the challenge, you can make great moves and you can be successful.

I knew I didn’t want to waste the eight hours a day I spent in school, I had to be there, so I decided to make the best of it. I was often the class clown but I was always a great student. My mom was colorful, full of personality, smart—but she gave up her limitless opportunities when she had my sister at 17 and me at 19, in order to raise us. My dad is quiet and stands on his principals, period. He is a believer in what’s right is right and what is wrong is wrong. He always advised us to stick to the script and do the right thing. It was a blessing to have two parents in my home, it did wonders for my self-esteem and my outlook on life. Every year my self-confidence and outlook on life would build and grow into something bigger under the careful watch of my parents.

The first and most important question I ever answered was about identity. One of the biggest challenges that young people face is deciding what they want to do and who they want to be. If you can't figure that out, you are so vulnerable to the world. We’ve got to instill an identity in a child, by letting them know what their name is. One of my teachers and my grandmother both challenged me to do this exercise, to learn my name. They told me to write down my name, and then think of three things that you are and write those down beneath your name. I wrote down Marcellus, smart, athletic, nice & funny. They told me that was my name, my identity. They told me whenever someone calls you by your name you respond and engage with them. But whenever anyone called you outside of your name, you ignore them. So when local drug dealers were acting like I was soft and a punk for not participating, I looked at my list and I didn’t see those words, so I didn’t own them. If someone assumed or treated me as if I were stupid, I looked on the list and didn't see that word, that identity, so I refused to own it as well.

If kids internalize the idea that whoever I am, that’s who I’m going to be; that I can decide who I am and not let other's change my view of myself. Tell the kids to think about themselves and put themselves in the right position and by doing that you accrue circumstances and people that can help you on your journey. Sometimes I didn’t want to go to practice just like my friends, but I knew it was part of my path because I was smart and missing practice was dumb, so I went to practice in order to be the Marcellus that I said I was going to be.

I look back now at where I grew up, my apartment, my elementary school, we were poorer than I thought. I just didn’t know any better as a child. I couldn't use my circumstances as a crutch because I had great people around me and I payed attention to the great people and not the small apartment or mean streets. There are good people everywhere, even if it’s a bad environment, there are other people there with positive missions and plans. There were always teachers available to help me.

I was both a nerd and an athlete from the beginning. But I readily admit that I started to feel better about myself at an earlier age as an athlete than I did as a student. In school, you were told that it was going to be a long path, which is true, but hard for a young person to process and become self-driven. But you could figure out who was the best in sports right away. Who is the smartest at any given point in school? We don’t know. Who’s the fastest? We can go outside right now on the playground and figure that out. In the classroom you are told to invest in yourself and one day it will all blossom and flourish and bear fruit. I did academic competitions throughout high school, but every single weekend I would get medals, trophies, my name in the paper, all for playing football and running track. You don't get that reinforcement in the classroom, and then we wonder why millions of kids see sports as the way to go!

I go to little league games and events and it is clear that kids learn what they see, not what they hear. They see their parents wake up two hours before the game to pack lunches and put on team colors and pin their picture on their chest. They see you drive far away to cheer for them running up and down a field or court. They gladly go to Diary Queen or pizza to celebrate their victory or console a loss. But they also see that you don’t come to parent/teacher conferences with that same enthusiasm or preparation or maybe not at all. They see that you don't volunteer at the school or drive carpool for the spelling bee. The dynamic between the two cultures, sports and education, shows the level of importance placed on each one, and our kids are hearing us loud and clear. Some of these parents are just too young, lets keep it real. And other parents are distracted by the vision of their child making millions at age 20 verses student loans and Phd’s that will all pay off at age 40 years. That gamble that parents are taking is why many kids don’t care about school work and focus on sports. And its up to us as adults, coaches, teachers, role models and parents to shift that message.

I always encourage young people to work on multiple things, be a great athlete and a great student. I tell them, if you have something in both hands, a football in one and a book in the other, when you bring them together you can really make some noise. But if you only have something in one hand, no matter how hard you wave that around, you can’t make too much noise. We, the grown ups, have to market school the way we market sports. We need to make school cool, we need someone who represents education to have some swagger.

Young people, your environment is asking you a question, athlete or scholar? Without balance, you are on a one lane road. It's unfortunate because you can be well rounded. Coolness is true ownership. You can make anything cool if you believe it and make it cool. You’ve got to own your stuff. If it's your car and it's missing rims, so what, it's yours, own it! I had a car in college with no front end and a radio with constant static, but I owned it.

There are so many lessons I could share with young people, but here are a few key ones. I lost the school spelling bee in elementary school for not capitalizing the word ‘Queen’. I was furious at the time, but it taught me afterwards to pay attention to details. Paying attention to details meant that I made a decision that nothing would get by me again. In middle school, I didn’t like to do homework, but I loved the Transformers cartoon. One day I made up a trick for myself. My time was limited because of practices, so I told myself that I couldn’t watch the Transformers until I had done at least 30 minutes of homework. I stuck to that script, therefore I learned the work habit of studying. At Columbia University in New York City and I learned that perception is reality. I was one dimensional when it came to respecting and collaborating with others, and I was exposed to so many different types of people, different styles, and thoughts in college. I learned that there are so many ways to the top of the mountain. We’ve all got different terrains and different elements, different struggles and challenges, but all roads can lead to the mountaintop.

I think being a 'Smart Guy' goes beyond book smarts. It's not the most difficult thing to learn the material and regurgitate it for the test on Friday. A true 'Smart Guy' knows about life smarts. I've fallen down many times. People try so hard not to fall down, but the key is to learn how to get up. Being smart is about getting up over and over again. A coach once told me that more teams lose games for theirselfs than their oponents accutaly beat them. Other people don't take your success away, most of the time you lose it by not getting back up off the ground. Those reminders are so critical to someone who is trying to become successful. Never get psyched out in life, be your own first and biggest cheerleader as soon as they say 'go' and never stop until you've accomplished your goals.

The first thing I want young people who are reading this to remember is you’ve got to stay in the race. Never, ever stop, that is rule number one. And whatever you want to be, fake it to you make it. Once you have your name, that identity, you will know what the right things and the wrong things are for you, and you can apply yourself more to the right things. Take it day by day, let life add it up, and focus on doing what you need to do and doing the most you can every day.

I wish for all that you choose to make your dreams a reality.

Dat Dude

Marcellus Wiley

You can learn more about Marcellus' popular radio talk show, Max and Marcellus, at ESPN Radio Max & Marcellus Show

Changing Cultures: Eugene's Journey

2011-05-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

Eugene's life journey has taken him from the small US Virgin Islands in the middle of the Caribbean to the fast moving streets of New York and then across the country to the San Francisco Bay Area. During this journey he endured his parents divorce, the death of his father and becoming a young, single father--all of which provided him with pivotal moments and turning points, but none of which stopped him from becoming the man he was determined to be. Now, a proud and accomplished husband, father, coach and Chief Financial Officer for San Francisco's District Attorney's Office, Eugene reflects on his journey and shares with us what he believes makes someone a Smart Guy...

I grew up in St. Croix, born in a middle class family, the youngest of four children. My mother was a college educated primary school teacher and my father was educated in the military and then rose through the ranks for the US Department of Customs. When I was in the 5^th grade my parents got divorced and I spent the rest of my childhood going back and forth between them in St. Croix and St. Thomas.  I am the product of Catholic education with the exception of the time spent in Florida as a child. I was always pretty engaged in school as I was always in competition with my older sisters (they weren’t competing with me though) for who got the best grades. Most of the teachers I encountered all knew my sisters and the high standards they set before me. I took that as a challenge to do no less than they did. My two sisters were both successful in high school and went on to college. My brother ended up on a different path, he didn’t graduate from high school and ended up spending time in the criminal justice system.

Coping with my parents divorce was the first significant obstacle I remember facing. During this transition, I had to move to Florida for a while which was a totally different culture than I had ever experienced living in the islands.  It ended up being a good early learning experience for dealing with others and different cultures, one I've had to call on countless times in my journey. The second life changing moment that stands out for me was losing my father at the age of 17. He was diagnosed with cancer when I was in the 9^th grade and he died right before my senior year of High School. That loss forced me to become very independent and self reliant in an instant and I felt a major hole in my life as a boy without a father.

I attended New York University for Undergrad and Graduate school. For my undergraduate studies I attended Gallatin School of Individualized study where I was able to create my own major which was a combination of psychology and sociology with an emphasis on youth development. At the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, I concentrated on public finance and non-profit management. I attended NYU mainly because of the school’s reputation.   I found the school’s academic rigor to be pretty challenging and opened my views quite significantly.

Part of my decision to attend college was to seek a totally different experience than what I was used to in the Virgin Islands. Interestingly enough, my experiences in New York became more fulfilling as I became more involved in exploring my cultural background and experiencing West Indian/Caribbean life in New York. While in college at NYU, I became a father at the age of 21. So in addition to being forced to be independent and self reliant because of the loss of my father, I now had someone else depending on me for their survival. Yet instead of giving up, falling down or dismissing my responsibilities, I became more driven and focused. I managed to finish my BA and MPA by age 26, all while supporting myself and maintaining a significant role in my daughter’s life.

Eugene and his daughter at her HS graduation

When my father passed away, there were two people who took a chance on me and it has paid dividends ever since. My sister Monique knew that I had dabbled in photography as a youngster and advocated for me to become the staff photographer for the newspaper where she was the editor when I was 16. A few months into working at that job I was offered another job to assist with running a new photo shop that had opened. My sister Monique and Kim (the owner of the photo shop) both took a chance on me because of something they each saw in me. My peers at this age were bagging groceries, working for some other government run employment program or selling drugs. I had the opportunity to do something I loved that had meaning and purpose to me. Those early opportunities showed me the value of work, what it meant to have a meaningful career, and most importantly what it meant for someone to believe in you and offer a helping hand. As a result, I have pledged to always give back to the community to ensure that others who want to get ahead and who have the potential can realize their potential.

My role model and mentors are all members of my family. I never needed to look beyond them for inspiration or examples of success. My sisters, aunts, mother and father were all giants to me in whatever they chose to do. They all rose to positions of prominence in their respective fields while raising families and remaining grounded.

When I left St. Croix for college, I wanted to be a photographer. I still love photography but I chose a different career path. Currently, I am the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. In this role I am responsible for the overall management and operations for an office of 250 plus personnel. This involves developing, planning, monitoring and reconciling a budget of $41 million dollars annually. It also involves working with the District Attorney in implementing policies that affect the office’s ability to seek justice on behalf of the citizens of the county of San Francisco. I have also been the Chief Financial Officer for the San Francisco Sheriff Department and the Mayor's Office. In my job I have to be very analytical on a day to day basis. In order to be successful, I have to listen, analyze and develop a course of action to resolve the issues.

for more information about the Rebels program,
go to www.mrchoops.org

One of the ways I give back and stay involved in my community is through coaching. I’ve coached girls AAU basketball for the last 11 years in the Bay Area, working with the Rebels program and helping these young athletes reaching statewide prominence and national recognition. We like to call ourselves a “mom and pop shop” and are proud of the family atmosphere that we've created and maintained while simultaneously creating a culture of excellence and success.

To me, a 'smart guy' is someone who can overcome his/her circumstances to take the necessary steps to become the person that they want to become. A smart guy isn’t necessarily someone with all the money or prestige; a 'smart guy' is someone who is able to achieve success as they define it while maintaining their character and integrity. I think what makes me a 'smart guy' is the fact that I’m from a little island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and have successfully navigated the City of New York, then moved across the country to San Francisco and now have worked for the first African American Mayor in the City of San Francisco, the first woman, African/Indian American District Attorney, and the first Cuban American District Attorney in California-- all while being a good father and husband and continuing to be connected to the community and serve on a daily basis.

My advice to young people is to always challenge themselves. Put themselves in situations where they aren’t always comfortable. Being comfortable often leads to complacency and being stagnant. In addition, people put limitations on themselves and say they can’t do this or that, or proclaim something to not be their thing, without even attempting to do it. If they keep the mindset of always challenging themselves they will find themselves among others who are looking for the same things out of life.

A 'Smart Guy' from the Islands,
Eugene

*Author's Note: last year, at the age of 43, Eugene's brother graduated from college. Getting up after you fall down, a 'smart guy' trait to be proud of...

Being Different--Josh Johnson's Smart Guy Story

2011-05-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Growing up in West Oakland, CA presents a lot of opportunity for young African American males. Opportunities such as--attachment to gangs and the violence associated with it, pimping and pandering, involvement with drugs, or meeting and building a relationship with law officials. We are not talking about a buddy/buddy type relationship; it is more like the Duke Boys vs. Boss Hog and Roscoe P. Coltrane relationship. So what can you do if you don’t want to continue in this cycle? Well for Smart Guy Josh Johnson, he made the conscious decision to devote and focuse his time and energy to other avenues. He did not let the pressure from his peers or his environments deter what he wanted to do with his life. He acted on some of the less known opportunities that Oakland had to offer but rarely gets recognition for providing. Josh concentrated heavily on his family, school and sports to escape the negativity that surrounded him. As Johnson grew up he knew that he did not want to be like everyone else, he wanted to be different. He not only wanted to be a success on the football field, basketball court or track but he also wanted to succeed in the classroom and in life.

“I have always wanted to be a well-rounded person, to be a successful athlete as well as a successful student; I wanted to create different avenues for myself.” Johnson said. “As I was growing up, I would rather go to practice instead of hanging out. I would rather do my school work or stay in the house. Most of that stuff that was out there in the streets really didn’t mean anything. It was just something there for everybody to do but I didn’t want to do that.” Johnson admits that growing up in the inner city can present a lot of barriers and challenges, simply because in that environment bad things that happens on a somewhat daily basis. But Josh also recognized that there were positive things that can come out of those situations as well. “You can learn a lot of good values,” Johnson continued. “When you come from humble beginning you have many struggles. But when you struggle you get to find out more about the character of the people around you and also about yourself. You develop the will to fight, a trait that will carry you through a lot of other challenges on the road to becoming an adult.”

Many people have struggled with separation, the ability to be able to separate themselves from what they are used to and friends that they are used to being with who may not be on a positive path. Those things can truly affect your life in a negative way. Josh advises youth that may be struggling with this separation to have courage. If the people who you call your friends see the change in you then, it could help them to make a change in themselves as well. Don’t be afraid to be a leader; don’t be afraid to be the first one to break out of the norm. “One of the biggest challenges that you will face is being able to separate yourself from the negative things.” Johnson said. “The negative things are out there and they are easy to do. That is why everyone is doing it, because it is so easy. Not everyone wants to get involved with the harder things, due to all the work that has to be put in to becoming successful at it. That is just the world that we live in. I encourage young people to stay on the right path, that Smart Guy path. It is the right thing to do although it may be more difficult than the negative things. Look beyond the little things that you can get with the fast money because that will not last long. From my experiences the harder that I worked at something, the more I was able to benefit from it. You have to create that mentality for yourself because that winning/ hard working mentality will get you a long way.”

Josh’s mom Rosemary was a very big influence on his life and the decisions that he made. Rosemary was a single mother with four children who worked hard to provide for her family and limit some of the struggles that families had. “My mother did a great job with us,” Johnson said. “As a single parent with four children, she did everything she could to make sure we didn’t have to struggle. That let me know that there was no excuse for me not to do the right thing.”As for the much needed male guidance that young males search for, Johnson found it in his uncles and coaches he had while playing youth and in high school sports. “My uncles were like a father figures for me,” Johnson recalled. “He showed me a lot of things from a male’s perspective. My high school coach did the same for me in the athletic realm. He did a lot for my teammates and I. I was able to learn a lot from him.”

Johnson views himself as a Smart Guy for overcoming the temptations that the streets of Oakland presented him. Josh is a graduate of Oakland Tech High School where he earned first team All City honors at quarterback and led his team to the Oakland Athletic League Championship. He is two classes away from graduating from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor degree in Mass Communications and where he was a four time All Conference (Pioneer Football League) (2004-07), twice earning PFL Offensive Player of the Year (2005-06), he was a four time I-AA All American (2004-07), and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award-given to the best player in division I-AA football (2007). Johnson is currently the backup quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a co-founder of Fam 1^st Family Foundation with cousin Marshawn Lynch.

Johnson and Lynch created this 501c3 non-profit foundation to give back to the young kids of Oakland. For the past four years the guys has hosted a free football camp for kids ages 6-18, at their alma mater Oakland Tech. To expand the Fam 1^st Family Foundation they incorporated the first annual Family 1^st bowling night last fall and have a family oriented weekend planned from July 8-9, 2011. The festivities will start Friday night July 8 from 6-9:00pm with the 1^st Family bowling and continue Saturday, July 9, with their annual football camp. The foundation also sponsors turkey drives during Thanksgiving and toy drives during Christmas. One of the major goals for the foundation is developing a youth center for the kids, a project that is in the planning stages now.

“We are excited to get this underway for the youths of Oakland.” Johnson said. “We are all about helping the inner city kids and showing them that there is more to life than what they see in the streets that they are growing up in. The opportunity is there for everybody, you just have to work hard for it, but trust me you will appreciate all that hard work you put into yourself and your future when you get older, because you will learn so much about the world."

A Family Smart Guy,

Josh

To find out more about Josh Johnson go to http://www.joshjohnson11.com/ . For more information regarding the Fam 1^st Family Foundations contact Joanna Lopez at jvlopez13@gmail.com.

Entering the Hall of Fame--Eddie Pope's Story

2011-05-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Eddie has traveled an exciting journey with soccer that has taken him across the world. Hear his incredible story and what makes him a ‘Smart Guy’…

When I was six I really wanted to play football. But they didn’t have football for my age group and I wanted to do something, so I ended up trying soccer and didn’t return to football until high school. No one played soccer in my community in North Carolina. At the time, I lived in all black neighborhood and none of the other kids played soccer—it was just basketball and baseball. They didn’t even offer soccer in my community and I had to sign up for soccer in another neighborhood. I was usually the only black kid playing soccer as I went through youth soccer. I learned to live in two different worlds, the soccer world and my neighborhood/home world. In addition to the soccer teams I played on, I continued to played basketball and baseball with my peers in the neighborhood. In high school I played baseball, soccer and football. I was All-State in all three sports and didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, I loved all three. Baseball ended up being the first sport I dropped. After high school graduation, I went to UNC Chapel Hill on a football scholarship as a kicker. Once I was there I walked on to the soccer team and ended up with a shared scholarship, which freed up scholarship money for both programs.

I did well academically. My parents weren’t athletes and my mother was a teacher, so their focus was always academics. My mother never played around when it came to grades and my responsibilities as a student. When I was applying to colleges, recruiters complimented me on my grades, noting that my academic success allowed me a wide choice of schools and increased my attractiveness for colleges and their athletic programs. I was an Academic All-American several times in college, and even at that level, I knew the expectations of me academically and strived to be a good student as well as a good athlete.

The deciding moment in my sports career was not what I expected. Both teams wanted me to specialized and focus on one sport, but I really enjoyed both and was content to work hard and play football and soccer throughout college. My freshman year I was warming up for annual Blue/White game in football and looked down and noticed my leg was five times its normal size. Earlier that week in soccer practice I made a tackle and cut my leg. It turned out that cut got infected and I spent the next two weeks in the hospital and narrowly avoided a leg amputation. Afterwards, I had to redshirt football that year but recovered in time to play soccer freshman year. That summer it was time to try out for the Olympic soccer team. The football coach said I couldn’t miss summer workouts if I wanted to be the kicker in the fall, which I would have to do to try out for Olympic soccer team. After talking to family and friends, I chose the once in a lifetime opportunity of trying out for the Olympic soccer team. My football coach told me it was a big mistake, that if I stuck with football I could be playing in NFL in a few short years. I made that 1996 Olympic soccer team where we went 1-1-1.

I think one of the biggest challenges for any young person is what your peers are doing. Back then there weren’t a ton of training opportunities for aspiring athletes like there are today, so a lot of your training and conditioning was stuff you had to do on your own. My buddies in my neighborhood always wanted to hang out. But my mother constantly reinforced for me that I had to be better than everyone else if I wanted to make these travel/elite teams, so good that the teams would have no choice but to pick me. So I learned to find the balance. If my buddies wanted to shoot hoops, I told them I would play with them if they played soccer or did conditioning with me.

When I was growing up, there was no soccer on TV to look at or pattern yourself after, so I didn’t have athlete role models. My parents were my role models. They were diligent and strict and they helped keep me in line. And even now my role models are still my parents. They were always at my games and my practices. My mother was the first one to school with any challenges, advocating for me and promoting success.

My most important professional accomplishment has to be playing in the World Cups because that is the highest level of achievement for our sport. As a competitive athlete, the goal is always to reach the top level and challenge yourself to perform well with the best of the best.

My most important personal accomplishment is graduating from college. It is important for me to have that to show my kids, proof that I practiced what I preach to them about academics. I wanted to be able to say that education was important and back it up. I want them to learn from my success and not from my mistakes.

The Eddie Pope Foundation teaches the virtues of spirit, community, and education to youths in underserved areas through the sport of soccer. I have always believed that soccer has power. The biggest thing to me is that soccer gives kids the ability to travel the world and experience different cultures and places. The first time I left the country was for soccer when I was fifteen years old. I went to Scandinavia, and I’m pretty sure I would not have been able to do that without soccer. For those who play soccer competitively, by the time you are done with college, you are so well-traveled. That’s irreplaceable. The cultural diversity, the people you meet along the way, trips to Africa, Asia, Europe, etc. You can’t find that at such a young age in any other sport.

I started the Eddie Pope Foundation because I wanted to be able to give other young people soccer. I was fortunate to find soccer, even in the random fashion in which I did. . I thought everyone should have the opportunity to play soccer for the other tools it brought to the table--education, health, afterschool activities, and a safe place. It was not cool to be smart in the black community when I was going through school, it was okay to fail academically. But as a soccer player and within my soccer community, I was complimented and encouraged to be smart. In the neighborhood, people often made fun of my sister because she was smart, they called her dictionary as an insult.

Additionally, I thought everyone should have access to soccer, not just one community. Although worldwide soccer is the sport of the poor, in America, soccer is a wealthy sport. In America, we organize soccer, and the minute something gets organized, it gets expensive. Fifteen hundred dollars a season for travel/comp soccer, plus your equipment and tournament fees, thousands of dollars on a single soccer season. Worldwide people play on the streets and get discovered and become professional soccer players, not here. I wanted kids here to have access to the sport so that they are involved in something and not hanging out in the street doing nothing. To stay in the Eddie Pope Foundation program participants have to do well in school. We are proud to say that we haven’t had one teen pregnancy amongst our participants in 12 years. Program participants are busy in those critical after-school hours, have good self-esteem, and are focused on specific goals. Kids are given prizes for academic accomplishments, not athletic accomplishments. Some kids in the program are becoming bilingual through their multicultural friendships developed with program peers from different communities, peers they may have never encountered otherwise.

For me, being a ‘Smart Guy’ was about choices I made at a young age. The decisions I made as a young man were smart decisions, those decisions put me in the positions I am today. I spend thousands of hours in my backyard kicking a soccer ball to develop my skills. Kids think they don’t have to make smart decisions until they are older but that’s not true. If you are not making smart decisions, you could very well be making bad/detrimental decisions. I made smart decisions when I was younger. The more we can help kids learn to make good decisions at young ages, the better.

I am excited about my Hall of Fame nomination. There weren’t a lot of African Americans in the Hall of Fame, there will be three of us now. Growing up, soccer was considered a ‘white boy’ sport. People were constantly asking me “why are you playing soccer?” There was constant judgment and criticism of me and my role as a soccer player. I am proud that I can be a role model for kids growing up who look like me and are told they can’t do something. When I introduce soccer to the young men in my program I am prepared for this pre-judgment. I have posters and pictures and tell them about the history of soccer in Africa. They are so proud after they learn about their history in soccer. They have confidence in knowing they are not the only one. Soon kids in inner city communities will see us being inducted and think that they can do it too--if you see it, then you can believe it. Being able to provide that, to open that door, is so important to me and makes me proud.

A Hall of Fame 'Smart Guy',

Eddie

Eddie Pope, a three time World Cup player, three time MLS Champion, with ten MLS All-Star team selections, and a role on the US Olympic soccer player was recently named to the USA Soccer Hall of Fame. Eddie has had an amazing soccer career as a player and continues to be involved with soccer in his position as MLS Director of Player relations and as the leader of the Eddie Pope Foundation.

The Power of Service Learning-- Tony Sanneh's Story

2011-05-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

Since 2003 Tony Sanneh has been running the Tony Sanneh Foundation whose mission is to assemble a supportive network within the community that provides positive environments for urban youth to become positive and productive adults. When we caught up with Tony, he had just finished the foundation’s Gala 4 Goals event with Bob Bradley, coach of the US Men’s National Team as their special guest and honoree. Tony and his staff and volunteers, without the support of any large corporate sponsors, pulled off an incredible event that included over 600 guests, and raised over $50,000 to support young people in the Twin Cities community. Tony was excited about the success of the event, but is not resting on his laurels. “I grew up with my communities constantly helping and supporting me. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would come back to Minnesota and offer that same support to others.”

When asked about his records and accomplishments in soccer, Tony is very modest. Tony mentions that he thinks he held some records for goals and assists in high school and/or college, but that he was sure that they had all been broken by now. They have not—those records are still standing. Tony was a two time all-state high school soccer player. Tony was a collegiate All-American at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he was, and continues to be, the school’s all-time leading scorer with 53 goals and 32 assists, a record that has held firm since 1994. Tony played 43 times for the US National Team and was one of three players to play every minute of all five games for the US in the 2002 World Cup.

But perhaps Tony’s modesty comes from the fact that he firmly believes that his success is not his alone. “I grew up with my communities help and support. My dad is from West Africa and I went there for a visit when I was six years old and learned and fell in love with the game of soccer. Back in Minnesota, I received support in many different forms, in order to grow and learn as a soccer player, a student, a leader.” Despite the support, Tony faced many challenges on his way to success. “It was tough to get national visibility. Soccer has not historically been an inner city sport and there certainly haven’t historically been a lot of soccer players from Minnesota. Yet the amazing support from the community made it possible for my teammates and I to learn and grow to such a level that we won the US Soccer U19 Championship in 1990, and almost a dozen of us from my high school went on to become professional soccer players. And I’m even more proud to say that we all learned from our experience and give back to our communities in order to help the next generation of young people growing up.”

After going to Wisconsin-Milwaukee on a soccer scholarship with his best friend, Tony joined the MLS DC United in 1996 where he helped his team win two consecutive championships. Tony played professionally from 1994-2009 but is thrilled to be back in Minnesota providing young people with service learning youth development opportunities. His foundation offers soccer camps for children ages 6-12 and over 30 free camps around the Twin Cities that help navigate the college scholarship process for promising student athletes. The Tony Sanneh Foundation surrounds the young people with positive role models and coaches to help them grow. We asked Tony what he thinks makes someone a ‘Smart Guy’ or a ‘Smart Girl’? “Definitely leadership. Knowing what your values are and doing things that align with those values. Doing the right thing when it’s not the easiest thing to do,” said Tony. “I think I have always worked hard to gain people’s respect. I went one step at a time at each level. I did what I needed to do to get on the team, and then focused on what I needed to do to stay on the team. Smart Guys’ show people that they are competent and a team player and people will want you on their team.”

When asked who he looked up to while growing up, Tony cited a variety of individuals. “What all the individuals, athletes, groups that I looked up to had in common was excellence. I was always impressed and engaged by people who had ‘something special’, people who exemplified excellence.” Now, Tony says that the Twin Cities communities are who inspires him. The diversity of the Twin Cities, the ongoing philanthropic spirit, gives him inspiration for his work at the Tony Sanneh Foundation.

In addition to his work in Minnesota, Tony is often called upon to advocate for social equality and youth development internationally and he gladly lends a hand to his international family. Tony believes in the power of service and will continue to be a powerful catalyst for change and growth for the youth in his communities, both locally and internationally—what a smart guy.

For more information about the Tony Sanneh Foundation and how you can participate or help, go to http://www.thesannehfoundation.org/

Wrestling Adversity: Smart Guy Anthony Robles

2011-05-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

photo by Wesley Herrera

He remains in the foyer of the gym after his teammates have entered the auditorium. For a brief moment he can’t see anything, all has gone black, the noises has vanished, and the energy of the building seems to be non-existent. There is nothing for Anthony but complete focus on the task at hand and life reflection on how he has arrived at the point to where is now. He opens his eyes, knowing that it is time for him to enter the auditorium in his very un-traditional style--on crutches. Anthony Robles, 22, the Captain of Arizona State University Wrestling team, who was born without a right hip bone and with only his left leg, clutches his crutches tightly and swiftly makes his way to the mat to where he is set to do battle.

Being born with only one leg could have provided Robles an excuse to ask for and receive pity or special treatment from others. But Robles has never wanted to be treated any differently than anyone else. "I really don't see missing my leg as a handicap,” Robles said. “My parents raised me to be strong and they didn't give me any special treatment. Consequently, I have always believed that I can do anything I set my mind to.”

That mindset has propelled Robles to accomplish great feats in his young life. He picked up wrestling as a high school freshman after being the practice dummy for his cousins in the eighth grade. He fell in love with the sport and knew at that point, that was what he wanted to do. “When I first started, before my freshman year in high school, I had no interest in wrestling,” Robles explained. “But once I started that first year, I just fell in love with the sport. I knew that I wanted to continue with it and be the best at it that I can possibly be. It went from me trying to be a city champion, to a state champion, and then when I got to college I wanted to be a national champion.”

Wrestling is a sport that doesn’t come easy to anyone it takes physical and mental strength to be successful. There are obstacles and a barrier for all wrestlers to accomplish success, and there were even more obstacles for Robles whom wanted to succeed in this individual physical competition while only having one leg. “I think that I went through a lot. When I started doing wrestling I wasn’t very good. I was last in my city. There were not a lot of people behind me. They just didn’t believe that I could be able to achieve successes in wrestling which is what I wanted. I felt like I had to prove a lot of people wrong.”

The physical challenges of wrestling were not the only obstacle that Robles had to overcome. His mother gave birth to him at the age of 16 years old and raised him in a very tough neighborhood. “I grew up in a neighborhood that wasn’t the best,” Robles said. “There was a lot of trouble going on. My friends that I grew up with down the street are in jail right now.”To get through those socioeconomic challenges, Robles channeled his attentions and energy on the things that was going to get him to his ultimate goal of becoming the best wrestler that he could be. “In order to do that I had to look past my obstacles and not focus on them,” Robles continued. “I just had to focus on my goal, which was to be a National Champion Wrestler. Really, wrestling is what carried me through. I put so much focus on my wrestling that it was pretty much all I did all summer. I was always in the wrestling room; always training, always trying to get better and better and it eventually paid off. Wrestling has been my life for 9 years now, it has been my focus and I am just very grateful and happy that all the hard work paid off and that I finally made it to the top.”

photo by Jason Wise

Anthony believes that what makes him a 'Smart Guy' and what he shares with other 'Smart Guys' is the ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Whatever life throws at you, take it in stride. He advises everyone that if you have a goal in mind stick with it and stay positive about it. Tell yourself that you can do it and you will be able to accomplish it. No matter what your circumstances are you can always have an opportunity to rise above it.

“Everyone has obstacles in their life, we all have the power in us to be unstoppable and really rise above those obstacles and accomplish what we want to in life,” said Robles. “It is just about focusing on the right things. You need to focus on that goal and not hold on to the obstacles that are stacked against you. No matter who you are or what you do, there is always going to be something or someone that/who will try to hold you back. It is all about focusing beyond that and not letting anything stop you. That is what makes you a Smart Guy.”

Anthony credits his family and coaches that he had along the way as strength or motivational factors in helping him achieve the successes that he has become to witness. “I did have a lot of great people around me,” Robles recalled. “My high school coaches (Bobby Williams and David D’Daminico) at Mesa High School in Arizona, my college coaches (Shawn Charles), my family (mom Judy and dad Ron, brothers Nicolas, Joshua, Andrew and my sister Ronnie) has always been there behind me, supporting me, always putting the belief in my head that I can do anything that I put my mind to. Without those people, there is no way that I could have accomplished what I did.”

Anthony recalled hearing the following statements and all of that provided him with the motivation to help him answer prove everyone wrong. “Anthony you can’t do this, you are not physically capable of doing that, you have to concentrate on such and such, in order to be successful and don’t even try to participate in sports especially a sport physical as wrestling.” In a short answer to all his naysayers, Smart Guy Anthony Robles simply says “Watch me.”

The nation did watch as he became the 2011 Wrestling NCAA National Champion in the 125 pound weight class. He shocked nearly everyone in the nation when his arms were raised in victory in that championship match. “I definitely was not surprised when Anthony won the National Championship because we trained him to do that,” Arizona State University Head Wrestling Coach Shawn Charles said. “Myself and the coaching staff at Arizona State trained him to be the best he could possibly be. I knew that he was capable of being a National Champion when he walked into that door.”

photo by Wesley Herrera

Robles is a leader on his team and spread an infectious work ethic to the younger guys on the team. “He was a great leader. He has been a Captain every year since I have been here.” Charles explained. “Anthony definitely leads by example, he is a soft spoken guy, he is not the kind of guy that is going to yell at you or call you out. Anthony never tries to get out of any workouts, he works his butt off and never makes excuses for what he is doing or the situation that he is in. He is definitely a guy that when you look over at him and see how hard he is working and how determined he is to be successful, he definitely motivates you to do the best you possibly can.”

Robles after accomplishing his goal he set as a freshman in college of winning a national championship has now turned his focus into another direction. He knows that his story is unique and plans to become a professional motivational speaker. “I just put up my own website, choose2beunstoppable.com, I have my blog up where I am updating everyone on how things are going. Hopefully I will expand it from there. Some amazing doors have been opening since the National Championships, I have had a lot of interview requests, and some companies are talking about making a movie and book deal with me. It has also opened up a lot of doors for me to go and speak at different places. I am very grateful for the attention and I am just trying to enjoy it right now.”

A Warrior Smart Guy,

Anthony

photo by Wesley Herrera

You can follow Anthony on twitter at @ARobles125. Let him know that you read his story on 'Smart Guy'!

Dr. John Thomas, Master Coach--Leading by Example

2011-04-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dr. John Thomas coaches, teaches, models and inspires...

"A good coach will make his players see what they can be
rather than what they are." -unknown

John Thomas realized at an early age that he had a calling and a gift, coaching and leadership came naturally to him and others responded to his leadership. "Because of that realization, anything I do in the world of soccer is never a chore, or a job, its fun, its my destiny." Dr. JT as he is fondly called by his peers, is driven by the fact that many people don't take advantage of opportunities. "I realize that doors are often opened to us by grace, by it is our responsibility to walk through that door and take advantage of the opportunity afforded us."

John Thomas has certainly taken advantage of many opportunities throughout his life and has also created opportunities in order to meet his goals and his personal mission to lead and impact others. John grew up in a small town in New Jersey, divided by tracks that symbolically and physically separated blacks and whites from one another. It was a poor town that could not afford many athletic programs at its high school but it did offer soccer. Soccer became the sport that all of the athletes played in his town and John fell in love with it. He counts his high school soccer coach, Vince M. with being an amazing role model both as a coach and as a person. "He was one of the first men I met who stood up for the black students at our school. He allowed seven or eight black athletes on the soccer field at a time when that simply wasn't happening. It was the early 1970's and we often found ourselves with police escorts to and from games as well as at games to protect us from the hatred and racism directed as us and our coach," John reflected. "But despite the tension, controversy and drama surrounding our team, Coach M led us to a 78-1 record during my high school soccer career and I earned the distinction of being a HS All American player."

John went on to college at the University of Maryland where he earned a BA in Sociology and continued to play soccer. "I knew that I wanted to help people and my studies in sociology make it easier for me to deal with the whole person, not just the athlete." After college John joined the Army, determined to earn a living despite a bad economy. John would spend the next 23 years in the military, 11 in the Army and 12 in the Navy, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army and the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy by the time he retired in 2003. While in the armed forces John coached the United States, All Navy, All Army AND All Marine soccer teams, winning gold and silver medals in the Armed Forces tournaments. As the Head Coach of the US Armed Forces National Soccer Team, John led the team to international competition in Italy where the team won First Sportsmanship honors awarded by the International Military Sports Council. He has the distinguished honor of being the only coach to train US Navy, Army, Marine AND United States Armed Forces soccer teams.

While continuing in his role as a coach, soldier, husband and father, John never stopped striving to improve himself academically and earned both a Masters and a PhD in Business Administration. John has held positions as Assistant Director of Coaching for US Youth Soccer, Adjunct Professor for National University in San Diego, CA, Head Soccer Coach for San Diego Mesa College, and Coach for two Olympic Development Teams. He currently is running Thomas Soccer, his own company designed to engage young people and train coaches/leaders in under resourced areas. He knows that soccer provides opportunities across the life spectrum and wants to open that door for young people growing up today.

One of John's other role models, his Black Studies teacher in HS, Mr. Crawford, taught him to hold his head up and work with pride. "He encourage us to put our heads up, and challenged us not to look down or slump over when we walked. That was powerful and important to my classmates, teammates and I. I want to have that kind of impact, teaching kids about leadership, collaboration and success." Dr. JT thinks that is what makes him a 'Smart Guy'. "I believe that if you fail, get back up and try it again. It's never too late. Ask for help. Pride can get in the way, don't let it keep you from taking opportunities to move forward and be better." Dr JT wants all emerging 'Smart Guys' to "always do the best you can, not the best they think you can do, but the best YOU know you can do."

Coach 'Smart Guy',
John Thomas

John is currently working hard with the Black Soccer Association whose mission is to promote soccer in the African American community. You can learn more about their work at:

http://www.blacksoccerassociation.org/Home_Page.html

Modeling Success: Keith's Story

2011-04-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Whether kids are striving to be the President, a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, a CEO, a professional athlete or an entertainer, obtaining all of these careers takes a lot of dedication, focus, hard work, studying and listening. So it seems obvious that teachers, mentors and coaches are a very important factor in guiding youth towards their desired careers. 'Smart Guy' Keith Haliburton guides youth from all of those positions. He is the Physical Education Department Head, Head Coach for football, cross country, track and field, and an Assistant coach for the basketball teams at Forest Oak Middle School, in Fort Worth, Texas. Keith understands the importance of reaching kids early and helping guide them in the correct path. “I am a mentor, surrogate parent, counselor, trainer, and on many occasions chauffeur.” Haliburton explained. “I have a lot of responsibilities, but I feel it is the calling God placed on my life to be what I am today.”

Haliburton had no idea that this is where he would end up as he began his college career at Grambling State University. Originally, he had aspirations of being a Physical Therapist. However, after working with the football team’s training staff, and seeing the inside scoop on what athletic trainers have to work with and work on, “I felt it wasn’t for me.” Haliburton said.

During Haliburton’s first semester of his sophomore year, while taking an education class, the teaching path opened up for him. He decided that he would be the “light” for the next generation that others were for him in his life. “I never saw myself as a leader type,” Haliburton said. “Especially being able to lead young minds to a better way of thinking, acting, way of life through education, but after taking a class or two, I began to see how it made total sense for my life.”

This path to becoming an educator, coach and mentor was not a smooth one for Haliburton. “I grew up on the north side of Fort Worth, up the road from “Dog City,” and Samson Park, over on 32nd street.” Haliburton said. “At the time the 'Crips' street gang was prevalent. My environment was tainted by poverty. Racism was evident in both the community and in the school I attended. I was called all kinds of racial slurs. I even remember having to face bigotry from educators when I was trying to get into honors classes. I even had to deal with being called a 'sell out' or ‘white boy,’ or 'gay' my first year at Grambling, because I was about my books, and track and field, and I did not put a lot of emphasis on the women.”

As a devout Christian, Haliburton used his faith in God and prayer to get over most of the obstacles that appeared to block his path. “With most of my challenges, I got over them through prayer and talking with people I trusted like my parents and close friends,” Haliburton continued. “I sacrificed the negative temporary pleasures of life for the positive pleasures of the future. I took time to really assess situations and cross reference them with other peoples experiences so that I would (a) not make the same mistakes and (b) make good use of the resources I had been given.” Keith understands that there are going to be times that he will make decisions that are not the best, but as long as he takes the opportunity to learn from them and assure that bad decision will not occur twice, he believes that is what makes him a 'smart guy'.

“Do I make mistakes, heck yeah! Am I perfect, not even in the slightest. However, as I make decisions I think heavily about the consequence on a heavenly perspective and not a worldly perspective. I would also have to say taking in wise counsel (from people who have been there and truly have good in their heart for you and knowing how to discern those types of people). Always making sure that if I give my word; I follow up on what I promised, to give the best of my ability. I also feel choosing to go to school at Grambling State University was a pivotal decision in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today… I am somebody.”

Haliburton always advises people to live life fully, yet not at the expense of someone else’s happiness. Treat people, as you would expect to be treated. Sacrifice and work hard to achieve your success. Appreciate those that love and respect you through reciprocation of the same sentiments. Forgive others for what they do to you, because it allows greater personal growth. Do right by your body because you only have one, exercise! “For those that are believers in Jesus,” Haliburton said. “I would also offer to you to remember who’s you are, and remember he’s watching and evaluating your actions to see how you’re bringing glory to his name. And for my non-believers, do well in the world there is enough bad already.”

Haliburton is consistently impacting the lives of the youth that he comes in contact with on a daily basis. He is providing the kids with a positive African American male role model that many of the kids do not see until they get to Forest Oak. Haliburton routinely pushes his students to be the best that they can be and to go after what they want out of life, whether it being a professional athlete, doctor, lawyer, president or even his own profession, a teacher and coach.

“My focus is on the kids I serve.” Haliburton said. “We as teachers, coaches and after school programs are already under funded and now the nation is on the bandwagon of cutting funding for education and youth development. Our youth don’t stand a chance with this way of thinking, it simply can't be every man for themselves."

An Educated 'Smart Guy',

Keith

a student athlete from Keith's school

Embracing Second Chances--Davone Bess' Story

2011-03-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

Everything that you do presents an opportunity to learn. Take a moment to reflect back on your life and think to yourself; How did I get to the point to where I am today? Was there a defining moment that occurred in your life that you can remember and could that moment be the reason you're in this position today? For Davone Bess, age 25, his life experiences, particularly the harsh and painful ones, have given him opportunities to learn and grow into the man he is today. Bess is a prime example of perseverance, focus and optimism, and getting back up after you fall down.

“I am one of the starting wide receivers in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins,” said Davone Bess. and it's something that I always wanted to do. I grew up playing football, baseball and basketball, and my goal, my dream was to always become a professional athlete.” That dream of becoming a professional athlete became a reality when Bess was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2008, after a stellar college career at the University of Hawaii.

During his three years in Hawaii, Bess put together excellent receiving numbers and quickly became quarterback Colt Brennan’s 'go to' receiver. As a freshman he caught 89 passes for 1,124 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named First team All Conference along with Conference Freshman of the Year. He improved on those numbers his sophomore year by catching 94 passes for 1,220 yards and 15 touchdowns earning First Team All Conference honors. In his final season in Hawaii Bess caught 108 passes for 1,266 yards and 12 touchdowns while gaining National attention the Associated Press named him to the All American Team along with his third consecutive First Team All conference honors.

These stats and accolades gained by Bess are impressive. They become even more impressive if you go back into his life just a few years prior to his arrival to the Aloha State. Bess is a native of Oakland, CA and grew up with his mother and brother not very far from the Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland Raiders. This part of Oakland is known for its negative reputation, and its ‘mean streets’. And like many other young men growing up in these communities, Bess’ living environment presented him with negative opportunities and obstacles.

“There were a whole lot of obstacles that I had to overcome. The first one was that my mom gave birth to me when she was 15 years old. She was a kid having a kid.” Bess explains. “She then had my brother at the age of 17. So here is this young African American woman with two kids by the age of 18. The odds of being successful were against us-- my mom not having an education, not really having the opportunity to go to college, living off of governmental assistance-- it was a set up for failure.” Bess was forced to meet these obstacles face to face on a daily basis as a child growing up. Instead of using those obstacles as a crutch or an excuse to fail, he decided to look in different ways to overcome the potential trap that many black males get caught in.

“I have always believed in a higher power and that God puts everybody in certain situations for a reason.” Bess said. “I have had a lot of people that were influential in my life. People that helped me overcome because I definitely could not have done it by myself. I reached out to people when I needed them and those people never failed me.” To dodge some of the pressures of the streets, Bess focused his attention to sports and athletics. He attended and graduated from Skyline High School, where he was a star athlete in football, baseball and basketball. During his senior year he earned his first scholarship to Oregon State. However, his dreams of becoming an Oregon Beaver were soon shattered. Bess he lost his scholarship after allowing a 'friend' to put stolen items in his car. His bad choice earned him over a year and a half of incarceration at the Byron Boys Ranch Juvenile Facility in Byron, California.

During his time in the juvenile facility, Bess played on a seven man flag football team created by the facility. He devoted his time to focusing on his future, listening to advice from his counselors, and trying to be a positive role model for his peers at Byron. Bess often sought advice from and share his dreams with probation counselor Glenn Woods. Woods reflects back on the time when Bess initially entered the facility. “The first time I met Davone, I saw a very mature person,” Woods recalled. “He was down about his situation but after talking with him, he understood that he had to do the time and focus on getting out. He talked about wanting to get into a university and make better choices, when he was released from the facility. He got into a workout regime and he would go out there daily and give it his all. I used to tell him to slow down but he kept telling me that this was something that he had to do. He would get up early to go and workout for two to three hours a day--he was extremely focused.”

During his incarceration, Bess would also realize his desire to help others. The younger kids preferred to come to him for advice before going to their counselors. He was viewed by all as a positive influence on the younger guys. “A lot of the Wards would go outside when they saw Davone and wanted to do what he was doing. He was a very good leader and would always offer positive advice to other kids.” Woods said. “At times, when the kids doing inappropriate things, I would go to Davone and have him talk to them. He talked to the kids when they were upset and knew how to calm them down. He was very positive, focused and routinely displayed great leadership qualities. It was amazing to see some of the stuff that he would do and how advanced he was. I always told him that he was going to make it and to keep his head up. It was no surprise when he got released when I seen that he going to Hawaii. He was a sharp kid.”

This advice that he gave to these young kids still remains in the heart and mind of Bess. He continues to impact the lives of young people and people who may be in a bad place. His background and experiences allows for him to relate to many people on many different levels. He advises everyone to stick to their dreams and have faith in God. “When you are a teenager peer pressure is really big,” Bess explained. “Making that transition from middle to high school is really hard as far as picking and choosing your friends.” “Stick to your dreams and surround yourself around positive people that want to be productive in society, friends who want to go to college that want to do positive things with their life even if society has told them that they can’t do it.” Bess continues. “I believe in having a vision. When I was incarcerated and spent all that time in a juvenile detention facility away from my family, away from my friends, that gave me an opportunity to better myself not only as an athlete but as a human being. That was God sitting me down and asking me ‘young man what do want to do with yourself, what you want to do with your life?’ He had given me these talents and tools and I was wasting them."

Reaching out to mentors is something that is now very important to Bess. But not only reaching out, but listening to what they have to say. Smart guys are the ones that know how to take advice as well as give it. “I think what makes me a 'smart guy' is with all the knowledge and game that I have soaked up in all the situations that I have been dealing with, I learned how to take those experiences and knowledge and run with it.” said Bess. “There are a lot of guys that experience a lot of things but don’t learn from their mistakes. I am a guy that not only learned from my mistakes but I learned from other people’s mistakes as well. I feel like a sponge, anytime I get a chance to listen to my elders, OGs, professors, people that have been in marriages over 50 plus years, I pay attention because they have nothing but game, nothing but knowledge that they want to give and I just continue to soak it up. I know that God put me in those situations and so that I could affect the lives of other people, so that is what I am all about now.”

Positively affecting lives drives Bess to continue on this path. Bess is currently putting together an All Star Basketball Jam to be held at Laney College in Oakland, CA on April 9, 2011 starting at 1:00 pm. This is the first Annual D. Bess All Star Basketball Jam. It is being put on to help raise money for the Oakland Athletic School League which is in the process of forfeiting all of its sports and after school programs due to lack of resources. “It’s looking really bad, obviously because of the recession and the economy the school district can’t afford to pay the teachers and the coaches the extra money to stay after hours with these kids.” Bess states. “As I think back to my high school experience, if this would have happened when I was in high school and I couldn’t play sports because of the economy, I wouldn’t be in the NFL today."

Some of the All Stars that will be participating in the game on April 9th are Ronnie Brown, Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, Greg Camarillo and Paul Soliai of the Miami Dolphins, Ted Gin of the San Francisco 49ers, Dennis Dixon of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks, Josh Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,Gerris Wilkerson of the New York Giants, Frank Summers of the San Diego Chargers and others, including his manager Christopher Kidawski.

“This is my way of showing my appreciation for what I did have in high school. You never realize how good something was until it is gone. It would be so unfortunate if these kids lose their sports programs, everyone knows how rough it is in the streets of Oakland with the drugs, gangs and violence. Imagine how much the crime rate would go up if there were kids not being active in sports."

Bess plans on making a difference at home and worldwide. Bess is currently scheduled to go to Costa Rica to help kids to get adequate facilities for their schools and sports programs. Bess surprised Fennville High School in Michigan earlier this month by sending his autographed game jersey as a token of his appreciation to the school for a raffle item to raise money for Wes Leonard, who collapsed and died on the basketball court after hitting the game winning shot due to an enlarged heart.

Bess often reflects on his life and about how he got to where he is, and who he has become. He has become a genuine Smart Guy, despite a bumpy road to get there. “I think if it wasn’t for me going through all that I did, if it wasn’t for me going through those hard times and overcoming those obstacles and failures, I wouldn’t be the man that I am today.” Bess is looking forward to sharing the 'Smart Guy' philosophy with other young people in order to help them avoid some of the pitfalls that he has encountered in his life and will continue to use his life lessons to make a difference.

A Determined 'Smart Guy',

Davone

For more information about Davone Bess and D.Bess Route Foundation please friend him on facebook at www.facebook.com/dbessroute or follow him on twitter at officialdb15.

Health and Wellness

2011-03-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

photo by Juan Miranda, Chivas USA

Zach Thornton, founder of the ‘Smart Guy’ Movement knows that taking good care of your body is part of being a ‘smart guy’. He also knows that his health is crucial to his ability to perform his job as a professional athlete, and so he takes his health and fitness very seriously. Zach has been playing professional soccer since being drafted in the MLS’s inaugural draft in 1996. You can find Zach’s name on almost every ‘All-Time’ accomplishments list associated with goalkeepers in the MLS. Prior to playing professionally, he played soccer and lacrosse at Loyola-Maryland where he was an All-American in lacrosse and earned entrance into the school’s Hall of Fame.

Regular physical activity provides enormous health benefits. Research shows that regular exercise helps reduce heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes as well as improve brain chemistry to help reduce depressions. Consistent exercise also helps maintain a healthy weight which has many benefits of its own. On the other end of the spectrum, health studies that have monitored the health of populations over many years clearly show that inactivity-the lack of exercise, significantly increases the risk of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases.

In addition to the team practices and workouts, Zach rides his bike or goes running two to three times a week and lifts weights. Zach is quick to recognize his trainer in helping him reach his performance goals. “Jim Liston with Catz Sports is a great fitness coach. He is incredibly knowledgeable and has really increased my quickness and agility.”

There are many benefits to healthy eating and good nutrition as well. Besides helping to control your body weight, good nutrition gives you extra energy, supports your body while it grows and develops and positively affects your mood. Additionally, there are vitamins and minerals in healthy foods which can boost your immune system and shield you from many common illnesses. A proper diet is key, but nutritional supplements can help round out a healthy living routine.

At the end of the 2010 season, Zach began to research nutritional supplements and supports to help him optimize his pre-season training regimen and achieve new personal fitness goals. “I’ve always know that putting the right things in your body was important, but I think it plays an even more crucial role as you get older and are asking your body to do more.” Zach learned about All Pro Science (APS), an all natural supplement company started by Tony Gonzalez, a 14 year veteran of the NFL, who continues to excel in his sport, earning recognition from his team, peers and the league for being an exception athlete and record breaking tight end. Zach was impressed with Tony’s accomplishments and longevity and his simple, yet effective plan for optimal health. Zach became an All Pro Science athlete and immediately recognized a difference during his workouts. “I’m using a combination of All Pro Science products. I take three vitamins, the Complete Immune, Complete Daily Vitamin and Complete Omega 3. All Pro Science’s Recovery, Glutamine and Whey Protein have helped me get stronger by allowing me to recover quickly and continue to push my body to the next level.”

Part of being a ‘Smart Guy’ is making good choices about who you associate with and collaborate with in your life. “Being an All Pro Science athlete fits right in with my goals for being a good role model. Being a professional athlete is not just about talent, but a commitment to making good choices for your body so that you can perform on the job. With the help of APS and my trainer Jim Liston, I’m able to have my body answer the demands I put on it.”

A 'Strong' Smart Guy,

Zach

You can follow Zach's season with Chivas USA at:

www.cdchivasusa.com

For more information about All Pro Science and their product line go to:

www.allproscience.com

Clearing the Way--Moran Norris' Story

2011-03-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Some people were born to make an impact on the lives of others. It is not necessarily known to those people how or what their impact will be, they just know that there is something inside of them driving them to help others. Moran Norris is blessed to be one of those people. Norris is the starting fullback for the San Francisco 49ers. In his role as fullback he helped clear the way for running back Frank Gore to amass over 1,000 rushing yards on a yearly basis. But Moran has not settled for just being a pro athlete. In order to fulfill his destiny, Norris has created The Moran Norris Foundation whose goal is to positively impact the lives of the at-risk urban youth.

As a Houston, Texas native, Moran attended Madison High School and then went on to the University of Kansas. While at Kansas he earned two degrees, one in Mass Communications and the other in Special Major Crime and Delinquency, graduating in 2001. In addition to working hard in college, Norris also started at fullback for the University of Kansas Jayhawks and was drafted in the 4^th round of the NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints in 2001. Norris then went on to play for his hometown Houston Texans from 2002-2005 before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 where he teamed up with Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore and helped make the way for Gore to rush for nearly 1,700 yards.

Norris continues to put himself in a place where he is able to make the way for others to flourish. Norris is a strong advocate of giving back to his community and being an NFL player has allowed for him to be able to do such. Norris and wife Tamara created The Moran Norris Foundation to provide opportunities for at-risk students to embrace their potential and achieve their goals. “My wife and I started this foundation back in 2005,” Moran Norris said. “We coordinate football camps for young student athletes every June. We put together dinners in partnership with Board members, buying out the restaurant for a day to host fundraising events. We also have a program called Shopping For Good Character. With this program model, teachers from selected schools nominate approximately 25 students in each school whom have showcased good character faithfully. A total of 150 students receive a $100 shopping spree at Targets in the Houston and San Francisco areas, as a reward for consistent, good character. We are active within our church and communities as well.”

“I always wanted to do something like this,” Norris explained. “This is my way of giving back. I always said that if I were to be blessed one day that I would like to head my own foundation helping out the community. We invite the 100+ kids that were winners of the Shopping for Good Character to our yearly football camp on scholarship. I have other guys from my team as well as other NFL teams come down to participate. Player volunteers include Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, DaShon Goldson, and the list goes on.”

After the football camp, one of the students from each of the four schools is giving their own Dell laptop computer. The student and their family are invited to the foundation celebration dinner at the end of the week. During this dinner the student is highlighted and celebrated in front of everyone for their strength of character, and they have the opportunity to take pictures and obtain autographs from all of the professional football players and community leaders in attendance. “It (the dinner) is a very positive and rewarding event to attend.” Norris comments.

Positive is something that Norris has remained throughout life and through his career. Growing up some of his biggest challenges in life were learning how to adjust to the pressure that came from his peers to make some bad choices. Norris has had challenges as an athlete as well. Playing fullback is a giving position, all work and little glory. Yet to be a fullback, one has to be on top of their game, both mentally and physically. “I remained positive,” Norris explained. “Believing in the lord and having strong support at home from my wife help me to succeed every day. Additionally, my family provided me with a strong foundation as well.” Norris explained that some of the biggest and best decisions that he had to make actually came really simply for him. He has always thought back to what he learned from his parents--a basic understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Norris believes that a key element of a 'Smart Guy' is knowing right from wrong. “I try to do the right things in life and throughout my community.” Norris continued. “I try to be the best that I can be as a person, as a man and as a fullback in the NFL. That is what makes me a Smart Guy.”

Moran wants young people to always understand that you cannot be told NO. People will doubt you, they may not believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then whatever you are trying to do will not happen. “You lose the battle at that point if you don’t believe in yourself.” Norris explained. “You have to know what you can do, always believe and have faith in yourself. There will be teachers or coaches that will tell you that you can’t do something, but if you just to have the belief in yourself, you can do it and that is how you can win half the battle, by just believing in yourself.”

Believing in himself is what has landed Moran Norris in the position to where he is today. An all around 'Smart Guy' that continues to open up passage ways for others; and whether that passageway is for All Pro NFL running back like Frank Gore or any of the 150 students that The Moran Norris Foundation provides assistance to on a yearly basis.

A Trailblazing 'Smart Guy',

Moran

For more information on Moran Norris and The Moran Norris Foundation please go to www.morannorrisfoundation.org.

The Journey: Julian's Story Continues...

2011-03-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

We had such an incredible response to Julian's first blog, "Perspective, Balance and Strength: Julian's Story"; and we are not surprised, we were incredibly moved and impressed by both Julian's accomplishments and his character. Julian and his brother Zarek were both beginning new, yet very different phases of their lives. 'Smart Guy' is excited to update you on Julian's journey and his thoughts on his transition from professional athlete out in front of the crowd, to journalist behind the scenes. Here are his thoughts and reflections on the last two months...

Last time I checked in with “Smart Guy" I was in the process of packing up and moving to Colorado to begin a new journey. I’ve been here for a while, and I’ve been working for a month now. It’s been a whirlwind, for sure, but my first month with the Rockies has been awesome. I’ve finally begun to get a firm grasp of my role and responsibilities after the initial shock of learning hundreds of names and having a bunch of new information thrown at me. I am even more confident now that I made the right decision for my professional future, and I’m glad that I had positioned myself to be able to switch to this career off the field.

There have been challenges, of course, and I anticipate that there always will be; there are challenges in everything that we do in life. For starters, I have to wake up at 5:20 a.m., instead of 9:00. My commute to Coors Field is 40 minutes each way, instead of the five minutes like it was in Tampa or 15 minutes in LA. Now I work from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. or so. The days of working for three hours and laying on the couch the rest of the day are long gone–if you can call playing a sport “work” at all. None of these new issues are bad, necessarily; they are just major adjustments.

The toughest part of this transition has been finding time to work out and stay fit. Being fit has been a major part of my life, but I always had a built-in source of exercise in the form of practice and team training. Now it’s up to me create my own time to work out, so I’ve been waking up at 5:20 a.m. to get a run and lift in before work.

I haven’t had time to miss soccer yet, but I keep up with all of the MLS and international soccer news. I’ll always stay informed of what my brother and friends are doing, playing in the US and abroad, and my love for soccer will never change. I’ll eventually try to find a league to start playing in, but right now I’m fine with just being a spectator.

The excitement of this new challenge has far overshadowed the difficulties, and there are so many things that make me happy to work for the Rockies in my new role. I still get to be part of a team. Of course this team is a lot different, a lot less banter and it’s not 30 other dudes, but I work closely with a number of other people and we all rely on each other to make the pieces fit. When you’ve been on teams your whole life, you become accustomed to depending on other people and having them depend on you to make the team successful. That dependence on teammates is just as important in the office setting. My athletic background and team-first mentality has made this piece of office life one of my strong points and, I believe, created a good first impression.

One of my favorite parts of my role as a writer for Rockies Magazine is that I get to work with virtually everyone from the front office. My responsibilities require that I interact with all departments. I’m interviewing people from the Promotions Department for articles, collaborating with Corporate Sales on magazine advertisements, talking with Ticketing employees for a variety of reasons and learning about Community’s upcoming events so I can write a piece on it. And getting to know some of the players is cool too; they’re a good group of guys. I’m all over the building and I like that a lot.

I’ve always been a leader on my soccer teams, and I’m learning to lead in new ways now because I’m the new guy in a new environment. I’ve been trying to lead by example, being the first one in the office and one of the last to leave, to demonstrate my work ethic and dedication. Listening and learning is a key part of leadership, and I’ve been doing a lot of that as I continue to learn the ropes. Eventually, I’ll be able to step up more when I feel more comfortable, but that will come in time.

We’re nearly finished with the April issue of Rockies Magazine, the first that I’ve been heavily involved in, and I’ve really enjoyed writing it. Writing is what I love to do and that one of the major attractions to this position for me. We work with excellent freelance writers who do many of the feature stories for us, but my “boss” and I write most of the magazine and plan the content each month. I’m also one of the people in the organization who handle social media responsibilities, an exciting and ever-changing part of my job. Each month is a new, exciting project and I’m already seeing that no two days in my job will be the same. This is the perfect avenue for me to utilize many of the skills that I bring to the table, and I’m already feeling a lot more fulfilled in this role.

Anyways, my wife and I have been spending the weekends relaxing and house-hunting in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, a Denver suburb where we hope to settle down long-term. Our dogs are happy. There are exciting times ahead, for sure, and I look forward to what the future holds, both professionally and personally.

A Thoughtful Smart Guy,
Julian

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: Jason Jenkins' Smart Guy Journey

2011-03-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

It is incredible how much young people learn and adopt from their parents, guardians and important adults in their lives, how their values become your values, their beliefs become your beliefs, and how your attitude or life view is a direct reflection of theirs. Some people try hard to avoid becoming like their adult role models, citing the desire to have an identity of their own. Others, like Jason Jenkins, have not only accepted the characteristics, values and beliefs that were instilled in him by his parents, but he has embraced and modeled their teachings with open arms. Jenkins was raised in Houston, TX by his parents Mary Clay and C.L. Whittington. Jason is not shy about giving them credit for helping him to get to where he is today, the Director of Media Relations for the Miami Dolphins and a strong husband and father.

“My parents did a great job in raising us,” Jenkins explained. “They shielded us from the negativity and barriers of the outside world and eliminated any type of excuses for us not to be successful.” Before heading to college Jason had to make one of the biggest decisions of his life. Most people in Houston, particularly native Houstonians, rarely leave due to the great opportunities and rich tradition that the city holds. Houston is a place with many successful people whom are from there and tend to stay to make their city even better. During Jenkins senior year of high school, Jenkins was presented with the opportunity to go to college outside of Houston. “The big decision was not wheither or not to go to college, but wheither or not to leave home to go to college. Ultimately, I decided that leaving would be about stretching out to pursue new opportunities.” Jenkins said. “I was the only person in my high school group to go to Texas Tech. That was a big step for me to be able to leave the area that I was from and go far away to Texas Tech." That decision to branch out allowed Jenkins a time to see, grow, learn and experience new environments, new cultures and new people. These new experiences led Jenkins to pursue different opportunities.

“I was able to go to college at Texas Tech in Lubbock,” Jenkins continued “Then after Texas Tech I left to go to work for Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. I was then able to come back to Houston to work for Texas Southern. The next stepping stone took me out to California with the San Francisco 49ers and then to Florida to work with the Miami Dolphins. That initial big step, getting out of that comfort zone of the town that I grew up in, allowed me to be able to experience new things, different environments, different cultures, and different weather. All of those things helped me get to where I am right now.”

Jenkins loved sports growing up and was always interested in having a career in the sports/entertainment industry. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Broadcast Journalism from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. “It is something coming out of college that I always wanted to do.” said Jenkins “On the collegiate level, I always wanted to be an Athletic Director, but on the professional level where I am now, I knew I wanted to do something in Media Relations. Communications was my background, and I had a knack for being able to successfully deal with players, coaches, staff, and the media. So this position was a perfect fit for what I wanted to do professionally.”

Jenkins constantly displays professionalism and enthusiasm for what he does. Jenkins continues to work with the passion and dedication of an intern trying to get their first break, making sure to stay humble and grounded. “I think that I have a passion for what I do which was instilled in me by my parents.” Jenkins said. “There is nothing that I do that I don’t put my all into it. When I am finished other people can deem it as a success or a failure, but I know that I did my best and gave it my all. I always look at things, whether they turn out good or bad, as an opportunity to grow. I am not necessarily satisfied with things that other people might perceive as great. Nor am I humiliated or nervous when people don’t perceive those things as great. I think there is always something to learn in everything that you do. I think the passion that I have for learning and my thirst for education is what makes me a Smart guy.”

Jenkins advises young people to set a far reaching goal. Set the ultimate goal as high as you can, but create checkmarks and benchmarks so that you can notch off the successes that you have reached on the journey to your ultimate goal. “I think a lot of people see an end result of something and they want to get there,” Jenkins said. “But when things get hard they kind of fall off because they don't connect what they accomplish on a daily basis as part of reaching that ultimate goal two, five or ten years from today. Also, surround yourself with like-minded individuals and good people that can help you along your path, helping you get to where you want to go.”

Surrounding yourself with like minded people is something that Jenkins not only preaches but practices as well. While in college, Jenkins reached out to Dr. Alfonso Scandrett Jr., who ultimately got him into the field of athletic administration. Scandrett Jr. was a big mentor of Jenkins at Texas Tech and seeing what he did at the collegiate level is what inspired Jenkins to get involved in the field. Once Jenkins left the collegiate level and entered the professional ranks, Tony Wyllie (Senior Vice President of Public Relations, Washington Redskins) and Kirk Reynolds (Vice President of Public Affairs, Pac-10) became mentors to him. Jenkins learned a lot from them about the field and the career and they helped him develop into the professional he aspired to be.

Mentors have played such a role in the professional development and personal life of Jenkins that now he has become a mentor to young professionals entering this industry, the mentee has become the mentor. Jenkins has added another mentee to his list of people that he continues to help shape their careers, his daughter Liya. Jenkins is now the proud husband to Elizabeth and father to Liya, and you can count on his beliefs, values, attitude and views that he received while he was younger will be instilled into Liya as she continues to grow and find her place in the world!

A Mentoring Smart Guy,
Jason

Option B: An Educator's Story

2011-03-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

'Dr. Luck' and Dr. Luck
on Black History Hero Day

During Black History Month this year, Dr. Phillip Luck invited his students to dress up like their favorite Black History Hero. One young man came to school, dressed in a suit and tie, and proudly announced that he was dressed as his favorite black hero-- Dr. Phillip Luck. Aside from feeling old, Dr. Luck was honored that this young man saw him as a hero. There are dozens of other young people in Atlanta, GA that he has had the same impact on during his fifteen years as an educator. Phil continues to stay in touch with many of his former students after they leave his classroom, serving as a role model and mentor. Yet Dr. Luck, the Principal and Black History Hero, are far from the young Phillip Luck, who once brought home a report card that listed his GPA as a 0.7, and was on the verge of being kicked out of school. Dr. Luck's journey highlights some of the challenges and shortcomings of our education system and leaves you humbled by the man who used his failures as a boy to become a leader as a man. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?" For those of us who know Dr. Luck we can answer that question in unison, "saving lives."

Most of my childhood was spent in the "inner-city" of Cleveland, Ohio. I went to school, I did school, but I never knew how to play the game of school. I was always getting in trouble for being too active and running my mouth, trying to impress my friends--all the things boys usually do in school. That behavior went on from elementary school all the way through high school. My mom tried putting me in an all boys Catholic school to get me out of the madness of my neighborhood, hoping that would make a difference, but it didn't stop my struggles with school. But through it all, my mom never stopped believing in me. She was always saying, "you know you can do this, you are better than this." She constantly challenged my behavior and asked why I was falling for peer pressure. Even the semester I got a 0.7 grade point average, she never stopped telling me that she believed in me. I very clearly remember her, after she saw that report card, sitting at the table, putting her head in her hands and just crying--but she didn't give up. It was not until the latter part of my high school years when I moved to a suburban area of Cleveland and transferred to another high school that I started to think seriously about my future, although by then, the damage had been done to my academic record. I graduated from high school in 1989 with a 1.6 grade point average. My poor performance throughout school was not because I couldn’t or wasn’t smart enough to be successful, but because I didn't know how to 'do' school.

After graduating from high school, I went to live with my dad in CA and enrolled in a junior college. I didn’t know anyone there and I didn’t have to worry about peer pressure because no one knew anything about me or expected anything from me. During this period I focused on school, got myself together and decided that I was going to college. I went to visit Tuskegee when I was in the 5^th grade and was really impressed by it--it had always remained in the back of my mind. I decided that going to college in the south where none of my friends were would allow me to keep focusing like I had done at junior college. A chance meeting with the dean of the school of education during my first year on campus resulted in my becoming an education major. He and I talked and he said if you think about education, I have a scholarship for you. I always had a love for working with kids so it seemed like a natural fit. With a clear plan, role models and guidance, I did very well at Tuskegee.

Straight from undergrad I went to the University of Minnesota teacher education grad program because they were focused on engaging more black teachers. I finished that graduate program in one year because I was so well prepared from my studies at Tuskegee. During my grad program I interned at local elementary schools where I really connected with the boys. I think they gravitated to me because they knew that I understood them, that I understood the feeling of being penalized for being a boy in school.

Boys and girls are very different in school. Girls are able to play the game of school, sit still/listen and those are the things teachers look for in the classroom to determine success. We, educators, treat boys like they are defective girls, meaning the measurement of success in school is girl’s behavior—so when boys aren’t able to do that, boys get in trouble. I’ve always understood that because that was how it was for me in school. We don't understand how boys are wired and it costs our boys dearly. This disconnect between the education system and the specialized needs of each population within it have been a driving force in my career as an educator.

I worked as a classroom teacher, stay at home dad and principal over the next ten years, and also began my doctorate work. My doctoral thesis focused on the perception of educators and why boys are referred to special education at a much higher rate than girls. 70 percent of the special education population is boys and almost 90 percent of teachers are female who may not necessarily get how boys think, feel, and learn. When you look at statistics on boys and school achievement, you can see that there is clearly a systemic issue. 60 percent of boys are more likely to repeat a grade level. 80 percent of the discipline issues in schools involve boys. 80 percent of the children on ritalin or similar drugs for hyperactivity and focusing issues are boys. Yet, we never touched on the impact of gender differences in college, or even graduate school. Obviously, there are students who don't fit the gender molds of learning, but once you learn that there are differences for many and learn that there are different things to do to encourage success, it helps both the boys and the girls. There is research that shows that schools that tackle this issue have better academic success rates for boys and girls. I've found in my own school, after educating staff and implementing strategies that tackle the gender differences in learning, the boys are less distracted and the girls don’t have to shrink in their own smartness. With my son, a 4^th grader, it’s already considered cool to slack off, show off and be the class clown in front of your friends. So I have to stay on him with my expectations of him--being clear to him what his mother and I won’t accept academically.

I think a 'Smart Guy' is someone who is very comfortable with themselves and who knows that they need to lead by example. I always say that you can't choose option B if all you know that exists is option A. I think I serve as an example to my students of someone who grew up in a similar, challenging environment and made something more of myself than what I saw. I pride myself on being a role model, their option B. I think 'Smart Parents' and 'Smart Teachers' are those who know that peer pressure is very real. Many young people spend more time with their peers than with any adult. Kids need good role models around them, people who can show them options and good choices in order to combat that peer pressure.

A 'Really Smart' Smart Guy,
Phil

Dr. Phillip Luck earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Tuskegee University and a Master’s degree in elementary education from The University of Minnesota. In 2009, he earned his doctorate degree in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia. Dr. Phillip Luck has worked as an educator in Atlanta, GA for 15 years. Currently, he is the principal of Parkside Elementary in the Atlanta Public School System. Phil also works as a educational trainer for the Gurian Institute, delivering workshops to educators, parents and stakeholders of schools regarding the impact of gender in education. He has served on the Board of Directors for The Center for African-American Male Success, Research and Leadership, Image Charter School of Mableton and Create Your Dreams, Inc. Dr. Luck encourages Smart Guy readers to learn more about Create Your Dreams, Inc. and find out how you can help support this innovative and effective youth development program for inner-city students in the Atlanta, GA area. Dr. Luck lives in Mableton, Georgia with his wife Leslie, and their two children Jasmine and Jordan.

The Makings of a Renaissance Man: Guy Wood Jr's Story

2011-03-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

Leon Alberti, an Italian author, artist, priest and philosopher (who is often held up as the ideal model of the Renaissance or Universal Man) said, "...a man can do all things if he will." A simple thought, but quite a complicated plan. However, Guy Wood Jr. has set his mind to doing all the things on his TTD list, which include successfully launching his jewelry line, Beads by Wood, building a business empire, finishing his education and making a name for himself. At the tender age of 22, Guy speaks thoughtfully of his plans, is aware of barriers and has a quiet confidence in his abilties, both as a designer and a businessman that make you believe that if he can, he will. We at 'Smart Guy' are confident that you will see and hear a lot more of this young, smart designer as he continues his journey and accomplishes his goals. In addition to creating his business empire, Guy is in his last semester of college and is slated to graduate in May 2011 with a degree in business management. Keep reading to learn more about Guy's journey and his advice to other young people...

What was the catalyst for you starting Beads by Wood?

A conversation with my father. At the time I was working two jobs, a day job and a night job to support myself, while still going to school as well. He told me that I needed to quit one of my jobs and start working on a career. We talked about the different things I was good at, the things that I liked. I started working on the custom bracelets and gave them to a few people ad they gave me a great response, people seemed to really like them, so I decided to keep making them and create a business around them. I've been shocked at the response Beads by Wood has gotten and the diversity of the clientele. I didn't initially realize that the pieces would strike such a chord with so many different audiences. I design and make them all myself. When I see the piles of stones, I can instantly see in my mind how they would work together. So aside from custom orders for customers who want a specific combination or design, I come up with all the designs and make them myself. So I'm still working two jobs to make ends meet, but one of those jobs is my company and that makes a big difference.

What were some of the challenges you've had to conquer growing up and what did you learn from them?

     Growing up is about learning, but one of the biggest things I've learned is not to repeat my mistakes. I've learned that one mistake can make a big difference in how your life can turn out. I've learned to detect the real people from the fake people, the people who want to be around me for me, not for what I have.
     Being around 5001 flavors (created and run by his father and stepmother) growing up opened up my mind to knowing that I wanted my own business. I never wanted to grow up and work for someone else, I always wanted to work for myself. Even in high school, I was an entrepreneur and sold custom t-shirts to my peers.

What advice would you give to other young people who want to start their own business?

     To never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard it gets because the sky really is the limit. I believe that if you truly believe in your dream and work hard, positive things will happen to you. My main challenge in running my business is time management. You have to plan out everything because its so easy to get sidetracked when there is so much on your plate. So I challenge myself to keep a nice schedule and to always be on time.

Who are some of your role models?

#1 is my father. I never had to look up to celebrities because my father always led by example. His work ethic inspires me to this day and I respect the sacrifices he made and makes for my family to live the way we live today. I wouldn't be where I am today without the sacrifices he made and I tip my hat to him.

What do you think makes someone a 'Smart Guy'?

A 'smart guy' is someone who thinks before he acts. Knowing that if the people around you are doing negative things its going to effect you negatively. A 'smart guy' is a well-rounded invidual. He is not afraid to stand away from the pack.

A 'Smart Guy' on the rise,
Guy Wood Jr.

Guy Jr. has graciously committed to being a 'Smart Guy' sponsor and has donated great Beads by Wood pieces for the young people who are participating in the 'Smart Guy' Movement through our 'Smart Guy' schools and teams. If you would like to purchase a Beads by Wood piece or commission a custom piece, you can contact Guy at gwood5001@aol.com . You can also view more pieces of his collection and like him at www.facebook.com/beadsbywood

Owning Your Destiny: Khristian Michael's Story

2011-02-27T12:30:00.000-08:00

Stand on a busy street corner for just a few minutes and listen to all the ideas being discussed by the people who are passing by. Chances are, only ten of those people will actually think twice about their idea and out of those ten, two will be really serious and have the courage to go for it. Of those two, one of them will stick with it and stop at nothing to see his/her idea become a reality AND a success. That individual understands that this is their destiny and is determined to walk within that destiny. Khristian Michael, Founder and President of Forever K. Michael Eyewear is one of those people. He envisioned his destiny as a child and understood that it would take a lot of hard work and dedication to see his dream come alive. Yet, come alive it has--Forever K. Michael Eyewear is currently circulating in high end malls all over the country, and can be seen on artists such as Sean Paul of the Young Bloods and iconic professional athletes such as Shaquille O’Neal.

Michael will be the first to tell you that the success he is experiencing now didn’t just happen, he had to put a lot of hard work into it. He has seen many doors closed in his face, and his products being pushed to the back burner of potential distributor’s priority list. Yet, none of this stopped Michael’s dream of getting his eyewear into the public’s sights. He’d gone through too much to stop and he believed the saying, 'when one door closes another one opens. '

“I have been in love with fashion since I was a kid,” Michael explained. “One thing that stood out about my family is that we were always fashionable, so it became an ingrained desire for me to be on point with my look. To get in the business, I was an intern at different record labels. One of my mentors at that time was the National Director of promotions for Arista and Warner Brothers. That mentor relationship lasted for about 10 years and during that time I did a lot of promotions with him that dealt with celebrities. But I always had a true eye for fashion and I decided that one day that I wanted to put a product behind my image.”

That product with his image behind it became eyewear. Michael has always been a huge fan of shades and explained that if a person had on a nice pair of shades then their entire outfit will look nice. “When I was younger, I may not have had the best clothes on,” said Michael. “but a pair of shades always made my outfit. My shoes weren’t the best, my pants weren’t the best but if I threw on a pair of fly shades, I was going to be the coolest cat in school. So I thought that eyewear would be good fit for my image and my life experience.”

After deciding on the product to promote his image, the work began. Michael had to learn how to design and manufacture eyewear. Once he mastered the ins and outs of manufactured, he learned how to find and sell to distributors, and ultimately how to market the Forever K. Michael brand. He found a supportive partner in NYS Collection, a leading retailer in the eyewear industry, who was willing to listen to and support his vision for Forever K Michael. He utilized the contacts he had made during his years in the music industry and reached out to some of the celebrities that he met over the years, asked them to help out and it took off from there. The Forever K Michael brand can be found on celebrities such as Tynisha Keli, Donnie Klang, Mr. Cheeks, Nappy Roots, and Sean Paul of the Young Bloods.

Earlier this month (February 2011), Forever K Michael signed an agreement with Superman. Okay, not Clark Kent, but our favorite Superman, Shaquille O’Neal, to create the Forever K. Michael presents Dunk Man Eyewear line. This new line is set to launch summer of 2011.

None of this would have been possible if Michael would have given up on his dreams, his destiny. He considers himself to be a 'Smart Guy' because of the company that he surrounds himself with--Michael credits his decision to move forward and realize his dreams to mentors and his inner circle. “It would have to be listening to mentors.” Said Michael when asked about getting Forever K. Michael off the ground. “Even the bible says A man who takes good counsel can’t lose. So if you take good counsel, listen to trusted opinions, and then incorporate all of that to make good decisions of your own. Even the President has advisors and takes counsel. Taking counsel has been one of the best decisions of my career.”

“I think being a 'smart guy' is really about the people that are around you, the people you surround yourself with.” said Michael. “I am a firm believer in if you have good people around you who make good decisions, (in business and in general) that adds to your character, to who you are.” Michael's advise to young people is simple. “I think that when you walk in your destiny that you are going to succeed.” said Michael. “Only you know if what you are doing is something that you really believe in and love. Don’t fool yourself. You have to know in your heart if you truly want to do this (whatever it is) and be successful at it. So when you walk in your destiny, you work hard at it, and you truly try, then I can assure you that you will succeed at it."

A Stylish Smart Guy,

K. Michael

Khristian Michael is from and currently resides in NYC. You can see more Forever K. Michael on line at www.foreverkmichael.com . You can like him on facebook at foreverkmichaeldesign and follow him on twitter at foreverkmichael.

A 'Green' Role Model and Advocate: Ovie Mughelli's Story

2011-02-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

A bright light pierces the blinds of your bedroom window and shines into your eyelids. As you turn over to avoid the light, your eyes crack open ever so slightly, and you notice the room is lit up. Your limbs extend to their full length as a smile appears upon your face. Once outside, your eyelids close, your chest expands, filling with oxygen, nitrogen and other elements that make up the air as your mouth opens to take a deep breath. The first days of spring is upon us and the beauty of the Earth has sprung out for the world’s people to enjoy. This beauty is something that many people take for granted or in some cases don't ever notice. But for Atlanta Falcons Fullback, 2010 Pro Bowler, and Smart Guy Ovie Mughelli, the planet in which he lives to means the world to him.

Mughelli has created The Ovie Mughelli Foundation, an organization designed to teach youth about 'Going Green'. The importance of saving the planet is something that Mughelli feels strongly about and would like others to realize. The Ovie Mughelli Foundation is a 501(c) 3 federal tax-exempt organization that supports the overall development of youth socially, mentally and physically by implementing and assisting quality programs that educate the youth on the environment. We want to empower the youth to take ownership and pride about their lives and the roles that they play in society. The Foundation puts on various football camps/clinics and community events, with the goal of spreading the message about the importance of 'Going Green' and how youth can be apart of the solution and not apart of the problem.

“I feel that our urban and/or under-serviced youth really do not care about the environment today,” says Mughelli. “It is understandable because they have so many other things that they have to deal with--hunger, poverty, violence. However, that being said, you still can not completely ignore the environment.” Mughelli notes that the people that care the least about the environment tend to be the people that are affected most by the environment. The landfills and refineries are usually built in poor neighborhoods, and it makes their air and water quality lesser than the wealthy neighborhoods.

“I let the African American kids that I often speak to know that it is not a white issue, a rich issue, or someone else’s problem," Mughelli states, " I let them know that it is their problem. I tend to use football, athletics, or something fun to engage them and make 'Going Green' a lot more appealing. I let them know that they can 'make green' by 'Going Green". I teach them about green jobs, and about saving and making money. These green jobs include making organic clothing lines, running a recycling company and even making bamboo utensils. There are all types of things that they can do to help the planet as well as themselves.”

Mughelli acknowledges that playing in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons has put him in a position where he can share his knowledge of saving the planet to a wide audience. He also recognizes that getting to where he is now, being a community leader and a professional athlete, was not an easy task. It took a lot of hard work and overcoming of obstacles and barriers that could have derailed his journey.

“Playing football for a living was always a dream for me,” Mughelli said. “I didn’t always think that I could do it, but it was definitely what I wanted to do. I didn’t know it would be a reality for me until the last second. I am confident but I try to be realistic as well. The chances and odds of making it to the NFL are very slim. I never really wanted to get my hopes up. I just wanted to work as hard as I could and see what happened.”

Working hard is something that Ovie had grown accustomed to over the years. From the football field to the classroom, Ovie worked tirelessly to become the best student and athlete. Ovie attended Porter-Gaud High school a predominately white middle and high school which was a challenge to him because he felt alone, there were not any people there that looked like him. However, instead of harping on the negative, Mughelli decided to look at it as a blessing. It provided him with the chance to be around people who were different from him, and show them a positive example of an African American, an opportunity to refute stereotypes and assumptions. Ovie, in many instances, was the only African American person that some of his classmates knew.

“That was definitely a learning experience,” said Mughelli. “It was something that I am glad that I went through because it taught me how to deal and mesh with different people on all levels. The school itself was challenging because of the intense work load as far as tests, papers to write, and homework. But I am glad I learned how to manage that in high school because it only got harder in college. Being a student-athlete in high school taught me how to balance my workload, a skill that I still utilize today. ”

While facing many challenging decisions during his life, Ovie considers his decision to stay actively involved in the church as one of the best decision he has made. Mughelli grew up in church and knows that everything that he has accomplished is a direct blessing from God. Even as a Pro Bowl Fullback for the NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons Mughelli remains humble and gives God the honor and praise for using him as an inspiration to others.

Although he loves playing the sport of football, and even though he is a great football player, Ovie never relied solely on making it to the NFL. He concentrated in the classroom just as hard as he focused on the football field. That is something he feels all Smart Guys do. Mughelli earned a degree from Wake Forest University with a major in Health and Educational Science. “Smart Guys get it,” says Mughelli. “I got it at an early age; I understood the importance of a good education as the key to success. You can’t really do anything in this world if you don’t have an education. I always valued going to school and tried to learn more and more everyday to better myself.”

Mughelli's advice to the youth of today is to find a mentor, become an advocate of asking questions, and be prepared to accept challenges. “I am smart enough to know when I don’t know.” says Mughelli. "Get in touch with someone who has been or is where you want to be. Ask that person questions about their past and how they got to where they are now. That will allow you to have an easier, more direct path to reaching your goals. Life is not going to be easy, so take a step back at times and breathe. No one who is at the top of their game gets there by accident; you have to fight for everything that you want.”

A 'Green' Smart Guy,

Ovie

Mughelli prides himself on giving back to the community and donates his time, energy and efforts to ensuring that people see and respect the world for the beautiful place that it is. To learn more about the Ovie Mughelli Foundation go to www.oviemughellifoundation.org For additional information about Ovie, contact Bridgett Coates at Exposure BBC .

Creating Smart Workers--David's Leadership

2011-02-22T05:38:00.000-08:00

"Making smart choices is not something that comes easy. In fact, many of them will often involve disappointing someone else. Yet, without making smart choices we will often not evolve and progress from where we are."

I just had my fortieth birthday and it was a fantastic opportunity to see that I am surrounded by those that have known me, supported me and helped me to grow. In fact, two of my best friends were there whom I have known for 25 and 22 years respectively. Seeing my boys reminded me of the #1 rule we had growing up—Work Hard. Play Hard. Although we had different interests, we supported one another and more importantly pushed one another to do our best in school. This not only meant getting good grades, but also challenging ourselves to take those classes that were difficult and while not always getting the best grades in those classes, we stretched ourselves and proved that we were up to a challenge. That same attitude also encouraged us to play hard—whether it was competitive sports, intramural or plain old pick-up games, we always had the attitude if it’s worth spending your time, then give it your all.

I currently run Concessions Management Group (“CMG”), a social enterprise that employs “at-risk” youth to work and manage concessions at different stadiums including the Washington Nationals, DC United, USC Trojans and CAL Bears employing almost 100 young people. As a social enterprise, we differentiate ourselves from our competitors by purposefully hiring our staff from low-income communities. Our typical employee is 18-24 years old, has either never worked before or has had very limited work experience and is looking for an opportunity to learn, grow and better themselves through employment. We have purposefully set up our business this way because we believe that even though many young people do make the smart decision—stay in school, look for a job—they oftentimes do not get an opportunity that supports that decision. At CMG, we are trying to support those young people making smart decisions by providing our youth employees the opportunities to show and prove that they can continuously make smart decisions within a work environment.

An entreprenurial 'Smart Guy'

David

David is a native New Yorker who currently resides in California with his family. David earned a BA from Wesleyan University and his MBA from Columbia University's prestigious Columbia Business School. For more information about Concessions Management Group (CMG), contact David at: dderryck@concessionsmgmt.com

Becoming a Community Leader: Donovan's Story

2011-02-21T07:25:00.000-08:00

"What people are NOT doing is sometimes exactly what you need to be doing..."

South Florida is widely considered a mecca of talented athletes, beautiful women and artists. So for young men growing up in this area, of course the belief in their heads is in order to be successful you have to become a rapper or an athlete. The vision was no different growing up for former basketball player turned community leader Donovan Thomas. Donovan currently serves as the Executive Director of Rize and Shine. This community based organization houses a variety of projects created to empower the community. One of its signature programs is the 'Respect, Check, Protect Yourself (RCP) Movement', an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that is impacting Florida statewide. Keep reading to learn about Donovan's journey from baller to community activist...

Life has a funny way of putting people in places that caught them totally off guard. As Thomas will be the first to explain, where he is now, is not where he envisioned himself as a child growing up. “I have always wanted to do something to help people,” Thomas said. “but I never thought that I would be running an organization or something of my own in this way. As I saw the need and how people could be helped by the RCP movement, I knew I wanted to take it on full time.”

Thomas grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and attended St. Thomas Aquinas high school where he excelled as a 6’6” 215lbs power forward in basketball. Thomas earned All-County, All-State honors which led to earning a scholarship to Loyola University Maryland. At a young age Donovan always looked at education as a way of advancing and getting to where he wanted to be, although this conflicted with some of his friends’ interests.

“There were many barriers I had to overcome,” Thomas explains. “But one of the things that really motivated me was that, a lot of the friends that I had at the time were really good in sports but they didn’t take education seriously. They were not making the grades to play ball. Although they were very talented, they weren’t able to develop, due to them not being eligible to play on the team. That kept me focused on keeping my grades up to par and working on my game at the same time. That was a barrier that I had to over come, when I seen everyone around me doing wrong, it would have been easy to get pressured into falling into that trap. Some traps I did fall into and i did things that I am not proud of, but I bounced back and turned those negativse into positives. At those times I reverting back to my upbringing, utilizing advice from my parents who stressed the importance of being well rounded. Nobody is perfect, but the 'smart guys' are the ones who can fall off track but get up and steer themselves back in the right direction.”

Getting back on the right track is exactly what Thomas did. He concentrated harder on basketball and school. Yet Thomas always looked to have a fall back plan, having learned the lesson that sports might not always be there for you. Some of his teammates did not have that same state of mind. For them, it was being professional athlete or nothing. Thomas challenged that all or nothing notion and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Loyola.

“As I was growing up,” Thomas explained. “There were a lot of stereotypes being placed on me because of my skin color and my height. It was assumed that I had to play basketball and I had to go to the NBA to be successful. After a while that began to get to me. I knew that I had a good head on my shoulders and even if I didn’t make the NBA that I could still succeed in life, but I didn't get that reassurance from others.” While in college, Thomas was hit with a string of injuries. Those injuries, as he explains it, were a blessing in disguise because it allowed him to take his focus off basketball for short stints and re-dedicate himself to his school work.

“As urban youth, we tend to focus on how much money the athletes are making,” Thomas said. “We never think about how much the owners of the teams, which the athletes are on, are getting paid. If they are able to pay out millions of dollars, just imagine how much they are bringing in.” Thomas believes that 'smart guys' should aspire to be in those ownership positions, being the payer and not the payee. He wants young people to know that it is okay if you are not a professional athlete, there are so many other respected professions out in the world, even in the world of sports.

“People have to make decision everyday; those people that are equipped with the tools to make the best decisions are usually the ones who have knowledge. Knowledge equals not only education but also experience,” Thomas explained. “There is a saying that only insane people try things the exact same way, over and over again, and expect different results. So learn from the mistake the first time so the next time you won’t make that one again. Be competitive. Always try to be better tomorrow than you were today. Do not be afraid to go against the norm, to be a leader, to be willing and able to endure the ridicule of others who may not see your outlook on life and prosper through it. Stay focused on what you want to do. Hard work pays off.”

Thomas’ non profit organization is focused on getting the word out on something that is not really talked about but it is hitting our community in astronomical numbers-- HIV/AIDS. The program is called the RCP Movement and it brings ordinary everyday people from the community together to educate about HIV/AIDS and help prevent its spread. "We want to get people talking, to get the education/literature out there about how it is and isn’t contracted. HIV/AIDS used to be a conversation that was talked about a lot in the 80s but now it is not talked about as much. Unfortunately, the disease is spreading, its effecting younger and younger people and has devestated minority communities worldwide. The major new cases of HIV/AIDS are happening between the ages of 13-24, our youth, our future.

Donovan teaches participants about HIV/AIDS prevention

RCP has a chapter present on several college campuses, and high schools throughout Florida and now Georgia. The RCP Movement stresses and encourages abstinence to the youth but understands that holistic prevention includes risk reduction conversations as well. The thought is to have the information out there so they will know and understand how to practice safe sex. The RCP Movement would like people to know that you don’t have to be infected to be affected by HIV/AIDS. This disease is hitting everybody in some way, shape, form or fashion. Statistics show that 56,000 people per year become infected with HIV in the US and that is only the people who have been tested. Every hour of the day, two teenagers are becoming infected.

RCP tries to find different ways to engage the community. Some of RCP's projects are Street Scares and the Show-U-Know benefit concert, a free event for those who took an HIV test in order to be aware of their own status. "The first time we put on this concert we tested over 5,000 people in the South Florida area. That is 5,000 people who may not have become aware of their HIV status without this gentle push from the program. This is something we plan to do on an annual basis. We are trying to promote HIV awareness and education in a fun, non-threatening environment."

“The biggest thing or best advice that I would stress to young people is to follow your dreams.” Thomas said. “Always remember that every expert, guru, mogul was once a beginner. Every great invention began as an idea and then that person went after it and made it happen. You have to be willing to sacrifice and know that it is going to take hard work to get what you want. What people are not doing is sometimes exactly what you need to be doing. Do the extra work to perfect your craft and don’t give up.”

An advocate 'Smart Guy',

Donovan

To learn more about the RCP Movement please visit www.rcpmovement.org, or email us at jointheteam@rcpmovent.org .You can also friend RCP at www.facebook.com/rcpmovement, and follow us at www.twitter.com/rcpmovement

Perspective, Balance & Strength: Julian's Story...

2011-02-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

Julian & his baby sister

When presented with the accolades that his baby brother Zarek heaps on him in helping him reach his current summit as a 1st round draft pick in the MLS, Julian is quick to redirect the conversation to Zarek's accomplishments. His pride in his brother is evident, and he seems generally surprised at the strength of his impact on Zarek's life. Not surprising from a young man whose introspectiveness is so intense, its tangible. Not surprising from a young man who has recently decided, after a lifetime of work to gain entrance into the elite world of professional sports that, "despite his great success, he does not have the talent to be the player he aspired to be and that his greatest gifts and talents would be better utilize in another arena." Julian is owning that realization and packing up and moving to Colorado to start the next phase of his life; challenging himself to put his talents and skills to a new test and setting high goals and pristine standards that I have no doubt he will obtain. We at 'Smart Guy' are inspired by the story of this 'smart family' and hope that you will be too...

Part II: Julian Valentin,

"the heart of the team"

For the most part, Zarek and I have mostly walked the same path. We both grew up playing under the same coach, and we both played on National Teams and got to travel and have great experiences abroad. We both played at the residency program in Florida and both went away to college afterwards. Soccer has been a great vehicle for me to experience life, to provide me with experiences that have shaped me and given me a wider view of what is important in life.

My goal growing up, even while just playing in the backyard, was to become a professional soccer player. Millions of kids in the world have that goal, but just a few get to experience it. As I got older, even though my goal remained steadfast, I recognized that the life span of the pro soccer player is not very long. Guys like Zach Thornton, guys with such an extensive professional career, are very rare. I realized in college that you had to have something to do after soccer, that I needed a backup plan.

I’ve always had a good support system around me to give me perspective on what’s important. My parents, my stepfather, my coaches, my family and more recently, my wife and agent have provided me with incredible support. My mother has always written at the end of every card or email, “I'm your number one fan, mom xoxo’. And although I’m not playing anymore I know that she is still going to be my number one fan and that she loves us and is proud of us no matter what we are doing. My entire support system has added to my view on the world, on education, on athletics. My support system helped me to learn that nothing we do is by ourselves. They instilled in me the importance for me not to just be one dimensional, that I shouldn't want to be defined just by being an athlete.

Growing up I was always one of the top players, a player that a lot of people depended on. My team won a National Championship when I was at Wake Forrest and I was drafted into the MLS just like I had always dreamed. Yet, in the pro ranks everyone is good and it was difficult to make the adjustment. I struggled for the last few years. I have always held myself to a high standard and my goal, even in the backyard as a child, was to be a top of the line, marquee player in the MLS. I am proud of myself that I was mature enough and realistic enough to admit that maybe I’m never going to be the player that I always wanted to be. But know that I’m okay with making this move away from soccer, because I’ve worked so hard. It has defined me as a player, my work ethic. I'm not giving up or quitting, I have reached my pinnacle of talent and I’ve realized that there are players who are simply better soccer players. I have embraced that a large part of what has made me successful on the field are my intangible qualities. Obviously I have some physical talent, but I've realized that hard work, tenacity, work ethic, and intelligence have all helped me on my journey to a great degree. Those were all great skills in soccer, but those skills will take me even further in the next phase of life.

A lot of anyone's talents are innate, in you naturally. But you can add to them and develop them to become the strongest person you can be. Leadership is one of my strongest traits. I know that I have natural leadership abilities, but I’ve also developed those skills with trainings and conferences. If you recognize your talents you can work towards fine tuning them and using them for maximum impact.

Soccer is the only sport I ever played, but I love all sports and follow all sports. From a young age I've wanted to be a writer, a journalist. I was a blogger for my teams as a teenager. This new position as the Assistant Editor of Advertising, Marketing and Publications for the Colorodo Rockies is my dream job. The Rockies publish a monthly magazine and most of the work is done in house by four people, one of which will now include me. A key component of this position is being the head of social media. I will be in charge of creating ways to connect fans and the organization. I think it’s a great job for me and encompasses a lot of my talents and skills. I never expected to walk away from soccer at age 24. Yet playing professional sports is a nomadic lifestyle and the opportunity for stability and a chance to put down roots called to me. Soccer in the US is not at a point where you can financially support yourself without being at the top level and being one of the top players. I admit, I struggled in this decision making process, but know that my decision to move on is best for me and my family long term. Obviously becoming a family man has played a part in my decision to change careers. Coming from such a strong family, I knew I wanted to be a family man and that the nomadic lifestyle is hard on a family. Throughout this process of reflection and decision making my wife was always there to listen, to be my calming force. What an awesome person she was in the process; as I was questioning if I was going to be able to achieve the goals I'd had since I was a little boy, she was the perfect balance of support and comfort but still allowing me to take ownership of my conclusions and choices.

With my little sister I talk alot about being balanced. My mom has done a fantastic job of exposing her to so many different things, she is a well-rounded young woman. Despite Zarek and I's professional soccer success, she knows that an even smaller percentage of woman have the opportunity for professional success in sports. But it’s so important for her to be an athlete because of the lessons learned-- time management, organization, leadership—wheither you make it professionally or not you will have learned so much being an athlete.

What do I think makes somebody a smart guy? I think having a well rounded approach to life, and realizing that you need to be involved in a lot of different things. If you are only involved in one thing you become a one dimensional person. For me, being a smart guy is also about making good choices. Staying away from things that can bring you down and knock you off your track. Everyone needs a life of balance, to stay focused, and avoiding pitfalls. Leave your comfort zone to expand yourself, even if there are naysayers. Don't worry about what other people say, there will always be people there to support you if you are doing the right thing.

A Thoughtful Smart Guy,

Julian

*Julian is relocating to Colorado and has graciously agreed to check in from time to time and blog updates about his transition! Stay tuned for part III of the series: A Mother's Story...

Leading by Example: A 'Smart Family's' Story

2011-02-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

Zarek Valentin, 4th overall pick in 2011 MLS draft

It's no accident that Julian and Zarek Valentin have had much success so young in life. Each humble, yet confident, are quick to acknowledge those around them who help guide their journeys and encourage their dreams. It is pretty clear that 'smart guys' are a product of 'smart parents', 'smart coaches', 'smart friends', and 'smart families'. We at 'Smart Guy' are inspired by the story of this 'smart family' and hope that you will be too...

Part I: Zarek Valentin,

"the baby brother"

It's easy to forget when you are speaking to Zarek that he is only nineteen years old. His list of accomplishments and accolades, his insight into goal setting and acquisition, his humility; all lore you into thinking you are speaking to a man twice his age. But the reality is, Zarek is a 19 year old who was recently a first round draft pick for the MLS. A few months earlier he led his college team, the University of Akron, to the NCAA championship game where they clenched the title, the first in the schools history in any sport. He has played on the US National Team for U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15. Zarek made the decision to leave college after his sophomore year to enter the draft after fulfilling a promise to his coach not to leave college to go pro until he had won a national championship. Done. But his things to do list is far from complete and Zarek has a solid plan for continuing his success, starting with being a good teammate to his Chivas USA team this season...

In Zarek's words:

"My goals and habits were embedded in me from such a young age. My brother Julian set an example for me. He is five years older than me, but wasn't mean to me and let me tag along and supported me. We had the same soccer coach so I would show up at the big kids practice with Julian and they would let me participate. I struggled a lot, being so much younger, but I learned a lot too. Julian played soccer seven days a week, and I wanted to do what he did. I wanted to get out there and be like my brothers so I practice extra hours, I would come home from practice and practice.

I learned early that playing at a higher level means that you have to put in extra hours. My brother always said that you have to sacrifice things to get to the next level and my mother often reminded me that the best things for you are often the hardest things to do. Their constant advise and guidance made it okay for me to miss out on some of the typical childhood activities that were going on around me.

In high school I was surrounded by different things, opportunities to go astray, exposure to drugs and alcohol but I knew that I had a lot going for me and I didn’t want to jeopardize it. At that point I was already in the public eye because of my accomplishments on the field and my mother often reminded me that I had a lot to loose. 'There are eyes on you because people know who you are. You are representing a lot, don't forget that.' My friends would be out partying and I would be at soccer practice or home getting ready for a game. But I was blessed to have friends who believed in my goals and my vision for my future. My friends looked out for me, protecting me, and became invested in what I had to loose. They steered me away from activities and people, parties, things they felt would jeopardize my future. I realized that surrounding myself with guys who had the same vision as me, made good decision making a lot easier.

Some of the most important advise I ever got growing up was to 'keep your highs low and your lows high'. Meaning, don’t let a good day build you up to get a big head, and when you have a bad day don’t let it bring you down and make you play worse. Ironically I was given that exact same advise this week at training camp. I admit that I am hard on myself, and I need to learn not to let failure crush me and keep me from being level-headed.

I’ve had a different childhood than most, I was away from home a lot. I was gone for two years in high school (participating in an intensive soccer program in Florida for promising athletes) , then home for a year and then off to college. The academy in Florida was very strict-- curfews, mandatory meals-- it had lots of structure and it was all about sports. That discipline helped me be prepared for each of the next steps; college and now moving to CA and going pro.

Coming out of college to go pro was a big decision. My brother Julian graduated from college, he declined this exact same opportunity in order to finish school. I promised my coach we would win a national championship before I left to go pro. We won the national championship so I met that goal. But know that, in leaving college, I have not forgotten my education. I haven’t figured out everything yet but I know that I need a plan outside of soccer that includes education. Graduating from college is something that is very important to me and I will finish.

Now I am in the LA area playing for Chivas USA. Fortunately, I have people out here that I know, guys I met through the national teams, college friends. I’m already trying to figure out how to make good choices, particularly when it comes to money. Money is my biggest transition issue right now but I know that if I think ahead I can save up money for my future. My family has encouraged me to invest my money well and I am setting up the right support team to be able to do that successfully.

My advise for being a 'Smart Guy': you’ve got to find something you love and do it with a smile on your face. I wanted to be a pro soccer player since I was little and was willing to make sacrifices so that nothing could stop me. Understand that you will go through hard times but know that things will work themselves out for the best. My mother always said, 'hard work pays off'. She's right!"

A 'Smart Guy' from a 'Smart Family',

Zarek

Zarek at University of Akron

Making My Dad Proud: former Steeler Chidi Iwuoma's Road to Success

2011-02-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

My father never wanted me to play football or any sports for that matter. He thought that pro athletes got into a lot of trouble and he and my mother had great plans for my brothers and I that were centered around education and achieving the American dream. Little did he know when I was little, that football would help create the opportunities for me to acquire the academic success he dreamed of for me and give me a chance to positively impact others...

My parents were immigrants from Nigeria, they came to America dreaming of better opportunities for my three brothers and I. Education was a high priority in my household and seen as the cornerstone for success. What my parents saw of athletics in the media, set up a belief that sports led to negativity and got in the way of the success they planned for us. So in addition to the focus on academics, my parents established a steadfast rule for the four of us: no sports.

When I was young I lost mother to inner city violence. My parents were trying to live the America dream, they worked hard and become business owners. On that tragic day, my mother was working in one of the family stores and was murdered during a robbery attempt. When my mom was killed during that robbery, my dad took it very hard. In retrospect I can't image what a challenge it was for my dad to deal with grieving and raising four boys at the same time. We grew up in a rough environment, a lot of temptation for the way of life promoted by gangs in the community and easy access to a lot of negativity. My father stuck to his plan; education was good, sports were bad. His plan to keep us out of the streets was anchored by a strong focusing on education.

Despite my dad's views on athletics, I knew there were positive aspects. I would watch the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the Lakers, and I saw good things. My brothers and I loved to play sports out in the neighborhood with our friends and our dad was okay with these casual, home based games. But even when I began to get noticed in school for my athletic abilities, but my dad wouldn’t let me play organized sports. When I was in elementary school, my brothers took me and signed me up for Pop Warner football. I was so excited and loved the tryouts and proudly took my pads home after making the team. My dad took one look at the pads and said no way, take them back. So I focused on school and community and build a reputation as a stand up guy. I was involved in student government and lots of school based activities, but continued to dream of playing organized team sports.

My freshman year of high school I tried out for football and my coach was really impressed with me. I came up with plan where I went to study hall and got school work done during the day and then went to practice after school for part of the practice and still got home before 4pm. I got a recruiting letter from Cal Berkeley and was on the varsity squad by the end of my freshman season. I kept my participation a secret from dad my entire freshman year and halfway through my sophmore year. The local newspaper did a story about me and put my picture in the paper after a particularly good game which someone showed my dad, causing all hell to break loose.

The letter from Cal Berkeley turned out to be my saving grace, I showed it to my dad and pointed out the opportunity to get a free education through my abilities on the football field. Dad finally said if I kept my grades up I could play. Recruiting letters kept coming in. I knew I had to keep my grades up in order to play and that was my focus all through high school. I knew I wanted to graduate, get a college degree and make my dad proud. My senior year I got a bunch of scholarship offers, I was so excited that people were going to pay for me to go to school because I could run with the football. I could combine my love of the game with my love of education, I couldn't ask for anything more. I graduated from Pasadena High school and entered the University of California at Berkeley, my dad's favorite school, on a football scholarship.

My brothers, who were all older than me, didn't get to play sports because of my dad’s beliefs about professional athletes. But they never begrudged me my experience and my success. They came to all of my games and made sure I had everything I needed. They would use their money from their part time jobs to buy me cleats and they would get me wherever I needed to go. They couldn’t do it but I could and they became my biggest fans. Their dedication and support of me made me feel important and made a huge impact in the man I've become.

I wanted to graduate from Cal with a degree, that was my main drive from the moment I stepped onto campus. I was good in high school, but coming to one of the top programs in the nation at one of the best schools in the nation, was a whole new game. I had to fall back on my cornerstone, education. I kept trying and studying and working hard academically. I worked with my academic advisor regularly and studied hard to be a good player and teammate. It wasn’t until my junior year at Cal that the NFL made it onto my radar as a possible reality. I got my degree in five years and during that time I decided that I wanted to help student athletes as a career. My academic advisors my first year was really important and helpful to me and I wanted to become that support for other student athletes wheither or not I went pro.

I played in the NFL for seven years. I knew that I was physically able to be there but being mature and being a good person who was goal oriented and wanted to handle business was an important component to staying there. I was nominated team captain four years in a row. Besides the obvious money and accolades, that honor by my peers was special to me. To be voted team captain and not be the superstar comes down to being accountable, guys acknowledge that I would take care of business and lead by example and carry through on goals for the team. The experience of playing pro football was exciting and fun but it is a business. You are expected to take care of yourself and handle your business of your own accord. You have to figure out what is expected of you and how you get it done. My childhood, the goals and expectations my parents and brothers put in place, were my stepping stones to success.

I am participating in the 'Smart Guy' movement because I want to help young people realize that your last name is important and that you are representing generations of your last name in the way you carry and present yourself. No matter how old you are you are never too young to be a good person. Becoming a 'smart guy' when you are young is setting yourself up to be successful for the majority of your life.

I've had a pretty good run and it all started with being serious about academics. I played in the NFL for seven years, including five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the opportunity to be a part of the 2005 Super Bowl championship team! After I retired from the NFL, I returned to Cal and got a master's degree in education. I currently work as the Assistant Director of Student Athlete Development for Cal Berkeley's football program. My responsibilities are to nurture student development and support them in dealing with classroom, academics, housing-- anything that student athletes need outside of x’s and o’s. It is what I've wanted to do since my freshman year of Cal, help guide young, bright minds on what could possibly be their future endeavors. I’ve been there and done that and that gives me credibility. I work with all the athletes on a backup plan. What kind of impression have you left on people that they would want to do business with you after you graduate? After you retire? What kind of person are you?

I've had the opportunity to show my father that education can lead to success in whatever venue you apply it to, even sports. I've had the opportunity to carry myself both on and off the field as someone that other's can be proud of and emulate. And now I have the opportunity to guide young student athletes about making good choices and putting their education to good use, about being 'smart guys'...

Another Smart Guy,

Chidi

The Guts to be a Man: David's Story

2011-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

David is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was one of the most segregated cities in the United States when he was a child. He lived in an all black neighborhood plagued by poor schools and poverty. In 1982 David's parents enrolled him in the "220 Program" one of the first busing programs in the area, a program that would take him from the comfort of the only neighborhood he had ever know out to the 'suburbs' where his mom thought a better education would give him the start he needed to succeed. Read on to learn how David took the chance his mother gave him and translated it into professional and personal success...

I came from inner city Milwaukee, a single parent home with one brother and sister, no car. From jump you are behind the eight ball because you're not only a African American kid, but you are economically low class, you have very little money and your schools aren't very good. All of my friends were going to the local school, but my mom made the decision to send me to the suburbs for school. I was the only black kid for many years, and that was hard for me, but slowly it started to change and more black students started attending the school. I eventually learned that it was the best thing that could've happened to me when I learned the lesson that ultimately you are a by product of your environment and as a child, your school is one of the biggest, most influential environments in your world.

In retrospect, it was an issue of race as much as economics. Unemployment was not an issue in my school community and my peers had parents who were college graduates and siblings who were taking the SAT's when we were in junior high. They were exposed to different things and had more opportunities than the kids in my neighborhood. I honestly believe that if that same type of opportunity existed in the inner city, you'd see different results. I was exposed to a plethora of good examples of being responsible and being a successful adult. In the community I lived in there were good role models, but unfortunately, there were an overwhelming number of negative examples, in fact, the negative examples could be found on every street corner. I have friends to this day from both of the worlds that I lived in as a child, but they all had the same vision, they all got caught up in good things, and they all exhibited positive behaviors.

Another contributor to my success was athletes. I was involved in athletics from first grade all the way to the professional level. I was an athlete every day of my life and the threat of not being able to compete because I made a bad choice was a big part of my decision making. I had practice every day after school and by the time I got home and finished my homework they day was done. Very little time to get into trouble and trouble never seemed as attractive as competing and winning. And while athletics is certainly not the end all, be all, athletics can be the vehicle for a child with no other way to get to college, to be able to go.

Today, I work in corporate America as the Creative Director for ESPN.com. Walking into the ABC Building in New York City is a long way from inner city Milwaukee. In corporate America, I know I have to be better than than my coworkers next to me. I knew that as a child, and it continues to be something that drives me today. I surround myself with forward thinkers and creative learners. I want to lead by example so that the young people around me see what a smart guy does. But for those who don't get to see me, I want them to know what I believe being a 'Smart Guy' is all about. Being a 'Smart Guy' is having the ability to have self-confidence in your decisions--to have the ability to zig when everybody else is zagging, and to have the guts and the wherewithal to do that at age twelve, thirteen and fourteen. I want them to know, that I know, that it takes guts as a boy, trying to be a man, to make the right choice. But it is easier to do if you can surround yourself with other 'Smart Guys' who are also making the right choice. I am proud to be a 'Smart Guy' and to have surrounded myself with other smart guys and girls.

A Creative 'Smart Guy',
David

David Marshall Jr. is a Creative Director for ESPN.com and lives in Brookyln, NY with his beautiful wife and 8 year old daughter. David has also worked at the Washington Post and graduated from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee where his team actually played against and beat Zach's college team. He spent four years playing professional soccer before transitioning into the field of design. he credits a creative mind and the imagination to create something that wasn't there before as a cornerstone of his success. You can see a snapshot of David's portfolio at http://www.pixelflexmedia.com/

Taking Flight: Martin's Journey

2011-01-28T16:06:00.000-08:00

At the age of 5, I can vividly remember looking up at my dad in his suit and tie with an wing pin inserted onto the right side of the lapel on his jacket, as he walked up the driveway to our house. As my lips spread from ear to ear, I would see two huge arms reaching out in my direction. Instantly his hands were beneath my arms, and I could no longer feel the earth beneath my feet. My stomach had this anxious, queasy feeling as my head tilted backwards and my arms reached out from side to side as far as they could go. It was at that moment that, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a pilot.

My name is Martin Miller, and I am currently one of the few black airline pilots for Continental Airlines. My inspiration was my dad, he was in the Navy for 20 years and when he retired from there he went to United Airlines and spent 30 years there. He never flew a plane but just being in that atmosphere, around the planes with him, influenced my desire to become a pilot and that desire never left me growing up. So now, that is where I am, flying the big ones.

My dad was my role model he always instilled in me the value of giving everything I had to everything that I do. Always give 100 percent don’t give anyone a reason to take something from you that you want, he would say. I always knew to stay on the 'Smart Guy' path, which for me included earning good grades and staying away from the wrong or negative crowds. I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up since I was a child and I didn’t want or let anything throw me off that path. I studied hard while my friends were outside playing. If my friends wen't out partying, I knew I was staying away from that. I never thought of it like living like a smart guy, but I just focused on doing what was needed to get to where I wanted to be and to achieve my goal. I always weighed options before I made a decision to do something, what are the pros and cons, what will my dad think or what would he do in that situation. That hesitation kept me out of a lot of sticky situations and that is what I think distinguishes the 'Smart Guys' from others, their ability to think before they act.

I must tell you that it was not easy, and that there were many barriers that almost stopped my dream. One was the fact that I had asthma and I found out that the military didn’t take pilots that were asthmatic or had a history of it. I thought that I would never fly because the military was the only way I knew one could become a pilot for the airlines. As I went through high school and I began to participate in sports, and my asthma didn’t bother me much, I thought that I had grown out of asthma. After speaking with a few people in the flying industry, I was informed that if I was healthy enough to play football, I could pass the physical training portion of the process to get in flight school. At that point I was rejuvenated and pushed forward with my dream. I began looking into the Air Force ROTC programs at San Jose State. As different things happen through college and one thing led to another, I started researching the civilian route to fly and ended up leaving the ROTC program to take the civilian route. I took a chance because if things worked out the way I planned, I could be flying 10 years earlier than the military route.

Another barrier for me was the entrance policy to become a pilot. To be selected, you had to be at the top of your class, graduated from college, and top of your ROTC program. Those guys take the top slots for the pilot positions and if you go the civilian route it has a lot to do with luck, who you know, timing, and skills. Unfortunately, the skills will get you to a certain point and then you have to hope that you approach the airlines are a time when they are hiring. It took a lot of hard work, focus and dedication to get to this point. I had some help and made connections with OBAP (Organization of Black Airline Pilots) to get me to Continental Airlines. They helped to get me on the same page as a large corporate organization and taught me things like how to interview to make sure I was ready when opportunity arose.

I am the first and only pilot in my family and that is a big accomplishment for me. It goes back to my dad believing in me and giving me that extra pushing to be the best because he knew that is what I wanted to do, and that I could do it. I get a lot of joy when I see people of color step onto this plane and see me, an African American man, as the pilot of their flight. Most of them look at me with a look of wow, some come up to me and shake my hand, some give me a smile, and some say congratulations. Some of my co-workers will look at me and they do not understand what happened. I tell them not to worry about it. I get joy out of knowing that these people trust me with their lives and getting them to their family, friends or business engagements. For the most part people of color are happy to see other people of color in high positions like this because you do not see a lot of us in these places. The numbers are growing thankfully. The number is still incomparable to the majority of pilots but I am proud to say currently here at Continental we have quite a few. I think it is good for the youth of all colors to see what we are doing. When I was little I can’t recall ever seeing a pilot of color and if I had it would have gave me even more drive to achieve that goal. Now that you have myself and a handful of other pilots at different airlines, it may just give kids of different nationalities and ethnicities hope to become a pilot one day.

Some of the good decisions that I had to make to get to where I currently am are in the Smart Guy creed. I stayed away from drugs. Not only would my dad have tore up my tail up if I had gotten involved in that, but I knew that I couldn’t make it to be the pilot I wanted to be if I got involved in all that negativity. Being completely focus on getting grades was what my dad stressed; the importance of getting straight A’s to separate you from everyone else. I couldn’t let anything like drugs, partying, getting involved with the wrong crowd or alcohol affect my dream. I kept my eye on the prize and stayed away from things that I knew could possibly hinder me from achieving my goal. I took that approach to everything. I wanted to be an airline pilot and I wanted it bad. My parents always drilled in my head if you want something as a young man of color you have to be one step above the rest, you can’t give anybody any reason to tell you no, because some people will be looking for that reason when you walk in the door to turn you down, don't give it to them. You have to know that some people are going to try to stereotype you and put you somewhere you don’t want to be, my mother would say. If you have a great foundation, you can say I have the skills and experience and I want this job and there won't be anything they can tell you to keep you away.

My advice to young people first and foremost is to never give up on your goal or dream. Go to school and get the best grades you can get, go to college get a degree. It’s hard to get there but the gratification trumps all of that hard work. For me, that gratification came when the guy called me up from Continental and told me that I had the job, I was going to officially be a pilot! There it was, I did what I had set out to do as a kid. I accomplished my goal, and it was one of the best days of my life. So don’t just settle, because if you do you will be miserable. Figure out what it is you want and push for it with everything that you have and don’t let anything stop you from achieving what it is you want to do.

A 'Smart Guy' in the sky,

Martin

The little 5 year old boy, whose first flight came from his dad wings, now leads other little boys and girls including his son and daughter on flights all over the world between the wings of 737 airplanes.

Smart by Design: Guy's Story

2011-01-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

Guy Wood in his company headquarters

Guy Wood is the talented designer behind the custom-made designs of 5001 FLAVORS, a custom-made apparel company that has supplied the entertainment industry with tailored clothing of the highest caliber since 1990. Guy was born, raised and educated in New York City's historic community, Harlem. But Guy's current position in the spotlight, as the fashion genius behind many of today's hottest celebrities wasn't an accident it was a choice...

'I didn't go the college but committed myself to work hard and honest to get ahead. Always had a great work ethic just knew that college was not for me. After working full time out of high school, I started my own consulting business with several partners almost 20 years ago after realizing that the type of success and self-fulfillment I wanted would never come from working for some one else. I always loved fashion and looking fly and loved the idea of being paid to do something I loved. Finding a way to get paid for something you love and would do for free is great. I love working with my celeb and athlete clients. Surrounding myself with positive people doing positive things is also one of the things that has helped me become the man I am today. Growing up in Harlem in the 70's and 80's I saw a lot of negative influences and know a lot of people that aren't here right now due to a number of bad choices. I made a conscious decision after seeing some close friends make some poor choices that I was going to surround myself with people doing great things. Great opportunities come when you surround yourself with greatness."

An Original Smart Guy,

Mr. Guy Wood

About 5001 Flavors:

Fashion has always had a large degree of relevance in the entertainment industry as actors, musical artists and sports stars often become just as famous for their sense of style as they are for their talent. Satisfying that need has been the success of 5001 FLAVORS, a custom-made apparel company that has supplied the entertainment industry with tailored clothing of the highest caliber since 1990. Since that time, such high-profile clients as Will Smith, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Lebron James, Queen Latifah, Jay Z and Shaquille ONeal have commissioned our designers to make butter-soft leather pants, high-octane fur jackets, sleek business suits and many other stylish garments. From Sean P. Diddy Combs to Mariah Carey, Scott Stapp to Timbaland, Hezekiah Walker to Usher, Jadakiss to Raven Symone, N'Sync to the late great Notorious BIG, 5001 FLAVORS maintains an impressive clientele list and formidable brand recognition in the music industry. Click here to see some of 5001's creations...

Three Smart Brothers

2011-01-19T18:30:00.000-08:00

My Backbone...

It is said that each action has a reaction. We feel this is a true statement--short term gratification can ultimately set you up for long term suffering and each person, young or old, must be willing to accept that trade off. Choice is such an elementary word, you learn how to spell it and what it means as a first grader, but yet it impacts you your entire life. Choice has separated many people who become labeled good or bad, smart and not so smart.

We witnessed a lot of people while growing up making bad choices when we were growing up. We decided when we were kids not to make those same bad choices. We are not saying it was easy but when you have a support group like we had with each other and a very strong mother who guided us, the good choices become less difficult. Why people make bad choices, our mother would say, is that they want to be popular and they want to have friends. But you guys have each other. When all is said and done your brothers and I are going to be your backbone. So that is what we did.

We have never really considered ourselves to be smart guys, but others may. We just think we are regular guys that made smart decisions, decisions such as not taking the easy route of getting on the corner but by challenging each other to go to school. We all chose Grambling State University and finishing with a degree or two. This, our education, was something that we feel is invaluable because no one can take it away from us.

Making the choice to earn our degrees assisted us to build bridges that allowed us to enter fields of our choice. Ontario Money Johnson is currently working as an investigator with the Department of Labor, Michael Tron Beavers is currently working as an investigator with the State of California and Keyon Johnson works within the NFL, LFL, NBA as well as the Pac-10. The three of us are big sports fans and community-oriented and with these characteristics, we decided to combine the love of sport with the community and established our new venture, Pick 6 Flag Football LLC www.pick6ff.com. The mission of Pick 6 Flag Football is to create positive and competitive flag football tournaments throughout the year that gather the community together to promote the social, athletic and competitive spirit of football. Our events provide opportunities for adults and children, regardless of their age, race, nationality, economic status, and sexual orientation to enjoy healthy competition, develop teamwork skills, good self-esteem, and learn the fundamentals of fair play and good sportsmanship.

We will tell anyone that is willing to listen is that anything you want to do in life is possible. We have proven that through our story. We looked up to positive people in and around our lives that we could actually see and talk to. We didn't really look up to celebrities because they never came to where we lived. Our mother was the 'Smart Woman' that we saw doing everything she could to secure the best for us. So please do not use anything as a crutch, obstacles are definitely going to come into your life but smart guys know how to fight through them and choose to keep pressing forward. Set goals that you want to achieve and then set objectives or ways you can achieve those goals. Then follow that path and you will get to where you want to be.

Three Smart Brothers,

Ontario Money Johnson, Michael Tron Beavers, Keyon Johnson

You can follow their ventures Pick 6 Flag Football LLC at www.pick6ff.com And be sure to check out Keyon's Superbowl project At the 50 Yard Line www.atthe50yardline.com

Choosing Success: The Students at Buehrle Decide to be 'Smart Guys'

2011-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

On January 14th the 'Smart Guy' Movement led its first workshop, facilitated by Zach Thornton and Nicole Sanders, MSW. Buehrle Alternative School (run by Camelot Schools) is home to an incredible group of young people who transferred from traditional education programs in the Lancaster, PA area to find their paths to success. The students were engaged and interested and had lots of questions about Zach's success and his failures. "How you handle failure is a choice too. I didn't make the Olympic team, was designated an alternate in '02 but I didn't sulk or complain. I congratulated those who made it and cheered for them all the way. How you handle failure also shows your character and reflects a decision to be a good person."
The students all made the pledge to be a 'Smart Guy' and each wrote something they could do, a choice they could make, that would help them be successful moving forward. One student made the commitment to, "be the first one to finish high school in my family.." another student promised to "show his brother and sister a better life" and yet another vowed to "come to school everyday in order to be a 'Smart Guy'".

Many participants received gear and equipment from Puma Football in recognition of their pledges and they all received bookmarks with 'Smart Guy' information and inspiration. Camelot Schools Vice President Milton Alexander said, "...the event was a great learning experience for all of our students and very engaging for students and teachers!" The event was sponsored by Puma Football and 5001 Flavors, companies inspired by the mission of 'Smart Guy' and its commitment to promoting academic success and good decision making.

'Smart Guy' participants who are leaders and role models at Buehrle Alternative School

Stay Smart,
The 'Smart Guy' Team

If you are interested in your school, team or youth group becoming a part of the 'Smart Guy' Movement, contact Nicole Sanders, MSW at

sandersconsulting5@yahoo.com

Definition of a 'Smart Guy'

2011-01-13T17:38:00.000-08:00

A 'Smart Guy'...

sets goals for himself
asks for help when needed
surrounds himself with others who want success
considers how his choices will effect his goals
believes that he can

Have you decided to be a 'Smart Guy'?

'Smart Guy' Workshop Launch

2011-01-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Join the movement...
I am excited to present our first 'Smart Guy' workshop for young people this week, January 12th, in Lancaster, PA. (click here for more information) I am working with my friend JT Dorsey from the JT Dorsey Foundation and 'Smart Guy' workshop co-developer Nicole Sanders of Sanders Consulting LLC.

This year I will be launching my company which will focus on: youth development through sports, education and health. I knew that I needed to give back and help others, because to whom much is given, much is expected. Stay tuned for projects, appearances, workshops and exciting collaborations coming up this year.

A special thanks to Puma Football and 5001 Flavors for coming on board as sponsors of this first 'Smart Guy' workshop. I am starting a movement, who wants to join me and celebrate the smart guys and girls in our world?

Zach
A Smart Guy

Team Work

2011-01-06T13:29:00.000-08:00

Choosing to be smart is an individual decision but success has a lot to do with team work and support. As my friend JT Dorsey of the JT Dorsey Foundation says, "part of being smart is knowing how to ask for help." We are proud to announce that Puma Football, a long time supporter of mine, has joined the 'Smart Guy' movement and is supporting our January 12th 'Smart Guy' workshop in Lancaster, PA. Puma Football is donating gear and equipment and helping spread the word about this movement. Thanks to Puma for being a team player and supporting the holistic development of young people.

Zach

A 'Smart Guy'

Taking Care of My Health: Becoming an All Pro Science Athlete

2011-01-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm excited about my new involvement in Tony Gonzalez's company, All Pro Science. I know that it is important for me to take care of my health and keep my body strong in order to thrive at the professional level. Eating healthy foods, well balanced meals and utilizing vitamins and natural supplements help me retain my edge. What are you doing to take care of your health?!

Zach

Behind Every Smart Man...

2011-01-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

...A Tribute to My 'Moms'

I was raised by mom, a woman who put herself through college while raising four children. Growing up I realized that to get ahead you had to use your head. I knew that I wanted to be somebody that made a difference, I didn't know how or where I would make a difference, but I knew I had to expand my exposure to the world to figure it out.

I always knew that I wanted to play sports at the next level and often dreamed of what the success would feel like. I immersed myself in sports and became extremely passionate about soccer. Soccer opened up a new environment outside of my neighborhood, a neighborhood where cool was hanging on the corner. Somewhere along this journey I realized the importance of the lessons mom was instilling in me. She would tell me that I didn't have to settle that I could be and do whatever I wanted. She told me I needed to pay attention to my surroundings, that I needed to do the right thing even when no one was looking. She also told me that I had choices, that I needed to make education decisions about the directions I would choose and that I was a role model to my younger brothers and sisters.

My mom was an educator for 35 years and recognized the power of education, so she pushed me to maximize my potential in the classroom. I knew that if I didn't pass my classes that I would not have any chance to experience sports at the collegiate level. It wasn't until my college days that I fully realized that truly being smart was having a well-rounded education that would give me great opportunity to taste success beyond soccer and beyond college. I realized I was smarter than I thought and I also realized that being armed with a degree was not enough, I had to blend everything that I experienced into creating the guy that I wanted to be. Being smart included my mother's wisdom, my college education, my street smarts and my street credibility. I knew I did not know it all, but the multi-faceted education I had provided me with the confidence that I could learn anything, that my future would be full of new learning experiences, and that I would accomplish good things.

So here is what I know to be true: being smart is the confidence to dream big and then take the right steps to make those dreams happen. I am proud that I will pass on my knowledge to not only my own children, but the children I come in contact with in my community and my job, in hopes that as many children as possible will raise the bar and have 'a dream'.

Another Smart Fellow,
Smitty

Rob is a father, husband and community leader and advocate. He currently serves as the Philadelphia Union's Vice President of Soccer Development in Chester, PA. He has previously held positions as a coach and administrator for FC DELCO, one of the premiere soccer clubs in the nation, and as an executive for NIKE.

The Power of Expectations: Omar's Story...

2010-12-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

I grew up the youngest of five, in a single-parent household and attended a public school in North Philadelphia. I experienced everything you would guess came along with those social status--poverty, violence, despair and the loss of family and friends. While the odds were against me at a young age, I had several things going for me that contributed to my success and determination. For one, I was part of a loving family. Secondly, i was always a good student, in fact, I was a straight A student and the Valedictorian of my high school graduating class. I was also a good athlete, an All-City basketball player, and City of Philadelphia best student-athlete my senior year. Lastly, I was a big dreamer. I always though there was more to life than the small world I was exposed to as a youngster in Philadelphia.

I used my education as a springboard for everything in my life. Through much hard work and a little luck, I attended some of the best schools in the country. I realized that there is a certain confidence and strength in education. Sort of like that personal joke that no one else understands but always makes you smile. As you advance academically, you begin to see yourself differently and others notice the change and respond. I heard someone say recently, "children are a product of expectations-what they expect from themselves, and what others expect of them. The advice I offer young people is to push yourself in the classroom, expect the best of yourself and those around you and preserve the ability to dream. No matter what your circumstances, do not let those 'dream killers' convince you that you can't accomplish something that you set your mind to do.

Omar

'Another Smart Guy'

Omar is a financial analyst with a masters in business. He is a proud husband and father of three and volunteers as a coach in his community in order to impact and inspire as many young people as possible.

Why I chose to be a Smart Guy: JT's Story

2010-12-28T05:52:00.000-08:00

Being a smart guy wasn't easy. I made the commitment to be a life learner. The emphasis on book knowledge was not stressed in my neighborhood growing up. You had to have street smarts. Street smarts is very important but you have to have book smarts too. Book smarts give you opportunity. Opportunity to make progress in your life. To get into college, you need book smarts. To survive your neighborhood, you need street smarts. If you combine the two you get a well rounded individual, poised for success.
Life is a bunch of manipulations. Everyone is trying to get what they think is "best for them." If you have street smarts and common sense you can stay away from the negative manipulations from peers and negative pressure's from the world. You mix that with book smarts and you can pass tests, like the SATs, and create a good essay to get into college. Book smarts help you know enough to read things clearly and understant to avoid getting manipulated by credit card companies and other negative things in the world.
It's a cliche, but knowledge IS power. The power to control your own destiny. Without it, you are a puppet and others pull your strings. With knowledge and power, you are the puppeteer and you pull the strings. Get educated, be smart, and control your life. I did.
Peace,
JT
Another Smart Guy

JT earned a scholarship to Loyola College in Maryland where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a certificate in Special Education. JT is currently completing his master's degree in Education Administration at Temple University. JT has worked tirelessly in his career as an educator on behalf of special education students, believing that all young people have the potential for success and greatness, despite labels that might imply otherwise.

JT is also the Executive Director and Founder of the JT Dorsey Foundation, a non-profit, youth development organization that provides key services that are lacking, but necessary, in inner city Pennsylvania communities. For more information about JT's foundation go to www.jtdorsey.org .

Smart Guy

2010-12-19T16:40:00.001-08:00