Randy Moss Speaks to Young Inmates

By Gayle Saunders
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Unfortunately Randy has had a first hand experience with being a troubled teen, however Moss is taking his negative past and turning it into a positive.

On the football field, Moss led the DuPont Panthers to back-to-back state championships in 1992 and 1993. He was a star at wide receiver and defensive back, returned kickoffs and punts, and was the team’s kicker and punter. In 1994, he was West Virginia’s Football & Basketball Player of the Year.

Off the field growing up in Rand,West Virginia, Randy Moss got into some trouble which paved the way for a slow start to his college career. It first started with a fight with a fellow student at DuPont High School that landed him in jail for 30 days. The fight caused Moss to lose his scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. Moss was expelled from DuPont and eventually completed his education at Cabell Alternative School.

The next year Moss failed a drug test which violated the terms of his probation, which caused him to lose his chance at a college career at Florida State University. Before Randy Moss even suited up for the Seminoles he was kicked off the team. He served an additional 60 days in jail for the probation violation

Moss took two college courses as part of his work-release program and transferred the credits to Marshall University, where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1997.

With all that being said, last week the 34 year old Randy Moss had an opportunity to sit down with a group of inmates at the West Virginia Industrial Home for Youth.

Given his past, Randy’s words hold weight:

“Everybody is entitled to a mistake or two or three,” Moss said of his visit to the facility. “I don’t want them to think my road was easy. I’ve had some bumps in the road.

“I’ve been there. I’ve been where they are. I’ve worn those orange jumpsuits.”

Mike Peterson Foundation Helps Build Playground

Atlanta Falcons’ veteran linebacker, Mike Peterson and wife Chantal Peterson helped to bring the dream alive for a much needed playground at Grove Park Elementary School, an inner-city school in the heart of Atlanta. On Tuesday, October 5th at 12pm, Mike Peterson will be on hand for the KaBoom! playground dedication ceremony. This was made possible for the children and families of Grove Park Elementary School with the help of a generous donation from the Mike Peterson Foundation.

“As an active kid growing up in Florida, I remember going outside for recess and having fun on the playground. Every child should have this same opportunity,” shares Peterson.

The Petersons have been active in the Atlanta community since signing with the Falcons in 2009. Giving back is as second nature as playing football to the Petersons. “We feel blessed that we are able to give back to the Atlanta community and help provide this playground to the children at Grove Park Elementary School,” states Peterson.

“We are so thrilled and grateful to the Mike Peterson Foundation for this incredibly generous donation to Grove Park Elementary to help make our dream playground a reality” states Principal Caitlin Sims.

The Petersons are pleased to join other corporate sponsors including Home Depot in helping to fund the KaBOOM! playground project for Grove Park Elementary School.

The Mike Peterson Foundation will partner with Grove Park for the school year launching a new reading/literacy program, “Just Read It,” to recognize outstanding achievement and commitment to reading for students. Students will reap the benefits for years to come and the Petersons will continue to encourage kids to be active while encouraging education and fitness. As an added bonus, the teachers of Grove Park will be attending this Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons home game as the personal guests of The Mike Peterson Foundation.

About The Mike Peterson Foundation
The Mike Peterson Foundation was formed to benefit underserved youth and socio-economically challenged families in his hometown of Alachua, FL and his NFL communities of Jacksonville and Atlanta. Since its inception, the foundation has sponsored a number of community events, including a Back to School Backpack Distribution, Thanksgiving Meal Distributions, and Holiday Gift Parties for Children, a Game Day Youth Ticket Program and Free Youth Football Camps. For more information on the Mike Peterson Foundation visit: www.mikepeterson53.com.

For more info contact:
LaTonya P. Story
757.696.2349
LPS Consulting PR
…we tell your story.
3833 Peachtree Rd, NE #415
Atlanta, GA 30319
lpsconsultingpr.com

Falcons Curtis Lofton Launches 50 Tackle Challenge

On September 21, 2010 Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Curtis Lofton launches the Curtis Lofton 50 Tackle Challenge which will benefit childhood cancer research. It will take place at Dantanna’s-CNN Center on Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m.

As part of the Lofton Tackle Challenge, individuals are asked to pledge donations of 50 cents, $1.50, $5, $50 or any other amount of their choosing for each tackle Lofton makes in the 2010 NFL season. The first 22 people to pledge $5 or more per tackle will receive a personalized autographed Lofton jersey. All proceeds raised will benefit the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally). Lofton has been a spokesperson for Rally since 2009.

“In high school, my basketball coach’s daughter was diagnosed with cancer, so I saw firsthand the challenges childhood cancer patients face,” said Lofton. “I tackle some of the toughest football players in the NFL, but that is nothing compared to what these kids tackle every day with cancer. I look forward to using my football skills to help Rally fund research so that, one day, we will find cures for all types of childhood cancers.”

Last season, Lofton made 133 tackles. If you had pledged $1.50 a tackle last year, your total commitment would have been $199.50.

Atlanta residents, Skip and Victoria Moore and family, have already taken the Lofton Tackle Challenge and have pledged to give $150 per tackle Lofton makes this season.

“We believe that Curtis’ success can translate into a significant increase in the awareness of childhood cancer research and Rally,” said the Moores. “We welcome others to join us in the Lofton Tackle Challenge and Curtis’ goal of tackling childhood cancer.”

The Lofton Tackle Challenge launch event is open to the public and is intended to educate individuals about the program and the need for more childhood cancer research.

For every dollar Rally receives, 93 cents goes to support childhood cancer research. In just four years, Rally has awarded more than $1.6 million in childhood cancer research grants while supporting 45 projects in 32 hospitals nationwide. If you’d like to become a sponsor you can click here

To find out more about Rally and the Lofton Tackle Challenge, visit RallyFoundation.org.

OR Contact:

LaTonya Story
(c) 757.696.2349
lpstory@yahoo.com

Follow the Leader: Derrick Brooks announces his retirement

Derrick Brooks has officially announced his retirement from the NFL, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will honor their iconic linebacker at a media gathering Thursday. Brooks confirmed his retirement with a message posted this morning on his official online video site, derrickbrooks.tv .

Often referred to as one of the most respected players in the National Football League, Derrick Brooks embodies discipline and demands commitment from his teammates. A seasoned veteran of the NFL, Brooks holds the distinction of being the only Buccaneers player to be named to ten consecutive Pro Bowls.

The unquestioned leader of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and one of the NFL’s best linebackers, Brooks started over 200 consecutive games. His ability to run down some of the league’s top playmakers led Brooks to becoming the most prolific tackler in Buccaneers history with over 1,900 career tackles. Read more

Hero’s for Haiti – The Oben Family!

Roman Oben is no stranger to the battle, no rookie when it comes to lending a helping hand when times are tough. He’s been to Africa to aid the people of Cameroon in the land where Roman is from. He’s also made a difference in his home State of New Jersey, the founder of the Roman Oben Foundation in 2003, he works to promote the positive development of youth and families through football, literacy and other community outreach projects. Working with children and charities from all over, Roman and his wife Linda are there to make a difference. How Roman and Linda fit it all in to their busy lives is a miracle as well. Blessed with a beautiful family and a few different jobs, the Oben’s are always on the go but somehow find time to help others and make a difference in people’s lives.

Since the Earthquake that came and devastated the Country of Haiti, the Oben family knew it had to act. It had to join the fight and once again throw in a helping hand when times seem their most dire. Linda Claude-Oben has deep ties to the country being a first generation Haitian-American. Her and and husband recently founded CORE (Claude Oben Recovery Effort) which has organized to once again head to Haiti and help. Roman was kind enough to email this press release that gives us some more insight into Linda’s trip.

July 28, 2010 – NEW YORK, NY – Linda Claude-Oben, wife of Super Bowl XXXVII champion and retired NFL lineman Roman Oben, leaves this Friday, July 30, on her second mission trip to Haiti, her first as co-founder of the Claude-Oben Recovery Effort (CORE). Read more

Browns Shaun Rogers Helps Cops Nab DUI Driver

By Gayle Saunders
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Cleveland Browns D-Lineman “Big BaBy” Shaun Rogers called 911 last Thursday night as he was driving south on Interstate 71 in Middleburg Heights when he saw an erratic driver.

Rogers had a conversation with the dispatcher, Rogers said,
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Oakland Raiders Make Jailen Cooper’s Wish Come True

By Gayle Saunders
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ESPN’s “My Wish” series returns with the heart felt story of 10-year-old boy named Jailen Cooper. After he survived brain surgery, Jailen hoped to meet the Oakland Raiders and tackle his favorite player, Darren McFadden. With a little help from Raiders head coach Tom Cable, his wish became reality. Read more

Jockbiz Annual Bowling for Autism Charity Event – Saturday June 12th

By Gayle Saunders
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John Thornton created Jockbiz.com as a proactive way to reach out to professional athletes with ways to create a game plan for off-the-field success. Through his personal and professional experience, John helps athletes present themselves to the public in a positive way. His focus is on helping athletes develop their own valuable brand through involvement in the community and by being an asset to the team.

This Saturday, on June 12th you can come out and join many NFL players, coaches and media members for Jock Biz’s 8th Annual Bowling for Autism event. Read more

New Orleans Saints visit area hard hit by oil spill

By Gayle Saunders
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The New Orleans Saints and Gov. Bobby Jindal have decided to head down together to coastal Plaquemines Parish on Tuesday to visit areas affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The Saints initially planned to attend a lunchtime event at the governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge that day, but Jindal and the Super Bowl champions decided it would be more appropriate to meet in an area that is now suffering the adverse affects of the worst oil spill in the nation’s history.

Oil has washed ashore in Plaquemines Parish, just southeast of New Orleans, killing and injuring wildlife and polluting waters where fishermen work.

Read more

Chad Ochocinco Makes Ruben St. Hilaire Jr.’s Dream Come True

By Gayle Saunders
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Chad Ochocinco is a man with a huge heart with an appreciation for his fans that is second to none. He showed his true colors when he attended the gala fund-raiser for the Children Mending Hearts organization in Hollywood, CA last weekend. Read more

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