Former NFL star Harold Morrow will help with football camp at Maplesville

August 2, 2012

Harold Morrow, a 10-year NFL veteran and former Auburn University star, and Brent Hubbert, head football coach of the Maplesville Red Devils, will once again host the annual Kickoff Classic in Maplesville.

The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon CDT at Maplesville High School, located at 1256 Alabama Highway 139 in Maplesville.

During this free event, kids aged 5-18 will learn new skills, with in-depth instruction and demonstrations from an experienced and knowledgeable coaching staff, including Morrow and Hubbert as well as Fred Smith, a former defensive back at Auburn; Brandon Morrow, a former fullback at Auburn; and Reid McMillon, an All-American player and former Auburn fullback.

Kids will be grouped by age, position, ability and experience to allow coaches to progressively teach basic and advanced techniques to the best benefit of each group.

“As someone born and raised in Maplesville, this local community has made me who I am today,” Morrow said. “Each year, I look forward to partnering with Brent on this event, to give back to the community and to create some great football memories. I look forward to seeing the Maplesville community, and all surrounding communities, at the upcoming football camp.”

Parents and caretakers are asked to pre-register their child or children at the following link:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/MQSWFK8. For more information, please email kickoffclassic@yahoo.com.

“Maplesville High School is pleased to host the Kickoff Classic 2012,” Hubbert said. “This will be a fun day for the kids to hone their skills, make some friends and enjoy a great summer day in Alabama.”

Yanda proves his toughness on the line

By Steven Petrella

July 31, 2012

Leading up to the Ravens' Week 17 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, Marshal Yanda's ribs were in so much pain he couldn't bend over to put on his socks and shoes.

Yanda found a way to block out the pain, like he has throughout his career as he enters his sixth NFL season. The discomfort Yanda felt months ago after he suffered bruised ribs Week 16 against Cleveland, was just a memory on Tuesday as he participated in training camp. When asked to reflect on playing through the pain, Yanda chose to focus on the present, saying he is 100 percent.

The right guard, who also had emergency calf surgery in December, has shown how valuable his toughness can be for the team's offensive line.

"Injuries, they happen, you just gotta grind through them," Yanda said . "You try to play as best you can to help the team win, and as long as they won't be detrimental down the road, you have to take them in stride."

Yanda has started all 16 games each of the last two seasons and earned his first Pro Bowl selection last season after helping running back Ray Rice rush for a career-high 1,364 yards.

From farming roots, Yanda played college ball in his home state at the University of Iowa, which he said always seems to churn out hard-nosed, tough pros.

"[Toughness] came from my parents and growing up on a farm," Yanda said. "Then when I went to college, they kinda drill it into you there, and I liked that anyway. So I got it from a farm and Iowa."

Despite his thrashing of opposing defenses, there's a much lighter and more easy-going side to the 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman.

Yanda can often be seen joking around with teammates during practice, but acknowledges he has to toe a fine line between having fun and not taking his work seriously.

"Obviously, you want to have fun, but you don't wanna be joking around too much," Yanda said. "It's practice, and since we gotta do it anyway, there's no reason to be miserable and hate it like a lot of guys do."

Leadership and toughness have made Yanda one of the NFL's best offensive lineman, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. While he has become a staple and one of the league's toughest men to face in the trenches,the rest of Baltimore's line still has plenty of questions this preseason.

Yanda is one of just two linemen back at the same position this season — Ben Grubbs left for New Orleans, Bryant McKinnie's physical status is unknown, and Michael Oher flipped from the right side to the left. Matt Birk, although he didn't practice Tuesday, will return at center, Bobbie Williams is expected to fill Grubbs' void at left guard, and Jah Reid has found himself in Oher's old spot.

"No matter what, you have to have certain players that you can rely on," Harbaugh said. "And he's one of our guys. And the more of those guys you have, the better."

Yanda knows that a starting job in the NFL is never safe, and despite the consistency he has shown his previous five years , he wants to keep improving.

The Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro (2011) selections were goals of his, Yanda said. But he knows that a player is only as good as their next performance.

"You're either going forward or backward, you can't stay the same," Yanda said. "So I want to keep getting better or I'll go the other way and won't be playing."

Seattle Storm's Katie Smith visits with kids at Salvation Army in White Center

Katie Smith, Olympic Gold Medalist, and the leading scorer in Women's professional basketball history (7580 points) who now plays for the WNBA Seattle Storm came to speak to kids at the White Center Salvation Army summer day camp.


By Patrick Robinson

July 31, 2012

Olympic Gold Medalist and professional basketball star with the WNBA Seattle Storm Katie Smith paid a visit to the White Center Salvation Army July 31 and spoke to more than 40 kids from The Salvation Army summer day camp program.

She came to sign autographs on pictures and basketballs and give the kids an opportunity to meet a professional athlete, ask questions, and get some inspiration, motivation and guidance from her positive messages.

Smith spoke about her diverse interests growing up, mentioning her 4H participation and urged kids to pursue many interests, "not just stuff you are good at," she said. She cited the fact that she was her high school's valedictorian because while she was skilled at sports she worked hard on her studies too. "School and learning opens up all the doors," she said, "Never stop learning."

Kids asked 'how hard is basketball practice?' and Smith acknowledged that "It's hard. It's intense. You want to win and you're trying to figure it out. That's what practice is. I'm tired at the end of the day. My legs hurt, and instead of putting an icepack on it, I sit in an ice bath."

Smith stayed and posed for photos with staff and kids and answered more questions.

Set up by Salvation Army Sports Director Sean Connors, the visit came about as the team was looking for participants to compete in their Youth Sports Night Pre-game Free Throw Contest coming up Aug. 16 before their game against Phoenix. A personal visit by Smith was offered, as a way for kids to get to meet and learn from a professional basketball player.

The contest before the game is part of a ticket package. For $20 players get a ticket to the game (family and friends can pay only $15), an Adidas Title IX T-Shirt, entry to the Challenge, and can win other prizes. Sign in begins at 12:30. The game is at 7pm at the Key Arena. If you'd like more information about the challenge or for tickets visit www.wnba/storm or contact Lauren Wilkins at 206-272-2552.

Smith, 38, who plays Guard with the Seattle Storm joined the team in 2011, after playing for the Minnesota Lynx (1999-2005), Detroit Shock (2006-2010), and Washington Mystics (2010-2011). She graduated from The Ohio State University in 1996, and began her professional career with the Columbus Quest (ABL). Her combined professional career with the ABL and WNBA makes her the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball with a total (so far) of 7580 points scored.

The Salvation Army Summer Kids Camp in White Center is one of many kids programs, including after-school homework tutoring and computer labs, youth athletic leagues, music lessons for kids and teens, and an evening meal program.

At Day Camp throughout the summer, the kids participate in similar and more activities in a safe, encouraging environment. Families in White Center also participate in The Salvation Army rent/utility assistance program, food bank, and holiday assistance.